Student and Alumni Accolades
The SON has some impressive students and alumni that continue to demonstrate their excellence in the classroom and beyond. Here are some updates showcasing just a few.
Pillars Staff Inclusion Award winner
The SON would also like to congratulate Heather Vaughan, a graduate of our RN-BSN program and current student in the MSN NHCA track for her selection as the Staff Inclusion Award winner during the 2020 Pillars. The research nurse manager was selected for her leadership in expanding diversity and inclusion throughout her workplace.
2020 Critical Care Congress
Recent DNP graduates Dr. Elizabeth Starnes and Dr. Christy Barrick, who both work as nurse practitioners in the SICU at UMMC, submitted their DNP Scholarly Projects to the Society of Critical Care Medicine and both were ACCEPTED for the 2020 Critical Care Congress. Dr. Starnes’ project involved the implementation of a nurse-initiated protocol for spontaneous breathing trials in the adult ventilated patient and Dr. Barrick's implemented a reduced fasting protocol for surgical intensive care unit patients prior to general anesthesia.
AANP Advocate State Award for Excellence in Mississippi
Dr. Robert Ware, 2018 DNP graduate, has been awarded the 2020 American Association for Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Advocate State Award for Excellence for Mississippi. This award is given to an individual in each state who has made a significant contribution toward increasing awareness and recognition of NPs. Examples of past recipients have been physicians, legislators and educators. NPs are also eligible for the advocate award for non-clinical practice initiatives related to leadership, precepting, policy, politics, research, education, or community affairs. He is a founding member of the Mississippi Association of Nurse Practitioners and has advocated for full practice authority for NPs for many years. He is actively involved in working across health care organizations to show the importance of NPs’ work in our state. The award will be presented at the annual AANP national conference in New Orleans in June 2020.
DAISY Nurse Leader Award winner
UMMC presented the first ever DAISY Nurse Leader Award to LeAnn Harcharik, Nurse Manager 4 Wiser and graduate of the SON's MSN Nursing and Health Care Administrator Track. The DAISY Foundation is an exceptional organization that recognizes the huge impact nurses have with their patients. Congratulations to LeAnn and to the other nurses who were nominated!
Mississippi Nurses Foundation 2019-2020 PhD Research Grants
Congratulations to PhD student Jennifer Stephen and BSN-PhD student Jacob Crouch for receiving Mississippi Nurses Foundation's PhD Research Grants for the 2019-2020 academic year. Both students will receive funding towards their research studies.