March 2016 Newsletter | School of Nursing

Pitt Nursing Introduces Nurse-Midwife Major

The School of Nursing is pleased to announce that a Nurse-Midwife major will now be offered in its nationally-recognized Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. The on-campus, 100-credit program includes coursework covering patient care, health care organization management, ethics, and public policy as well as clinical rotations in the region’s outstanding hospitals, birthing centers, and obstetrical/gynecological/women’s health practices. Full-time study will permit students to complete the program within three years: part-time study is an option. Complete details, including admission criteria and the course of study, are available at this Web page.

The program is offered at the DNP level, reflecting the increasing demands on Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) to practice independently within the health care team, to contribute to the management of the health care system or organization, and to be able to effectively evaluate the evidence base and to use research outcomes in daily practice. Graduates of the new Nurse-Midwife major will not only care for women and families during pregnancy and childbirth, they will also offer well-women gynecological and primary care. The School was awarded pre-accreditation status by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) in February of 2016.

Interested BSN nurses are encouraged to apply now to the School of Nursing for admission to the Fall 2016 term. The deadline for applications for Fall Term (2016) admission has been extended to June 30, 2016. For Fall 2017 admissions and beyond, the application deadlines will be February 15 and May 1 of each year.

For more information about the School of Nursing and the Nurse-Midwife major, contact us at 412-624-4586 or sao50@pitt.edu.

Sheila Alexander Made Fellow of Critical Care Medicine Group

Associate Professor Sheila Alexander was honored at the American College of Critical Care Medicine (ACCM) Convocation, February 22, when she was accepted as a “Fellow” of the organization. Alexander was selected for Fellowship based on her commitment to the ideals and practice of multi-professional critical care, her leadership and participation in the ACCM organization, and her contributions to advancing technical and cognitive aspects of critical care. Dr. Alexander’s work has also been recognized by the International Society of Nurses in Genetics (the Founders Award for Excellence in Education) and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (the 2015 Presidential Citation for Outstanding Contributions). Congratulations to Dr. Alexander on this significant honor!

Join Pitt Nursing for This Special Event:

A Reception for Pictures of Nursing: The Zwerdling Postcard Collection, a special display from the National Library of Medicine

Thursday, April 14, 2016
7 p.m.
Pitt School of Nursing, 3500 Victoria Street

Nurses and nursing have been frequent subjects in popular media for centuries. The Zwerdling Collection comprises postcards of nurses from around the world. Partnering with Pitt’s Health Sciences Library System, Pitt Nursing is pleased to host this private showing of selected images from the collection and a presentation by Brigid Lusk, PhD, nurse historian and Director of UIC's Midwest Nursing History Research Center. A clinical faculty member at the University of Illinois Chicago, Dr. Lusk will discuss “Nursing: Beyond the 4x6 Image.” Alumni, students, and friends are invited to join us for the presentation, reception, and tours of the School. Please RSVP to Jennifer Fellows by April 8, 2016.

Nursing Faculty Margaret Rosenzweig Promoted

The School of Nursing congratulates Margaret Rosenzweig on her promotion to Full Professor with Tenure! Dr. Rosenzweig joined the faculty in 2001; she is also an affiliate faculty member in Pitt’s Center for Bioethics and Health Law. In addition, she maintains a clinical practice as a nurse practitioner for women with breast cancer at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. She is the Principal Investigator for several grants from the American Cancer Society, Pittsburgh Komen for the Cure, and the National Cancer Institute. Her recent research explores the efficacy of educational interventions to reduce breast cancer treatment disparity. You can learn more about Dr. Rosenzweig’s accomplishments at her Web page.

Meet Our New Director of Development

Pitt Nursing is pleased to introduce Jane W. Binley, our new Director of Development. Jane is an accomplished development professional with over 20 years of experience raising funds for a variety of nonprofit organizations including higher education and healthcare. Most recently, she served as the Director of Planned Giving with Masonic Charities. Prior to that, she was the Director of Development for the College of General Studies and GSPIA here at the University of Pittsburgh. If you’re interested in making a gift to the School of Nursing, you can find Jane’s contact information here.

Mindfulness CE Activity Returns on April 15

For 2016, did you resolve to better cope with stress? If so, this Pitt Nursing CE activity will be very helpful! We’re hosting a Retreat to Promote Self-Care for Professional Nurses, a day-long event to help nurses understand the role of mindfulness meditation to enhance the delivery of nursing care. Mindfulness meditation can be an effective tool to increase relaxation, to decrease the physical and psychological symptoms of stress, and to foster an ability to cope effectively with short- and long-term stressors. Facilitated by Dr. Katherine Hammond Holtz, the session will begin at 8:30 a.m. at The Boiler Room in Pittsburgh’s West End and participants may earn 6.5 contact hours.

University Launches Campaign “With Pitt, PA Wins”

Since July 2015, the University of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania’s other state-related universities have received no state funding for the current fiscal year. This crisis has left Pitt without nearly $150 million in state funding – an amount equal to about 15 percent of Pitt’s annual education budget. The ongoing impasse and lack of funding have led to a situation that becomes more significant with each passing day. We encourage you to visit www.WithPitt.com and learn more about the ongoing issue and how we are working together on it! ‪#‎WithPitt ‪#‎PAwins

Alumni Round-Up

Congratulations to Anne Hast (MN ’81, DNP ’12) on being honored as a 2016 Business Women First Awardee! This award recognizes top women executives in the Pittsburgh region. Hast is the CEO of Advance Surgical Hospital.