UWs Nursing Scholarship Day Scheduled April 13

Nursing Scholarship Day at the University of Wyoming will recognize its nursing students and program during a full day of activities Thursday, April 13. All activities will take place in Room 506 of Coe Library.

“This event is a wonderful way to showcase the scholarship of faculty and students in the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, which is designed to advance health and health care through quality improvement, evidence-based practice and research,” says Mary Burman, a professor and dean of the School of Nursing.

Paul F. Cook, an associate professor in the University of Colorado’s College of Nursing, is the Whitney Distinguished Lecturer. He will give his presentation at 8:30 a.m.

Cook, a licensed psychologist, boasts an active program of research on medication adherence; has been principal investigator on grants from the National Institutes of Health and private industry; and has chaired his college’s research committee. In addition, Cook is the program evaluator for the 10-state Mountain West AIDS Education and Training Center. Previously, Cook was responsible for all quality improvement activities in the Specialty Division of Centene Corp., a private-sector Medicaid HMO.

Coffee and a light breakfast with Cook will follow his presentation, taking place at 9:30 a.m.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) candidate presentations take place from 10:15 a.m.-2:20 p.m. Fifteen DNP candidates will make 11 presentations.

“The DNP program prepares nurse practitioner students not only to care for patients, but also to improve primary care and psychiatric mental health practice,” says Ann Marie Hart, an associate professor of nursing and DNP program director. “All DNP students complete a scholarly clinical project prior to graduating, and present their projects at the School of Nursing’s annual Scholarship Day. These presentations truly demonstrate the value doctoral-prepared nurse practitioners bring to primary and psychiatric mental health.”

The Willow Ceremony, which runs from 3:30-5:30 p.m., encourages DNP students as they continue to prepare for their chosen Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) career. Awards also are presented at this ceremony, including the DNP Program Community Partner of the Year Award, the Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing Award and the Peter K. Simpson “Advanced Practice Nursing Fan” Award. A reception will follow.

For more information, call Claire Hitchcock at (307) 766-4291 or email her at claire@uwyo.edu.