CAMERON UNIVERSITY
Beta Delta Chapter-at-Large
Spring Newsletter 2015 ~ Special Edition
Sigma Theta Tau International
Nursing Honor Society
Special Election Edition
April 2015
Susan Smith, MSN, APRN
Newsletter Editor
Contact
[email protected]
Beta Delta-at-Large Chapter officer elections will be held electronically from
April 1st-20th
Meet the Candidates
POSITION: PRESIDENT– ELECT
Electronic
voting is
NOW open!!!
Voting will be open
April 1-20th
BE SURE TO
VOTE!
go to:
https://
ouhsc.qualtrics.com/
SE/?
SID=SV_dnjMbtWeU
r0W71H
betadbetadelta.ouhsc.edu/education
lta.ouhsc.edu/
educationbetadelta.ouhsc.edu/education
Introducing Melissa Craft, PhD, RN, AOCN
I am an Oncology CNS and have been in nursing since 1981. I received my
BSN from the University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College Of
Nursing (OUHSC) in 1981; my MS in Nursing with the CNS pathway from
OUCN in 1988 and my PhD in Nursing from Texas Woman’s University in
2006. My research interests include the use of expressive writing and storytelling and the influence that has on how we think and feel about experiences.
I am an Assistant Professor at OUHSC College of Nursing where I am Director of the CNS Program and Co-Director of the DNP program. I have been an
active member of the Beta Delta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau since 1981.
The past two years I have served as 1 st vice President. If elected to President
-Elect I would like to continue the tradition of excellence for this organization
that has been in place throughout its existence. I would build on the tremendous work accomplished by previous leaders of the Beta Delta Chapter to
continue a spirit of inclusiveness, scholarship and mentoring. I hope to increase the number of new scholars invited to join the chapter and extend
scholarly opportunities to them including networking with others and having
opportunities for leadership.
POSITION: 1st VICE PRESIDENT
Introducing Karen Gregory, DNP, APRN-BC, CNS, RRT, AE-C,
FAARC
Karen L. Gregory is a doctoral-prepared Acute Care Clinical Nurse
Specialist with a specialty in asthma, allergy and pulmonary medicine. She is
also a Registered Respiratory Therapist and Certified Asthma Educator. Karen obtained her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of
Oklahoma. She obtained a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Chatham
University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Karen currently works at the Oklahoma
Allergy and Asthma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as an Advanced Practice
Nurse and Asthma Educator. She is an Assistant Professor at Georgetown
University, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Washington, DC.
Karen has been an active member in Sigma Theta Tau, Beta Delta
Chapter-at-Large since her induction in 2002. She has served as President
and two terms as 1st Vice President for Beta Delta Chapter-at-Large. Karen’s
goal for serving as 1st Vice President is to continue promoting scholarship
and leadership through programs that embrace members. Karen is also an
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 2),
Page 2
Meet the Candidates
Karen Gregory CONTINUED
active member of the Association of Asthma Educators, American Association for
Respiratory Care, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, American College of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology. She is past president of the Association of Asthma Educators and serves as Chair of the Past-President’s Council.
Disseminating knowledge and promoting best clinical practice is a vital aspiration for Karen. Her current research interests include asthma disparity. She lectures extensively on issues related to allergy, asthma and other pulmonary diseases and is published in these areas.
Position of Treasurer
Introducing Staci Swim, MSN, RN
Staci Swim MSN, RN, received her BSN in 1989 from Kearney State College in
Kearney, Nebraska. Following her undergraduate degree, she worked primarily in
cardiac intensive care, medical intensive care, and surgical intensive care as a bedside clinician. Staci spent several years in hospital management at Wesley Medical
Center in Wichita, Kansas. In 2002, with the relocation to Oklahoma, she held the
position of Director of Nursing in a long term care facility in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Her first teaching experience came in 2005. Staci taught in a practical nursing program in Oklahoma City for 7 years. During that time, she received company
awards of recognition for: excellence in teaching, teamwork, and customer service.
Her committee involvement included curriculum development, exam item writing,
student advocate, and new faculty mentorship. In 2012, Staci earned a Master of
Science in Nursing with an emphasis in Nursing Education from Oklahoma Baptist
University. Throughout the master’s course work, she became passionate about
the concepts of humor in nursing and “Caring” as the essence of nursing; Life-long
learning is a priority for Staci. Following the completion of her graduate degree,
she accepted a position at Oklahoma City University’s Kramer School of Nursing.
Staci is a member of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International
(STTI) and the National League for Nursing. She has served as Treasurer of the
local chapter Beta Delta-at-large Chapter. Staci is a PhD student at Oklahoma City
University.
Position of Leadership Succession
Introducing Velmarie
Swing, PhD, RN
I have been a member of Beta-Delta since inducted in 2008. From 2012-2013 I
served as a committee member and then chair 2013-2015 of the Leadership Succession Committee. I am also a member of ONA and OLN. In 1985, I received my
ADN from OSU-OKC, in 1998, I received my BS in Nursing from Southern Nazarene University (SNU), in 2008, I received my MS in Nursing Education, and in
2014, I received my Ph.D. in Nursing Education. I am adjunct for OKWU online RNBSN, and SNU in the graduate program. I have been an educator since 2003 and
the best part is watching new nurses blossom while reaching their full potential! I
currently work as the coordinator of the nurse residency program, which has three
tracks. My goal is to get more members involved in our chapter as we have so
much to offer!
