|
June 20, 2008
Ralson Center Nursing Award
Honors Local Nursing Students
Contact: Earl Boyd, earltheprimegroup@comcast.net,
215-680-1317
Stephanie Deviney, MSN,
RN a student at Villanova University’s
College of Nursing,
and Melissa Kalinowski, MSN, RN of the
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, have been named the
recipients of Ralston Center’s
Award for Gerontology Nursing Excellence for 2008.
As the number of older Americans
increases, healthcare professionals emphasize the need for advances in the
care of the elderly. Ralston
Center’s Award for
Gerontology Nursing Excellence raises awareness of the importance of
geriatric nursing and encourages interest in the field. The Award provides financial support
for education to two exceptional graduate nursing students, one at each Villanova
University and the University
of Pennsylvania.
Each of this year’s
recipients demonstrates in her academic achievements the value she will
bring to the geriatric nursing profession. Ms. Deviney recently completed her
studies as a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, receiving high praise from the
faculty for her independent study entitled Dementia and Agitation:
An Educational Model for Certified Nursing Assistants. M. Louise Fitzpatrick, EdD, RN,
FAAN, Dean and Professor of the Nursing
School stated, “the
faculty expects Stephanie to make a significant contribution to the nursing
profession and the care of the elderly.” Ms. Deviney’s career goals
include working with the geriatric population in either a long-term care
setting or in internal medicine.
Ms. Kalinowski graduated from
Penn’s Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program in May 2008. She received accolades from faculty
for her study entitled “Eye”dentifying
Vision Impairment in the Geriatric Patient. “The paper is focused on
an extremely important yet often overlooked topic and will be a significant
contribution to the literature and care of older adults,” noted
Christine Bradway, PhD, RN, Program Director, Gerontology Nurse
Practitioner Program. Ms.
Kalinowski, who plans to pursue a career as a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner,
said, “It is very exciting to receive an
award for studying and working within a field that I find fascinating and
rewarding. I look forward to assisting
elderly patients with the management of their age-related diseases and
promoting quality of life as a geriatric nurse practitioner.”
In order to be eligible for
the Ralston Center Award for Gerontology Nursing Excellence a student must
complete half the course requirements toward a graduate nursing program in
gerontology; have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 or higher; receive a
letter of recommendation from either a clinical instructor or an academic
advisor; and submit a letter of application indicating interest and
experience in gerontology nursing.
Recipients receive a $2,000 cash award, a framed certificate and a permanent
listing on the “Gerontology Nursing Excellence” plaque
displayed at their university.
The award presentation will be held at Ralston
Center on Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 12:00 noon.
About Ralston
Center
Ralston
Center has served the needs of
the elderly since 1817. Its
mission is to develop services which address the medical, mental health and
quality of life needs of older adults and to engage and assist in research
and education in the care of the elderly.
|
