Gwynn V. Davis, RN, MNSc, Project Director for the John A. Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, has been named as one of 30 recipients across the nation for the 2002 Helene Fuld Health Policy Leadership Fellowship. This intensive fellowship, located at George Mason University’s Washington Health Policy Institute, teaches individuals how to link health issues with policy development and to pursue appropriate strategies. Fellows receive customized leadership assessment and tailored coaching that takes advantage of their unique personal potential.

The Washington Health Policy Institute is nationally known for its’ work in providing an understanding of how public policy affects the nation’s health care delivery system and resources. The Institute’s program explores the many forces influencing current policy and the policymaking process on many fronts – political, economic, social, technological, and international.

Ms. Davis was also accepted for a one week internship in a Washington, D.C. health policy office. She has selected the American Health Care Association and in particular the National Center of Assisted Living.

The purpose of this project is to prepare 35 nursing faculty members from the Southern region in geriatric nursing and web-based nursing course design and delivery. Southern faculty are targeted because the Southern region of the U.S. has: 1) the highest mortality rate of the four regions; 2) the largest number of elderly people living in poverty; 3) the largest number living in poverty in rural areas; and 4) the second highest growth rate of individuals over the age of 65. In addition to pressing health care needs, the Southern region has a severe deficit of nurses prepared to teach geriatric nursing content at the undergraduate level.

The College of Nursing, recognized for both its 26-year history of gerontological excellence in interdisciplinary practice, research, and education, and for its distance learning expertise, is well equipped to address these needs through the Southern Geriatric Nursing Certificate Program (SGNCP). The objectives of this program are to: 1) develop, implement and evaluate a 432 contact hour continuing education combined web-based and onsite intensive program in geriatric nursing and web-based course design for faculty in baccalaureate and higher degree nursing programs in the Southern region; 2) recruit, enroll and retain 35 SREB nursing faculty from baccalaureate and higher degree programs for the SGNCP with a minimum of 12 participants from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds; and 3) evaluate and disseminate findings regarding the SGNCP project as a national model for increasing the numbers of geriatric, adult health, or community health faculty prepared to teach culturally competent geriatric content online through a minimum of four refereed publications, four presentations, and document, SGNCP: A Model for Continuing Education in Geriatric Nursing Through Distance Learning Technology.

The evaluation plan for the SGNCP will focus on three main areas: program processes, outcomes, and quality indicators. Analyses will include descriptive and inferential statistics that will help identify program and personal characteristics that relate to success in this project.

The John A. Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence establishes a Community Advisory Board
A Community Advisory Committee has recently been formed for the John A. Hartford Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence (HCGNE).  The role of the Committee is to advocate for geriatric nursing and all the programs of the HCGNE.	left to right- Kathy Richards, PhD, RN, Nancy Williams, MNSc, RN, Sandra Lubin, MA, RN (Chair), Sandra Brown, MNSc, MPH, RN, Claudia Beverly, PhD, RN, FAAN and Gwynn Davis, MNSc RN
Charter members include Sandra Lubin, RN, BSN, MA, Chair, Sandra Brown, RN, MSN, MPH, Michael Carter, PhD, RN, APNC and Nancy Williams, RN, MNSc. The Committee will meet monthly and intends to expand to 15- 20 individuals from other professions. Top  |  Back to News  | Home

Luncheon Honors The First Group of College of Nursing Honor Students

The first group of College of Nursing Honors students were guests of the Leadership Team of the HCGNE at an April 18 luncheon at the Reynolds Center on Aging. The students included Kimberly Bonds, Alisa Ewing, Megan Markie, Iris Palencia and Brian Watts.  They enjoyed a brief tour of the facilities at the Reynolds Center of Aging and met members of the Hartford leadership team and learned of their particular responsibilities in the Center, as well as their research interests in geriatrics.  Following this, the Honorees were informed of funding opportunities for advanced study and research in geriatrics.  The event was a first since the Honors program was initiated in 2001, and was designed to pay tribute to the students’ accomplishments as well as to share knowledge of geriatric nursing activities and leadership roles with them.