Greetings, colleagues,

As we welcome the month of April, we also have the opportunity to celebrate our upcoming graduates across our undergraduate and graduate programs.  We look forward to honoring our students and gathering with their loved ones at the Kirkhof College of Nursing Recognition Ceremony followed with the university commencement to be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

Over the past month, the Kirkhof College of Nursing faculty and staff collaborated to review and approve the KCON strategic plan that will guide our college through 2025, composed new program outcomes for our undergraduate programs, and are starting initial steps to assess our curriculum based on the 2021 AACN Essentials and domains for nursing education. We look forward to reviewing our program outcomes for graduate programs and continue to develop this work in the months ahead.

We are thrilled to share that over the past month, we have been able to hire Mr. Ty Cook MBA as our new Assistant Dean for Budget, Finance and Operations. Please join us in welcoming Ty as he begins his new role on Monday, April 8, 2024. 

Ty joins the Kirkhof College of Nursing with fourteen years of experience in accounting and leadership, having most recently served as the Chief Finance and Operations Officer for Stevens Advertising in Grand Rapids. He received his Master of Business Administration from Western Michigan University with concentration in Human Resource Management, following a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Economics. Ty’s community relationships include serving as the Governance Chair for John Ball Zoo, and the Finance Chair for Artists Creating Together (ACT), both of which entailed Board positions. Furthermore, he has served as a Grand Rapids Community Foundation Scholarship Committee member.

In addition to hiring key team members, I had the opportunity to represent KCON at the AACN Deans meeting in Washington DC and connect with treasured colleagues, former mentors and new friends across the country. Placing strong advocacy efforts for nursing students, faculty, research and education funding on Capitol Hill led to inspirational conversations with legislative staff and the hope to create meaningful change for the years ahead.

As we conclude the winter 2024 semester, wanted to wish you a beautiful spring season paired with moments of joy as we celebrate our students. 

All my best,

Amy

Eleven students and three faculty (Drs. Bekius, Koonmen and Strouse) participated in the KCON Ghana Study Abroad trip March 3-16, 2024.  Students included nine from the second degree curriculum and two senior nursing students from the traditional curriculum.  During their time abroad, students visited local historical sites to immerse themselves in the Ghanaian culture. They also learned about the Ghana healthcare system, and applied their knowledge of community health nursing during their clinical experiences in local communities doing home visits and participating in the work of the clinics. This included health promotion activities for children in the area of dental health, as well as in the area of women’s health. This partnership with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Ghana is over 10 years old, founded by Dr. Sylvia Mupepi. While in Ghana, students stayed on the campus of University of Cape Coast, and also interacted with students from their nursing program. This two-week high-impact experience was truly life-changing for students, as they brought home knowledge and experiences that will impact their nursing practice in the areas of community and public health, as well as their ability to integrate culturally congruent care practices into all areas of their care. 

The Doctor of Nursing Practice Project: A Framework for Success

Katherine Moran, Associate Professor of Nursing, recently published The Doctor of Nursing Practice Project: A Framework for Success. This text provides a roadmap for students on their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) scholarly project journey, starting from conception through dissemination. With a focus on planning, implementing, and evaluating a project, the text emphasizes the impact DNP-prepared nurses have in shaping the future of nursing and healthcare.

Click here to learn more about this book.

Dr. Janet Winter, Associate Professor, and Corewell Health colleague, Susanne Woltschlaeger-Brooks had a poster accepted for presentation at the 2024 ANCC National Magnet Conference® and Pathway to Excellence® Conference in New Orleans, LA from October 30 - November 1, 2024. Their poster is titled “An Innovative Partnership Transforming Entry into Practice”.

Dr. Dave VanderArk, Assistant Professor, had his article entitled “Faces of ACEs: Case Studies for Teaching About Adverse Childhood Experiences” accepted for publication in the April, 2024 edition of the Journal of Nursing Education.

Sr. Academic Advisor for KCON celebrates 30 years at GVSU 

Cassonya Carter, Senior Academic Advisor for KCON, discussed her 30-year career with GVSU after receiving her 30-year service award.

Congratulations CC, and thank you for your service and support to GVSU and KCON!

Read about all three 30-year service awardees here!

Dr. Christina Quick, Assistant Professor,  Adjunct faculty members, Allison Reynolds and Ashley Eggleston and Graduate students, Emma Buchele and Tara Young all attended the 45th National Conference on Pediatric Healthcare in Denver, Colorado recently. Dr Quick and Emma Buchele had a podium presentation titled "Unseen wounds: Effective strategies to address challenging trauma symptoms and behaviors for youth in foster care" featured at the conference.