Position of AVP, OBU
Introducing Dawn Westbrook, MS, RN
I have been a member of Beta-Delta since 1989. I am a two time graduate of OBU with a BSN and
MSN and currently teach there primarily in med-surg and OB courses and the accompanying clinical
courses. I currently serve on the scholarship committee and began as AVP for OBU in 2013. I love
working with students and enjoy introducing them to Sigma Theta Tau and the benefits and privileges membership holds.
Position of AVP, OU undergraduate
Introducing ► Lori McElroy, RN, MS, CNE
I have been an instructor for the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) College
of Nursing at Duncan since summer 2007. I graduated from OUHSC in 1991 and later returned to
earn my Masters of Science degree in Nursing Education in 2006. I have 24 years of clinical experience as an Oklahoma Registered Nurse in the fields of Pediatrics, Geriatrics, and Education. I have
been a Sigma Theta tau International Honor Society-Beta Delta Chapter since 1990. I am a member
of the Delta Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Lambda at OUHSC and Phi Kappa Phi Honor societies. I
achieved certification as a Nurse Educator in Nov. 2007 from the National League for Nursing and
strive to maintain certification at this national level. I was awarded the National 2012 Novice Faculty
Excellence in Didactic Teaching award from the AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing. I am a member of the Oklahoma Nursing Association and Faculty advisor for the local Student
Nurses Association. I am the NCLEX Prep coordinator for the Duncan/Lawton site and served as a
member to the CON Bylaws committee, currently serve on the ABSN selection comm., and NCLEX
Prep. Comm. and I have served as the Lawton/Duncan AVP for the past six years.
Position Of AVP, OCU
Introducing Vanessa Wright, MSN, RN
I began my nursing journey in 2008 graduating from Pioneer Technology Center in Ponca City Oklahoma as an LPN. I continued to develop my education, graduating from Northern Oklahoma College
in 2010 as class representative with an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing. I went on to Oklahoma City University, Kramer School of Nursing, graduating with my Bachelors of Science and Nursing in 2011, and obtained my Master of Science and Nursing in 2013. I was voted on to receive the
Heart of Nursing Award by Kramer Faculty, and graduated top of my class. I am currently in the process of obtaining a Doctoral degree in Nursing from OCU. My clinical experience includes: Emergency Medicine, Labor and Delivery, the Medical-Surgical, and House Supervisor. I hold many certifications and am a member of The National League of Nursing, Sigma theta tau International Nursing
Honor Society, Emergency Nurses Association, Oklahoma Nurses Association, The Red Cross, and
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps. I began as a full time nurse educator in 2012 and am passionate about producing nursing research grounded in Jean Watson’s theory of human caring and the
creation of a caring curriculum in nursing academia. I enjoy spending free time with my husband
and children, attending comic book conventions, watching sci-fi, and learning about physics.
Vote at:
https://ouhsc.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_dnjMbtWeUr0W71H
Copy and paste this address onto your browser.
3rd Annual Partners in Quality: Evidence Based Practice and
Quality Improvement Conference
You are invited to attend the 3rd Annual Partners in Quality: Evidence Based Practice and Quality Improvement Conference on
April 17th . This conference is provided as a collaborative program
with the OKC VA Medical Center, OU Medical Center, Beta Delta Chapter at Large- Sigma Theta Tau, and the OU College of Nursing. The
keynote speaker is Dr. Marquetta Flaugher, who is author of Nursing
Research Program Builder: Strategies to Translate Findings into Practice.
The conference will be held at the Nicholson Tower 5th Floor Conference Center. The OU College of Nursing senior students will be presenting their EBP posters and two groups will be doing presentations.
In addition there will be presentations and posters from nurses from
Integris Baptist Medical Center, the OKC VA Medical Center, and nurses from other VA facilities in Arkansas. They can register online at
http://nursing.ouhsc.edu/ce
Beta Delta Sigma Theta Tau members get a discounted rate of $50
which includes lunch.
Sigma Theta Tau
International,
Beta Delta Chapter-at-Large
Spring Meeting: 4/28/15 5:30-7:00 P.M.
Southern Nazarene University: Marchant Center in the
Hearth Room. NW 39th Expwy and College.
Speakers: Angela Martindale MSN, RN; Carie Strauch,
MSN, RN; Staci Swim MSN, RN, CNE; Sheri Wainscott,
MSN, RN. “Bullying and inci-vility: Causes, ramifications, and suggested measures for intervention/
prevention”.
RSVP to Melissa Craft at [email protected] or
405-271-1491
Dinner will be provided. Donations for scholarships are accepted and appreciated!
Like Us on Facebook!
www.Facebook.com/BetaDeltaChapterAtLarge
Follow us on Twitter:
www.Twitter.com/BetaDeltaSTTI or @BetaDeltaSTTI