News and Events

Celebrate National Nurses Week

Every year, a week in May is dedicated to National Nurses Week, a time when people across the country recognize the hard work and dedication of nurses in their communities.

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The SON Celebrates Nursing Research and the 2013 Honors Scholars

At a reception held in the Fox Lobby on Thursday, April 18, student researchers shared their projects with the SON community. The event recognized Sigma Theta Tau research scholars as well as undergraduate students who will graduate in 2013 with Honors or Highest Honors.

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Students Organize Screening of Midwifery Documentary

Two third-semester BSN students worked together to bring a screening of the documentary Birth Story to the SON. Students Erin Richardson and Leonara Tisdale wanted to share the story of Dr. Ina May Gaskin, MA, CPM, PhD (Hon.), an internationally-known speaker and advocate for high-quality maternity care.

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The SON Offers DNP Information Sessions

Interested in the SON’s new Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree? Not sure if the degree is right for you? Come to an information session and spend time with others who are considering a DNP education.

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The School of Nursing 2012-2013 Ethnic Minority Visiting Scholar Lecture

Dr. Shalala at the EMVS Event

Donna Shalala, PhD, president of the University of Miami, spoke to a crowd of more than 600 people on Sept. 11 as the School of Nursing’s 2012-2013 Ethnic Minority Visiting Scholar.

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Health Care Leader to Speak at UNC

President Donna E. Shalala

President Donna E. Shalala of the University of Miami will join the Carolina community in exploring “Practicing to the Full Extent of One’s Education: Implications for Providers, Diversity and the People of North Carolina,” on Sept. 11, 2012 at 3:30 p.m. This UNC Chapel Hill School of Nursing Ethnic Minority Visiting Scholar lecture is free and open to the public. It will be held at the George Watts Alumni Center on the UNC campus.

President Shalala is Professor of Political Science and President of the University of Miami. She chaired the Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing at the Institute of Medicine (IOM), which published the landmark report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. President Clinton appointed her as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, where she served for eight years.

“President Shalala is highly esteemed for her wise leadership in health care,” said Kristen M. Swanson, Dean and Alumni Distinguished Professor at the School of Nursing. “This lecture represents an exceptional opportunity for the public, the nursing community and health care professionals to discuss the important issues surrounding practicing to the full extent of one’s education.”

Please RSVP to nurseRSVP@unc.edu if you plan to attend. A reception will follow the presentation. More information is available here.

The Ethnic Minority Visiting Scholar Lecture series was established at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Nursing in 2000 as an initiative to highlight the research and contributions of ethnic minority nurse scholars. The lecture brings outstanding specialists, educators, clinical researchers and directors to Chapel Hill for discussion of timely nursing matters affecting ethnic and minority populations.

SON Faculty Discuss Policy in Washington D.C.

Victoria Soltis-Jarrett, Debra Barksdale, Beth Lamanna

Dr. Debra Barksdale, Beth Lamanna, Dr. Victoria Soltis-Jarrett, and Megan Williams each attended events in Washington D.C. on June 13 that focused on the intersection of health care and policy.

Dr. Barksdale, Beth Lamanna, and Dr. Soltis-Jarrett were invited to the White House to attend a discussion between nurse leaders and senior administration officials on improving care quality and patient health. The meeting was sponsored by the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services and focused on delivery system transformation and how the Affordable Care Act can support nurses’ efforts to provide high quality patient care.

Dr. Barksdale attended the meeting as president of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). She described the event as an opportunity for nurse leaders to come together to discuss the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and other important issues like expanding the nursing workforce, future workforce development, and practicing to the full scope of one’s education. “It was an honor to be involved in a discussion of ways that nurses can help in improving the health of the American people,” Barksdale said.

Beth Lamanna attended the meeting on behalf of the American Public Health Association Public Health Nursing Section. Her goal was to voice the importance of the intersection of population health and primary/clinical care. Lamanna spoke at the meeting about a new provision in the ACA that deals with population health and hospital participation in community assessment.

Dr. Soltis-Jarrett attended as president of the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (ISPN). “I endeavored to focus on the importance of continuing to develop the mental health workforce, ensuring equity for reimbursement of services provided by advanced practice psychiatric nurses, and improving access to mental health care for individuals, families and communities across the USA,” said Dr. Soltis-Jarrett.

Megan Williams in Washington, D.C.

On the same day, Megan Williams, clinical assistant professor and president-elect of the North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA), was one of five NCNA members and 150 nurses from around the U.S. who went to Capitol Hill for the 2012 American Nurses Association Lobby Day.

Williams and her cohort focused on three key issues when meeting with Congressional policymakers: supporting legislation to ensure safe RN staffing, solid funding for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs, and a measure that permits advanced practice registered nurses to certify home health plans of care.

“We need to continue educating our legislators about health care and the nursing profession,” Williams said. “I hope more nurses will follow their representatives on Facebook and Twitter, write, call, or organize a group of your colleagues to visit your member of Congress’ local office.” Of her ANA Lobby Day experience, Williams said, “We had a great day on Capitol Hill advocating for the public and for our profession.”

Victoria Soltis-Jarrett Hosts First Conference as ISPN President in Atlanta

from right to left: Soltis-Jarrett, Carter, and Parrish

Clinical Professor and Psychiatric Mental Health APA Coordinator Victoria Soltis-Jarrett presided over her first International Society for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (ISPN) Annual Conference in March 2012.

Soltis-Jarrett, who began her tenure as President-Elect in 2010, was inducted as President at the ISPN Annual Conference in Tuscan, AZ, last April. This year, at the ISPN 14^th Annual Conference held in Atlanta, March 27-31, 2012, Soltis-Jarrett welcomed more than 200 attendees, including keynote speaker and former first lady Rosalynn Carter.

Mrs. Carter delivered the keynote address, “The Carter Center Mental Health Care Initiatives – National and International.” The conference theme was “Innovation, Integration, and Transformation of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for the 21^st Century.” Solits-Jarrett was joined by the ISPN’s new President-Elect, Evelyn Parrish, PhD, APRN, Professor and Coordinator at Eastern Kentucky University.

Join SON Students in Fun Run March 31- HEALS FOR HEALING

The UNC Association of Nursing Students (ANS) is pleased to announce their inaugural Heels for Healing 5K and Kid’s Fun Run for BounceBack Kids!

Heels for Healing is a nonprofit initiative of the Association of Nursing Students at UNC-Chapel Hill that is working in conjunction with BounceBack Kids to help raise money and awareness for children with life-challenging medical conditions and their families and caregivers. Bouncback Kids programs recognize that every member of the family struggles when a child has a life-challenging medical condition. Their goal is simple: Fitness, Fun and Family when children need it most!

The event will take place on UNC-Chapel Hill’s beautiful campus on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 9am. The USATF certified 5K race will commence at 9am at the Old Well followed by a half mile Kid’s Fun Run at 9:50am.

Paper registration and a flyer are also available.

2012 Ethnic Minority Visiting Scholar Lecture on February 20

Ms. Donna Thompson

She will present “A Community-Based Approach to Address Breast Cancer Disparities,” the 2012 School of Nursing Ethnic Minority Visiting Scholar Lecture. This free lecture is open to the public and will take place from 3:00-5:00 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012 at the School of Nursing.

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