Faculty and staff achievements

The School of Nursing is proud to highlight faculty and staff achievements since the last Vital Signs issue. 

SON simulation faculty and staff attend INACSL23 Conference

The International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) is dedicated to advancing the science of health care simulation. According to the INACSL website, it was founded in 2002 and comprises more than 2,300 members worldwide. Last month, the conference celebrated its 20th anniversary in Providence, Rhode Island. The conference provided simulationists, researchers and solution providers the opportunity to provide and gain current, evidence-based and simulation operation knowledge to aid in advancing the science of simulation education.

Four faculty (Dr. Marlie Farrar, Dr. Robyn MacSorley, Dr. Eloise Lopez, Dr. Alaina Herrington) and one staff member (Latisha Beasley) attended this international nursing conference. Among the group of five, MacSorley and Herrington presented a well-received hands-on presentation titled “Managed the Pain, Escape the Silo.” Lopez presented a poster, developed in coordination with Hannah Hogg titled “From Student to Faculty: Transitioning Roles in a Mental Health Simulation." MacSorley also co-presented a presentation with fellow INACSL Education Committee - Homegrown Solution members.

Dr. Tami West, a well-renowned motivational speaker and author, presented ‘Finding Hope in a World that Always Changes!’ Other presentations included psychological safety, submitting and reviewing manuscripts, health care simulation standards of best practice (HSSOBP) sessions, the Hayden Vanguard Lectureship, and other speakers.

Faculty promotions

Chelsey Andries, DNP, RN, CPN, CNE - assistant professor to associate professor

Jill Clayton, PhD, RN - associate professor to professor

Jennifer Hargett, DNP, RN, ONC - assistant professor to associate professor

Alaina Herrington, DNP, RN, CHSE-A, CNOR, FSSH, ANEF, FAAN - assistant professor to associate professor

Lei Zhang, PhD, MBA - tenured professor

NCLEX pass rates on the rise

The Class of December 2022's first-time pass rate on the NCLEX touts a six-point increase to 88.3% for the Jackson Accelerated BSN program. Congratulations to the graduates and faculty!

Molina Health Care donates $75,000 to school-based clinics

Molina Health Care, a FORTUNE 500 company, supports many of our children in our school-based clinics through their managed care services under Medicaid programs and through the state insurance Marketplace. Molina supports their mission of ‘delivering effective, reliable and affordable health care to those who need it most’ by supporting others to provide community-based care. We are grateful that Molina has awarded the School of Nursing $75,000 to provide care through our mobile clinic this summer when our school-based clinics are closed. This award will allow us to continue to provide access to care during the summer months to the children who attend the schools we serve in rural and urban Mississippi. There were seven health events in July, including reproductive health services, sports physicals, health education and screenings. Adults in the communities we serve will be able to participate as well. Events such as these are very valuable. UMMC SON clinic staff discover undiagnosed medical conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and cancer, in the community health clinics. Referrals are made for anyone in need, and follow-up care is provided. There is no better way to support the mission of the medical center and the school of nursing than by providing state-of-the-art care to those in need across our state. Interested? We’d love to have volunteers for these community events! If interested, please email Dr. Anne Norwood or Dr. Lisa Haynie. Thank you, Molina, for your support!