School of Nursing graduate Melan Smith-Francis enjoys the moment.
(photo by Susan Urmy)
Graduation 2007: Opportunities, challenges await Nursing School grads
VUSN’s Janae Lemons multi-tasks at commencement.
(photo by Susan Urmy)
Marecha Jackson had plenty of company as her immediate and extended family attended VUSN's academic investiture ceremony.
(photo by Susan Urmy)
Melissa Gudan, a graduate of VUSN’s Family Nurse Practitioner program, was all smiles at the ceremony at Branscomb Quadrangle.
(photo by Susan Urmy)
Tameria Yarborough is presented with her School of Nursing hood by Leslie Coleman, M.S.N., R.N., left, and Linda Norman, D.S.N., R.N.
(photo by Susan Urmy)
Colleen Conway-Welch, Ph.D., dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, told master's-prepared graduates during commencement ceremonies last week that they are “the glue that will hold the health care system together.”
Vanderbilt School of Nursing students officially completed their advanced practice nursing education in August of last year, and most are already working in health care in a variety of different areas. Even so, more than 100 graduates from the school returned to campus for graduation and investiture of the academic hood ceremonies.
“Look for opportunities that are brilliantly disguised as problems,” said Conway-Welch. “You have the training and skills to help solve those problems.”
In his remarks to the audience of graduates, families and friends, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Harry Jacobson, M.D., congratulated the school on its recent top 20 ranking by U.S. News and World Report and for “preparing leaders in research, specialized clinical practice, training and the management of complex health care systems.”
Nurse-Midwifery graduate Marecha Jackson became interested in the birthing process as a first-time mom several years ago.
She enrolled in the school of Nursing's Bridge program, which offers an accelerated curriculum so that non-nurses can earn their Master's in the Science of Nursing degree in three full years of study. She credits the support of her family and friends in reaching this milestone and has been working at Nashville General Hospital.
“I'm using my training to help women in the African-American community,” said Jackson. “The breastfeeding rates are so low, and I want to help educate women about the advantages.”
If earning her M.S.N. was not enough of a challenge, Adult Nurse Practitioner Janel Murray also gave birth to two children while pursuing her degree. Murray took traditional classes the first year of the program, and when her husband, who is in the U.S. Army, was transferred, she moved with him and finished her coursework through the school's distance program.
“The program was challenging, but at the same time it allowed me to expand my family and relocate while still progressing in my education,” said Murray who has a position at the Medical College of Georgia.
In addition to the master's graduates, VUSN awarded three Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Karen Caines of Kingsport, Tenn., Jo Anne Davis of New York City, and Cynthia O'Neal of Lubbock, Texas, were each recognized for their dissertations, which examined the issues of weight concerns of early adolescent girls, midwives' concept of normalcy in childbirth and normalization assessment measures, respectively.
A total of 239 graduates from VUSN earned degrees in the master's program — each with their own story of commitment, persistence and focus that helped them reach their goals.
The school awarded diplomas to: 44 students in the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program; 27 in the Adult Nurse Practitioner Specialty; three in Clinical Management; 56 in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program; three in Health Systems Management; 13 in the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program; two in the Nurse-Midwifery/Family Nurse Practitioner Specialty; 11 in the Nurse-Midwifery Program; two in Nursing Informatics; 24 in the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program; 35 in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Specialty; 16 in the Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Program; and three in the Women's Health/Adult Nurse Practitioner Specialty.
Since the master's program at the School of Nursing runs through the summer, the majority of graduates technically completed their academic requirements by late fall of last year.