BSN '81, MS '95
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PICTURED:
Jeanine Niemoller
Photo taken by Kayla Gregory of Pure Mountain Photography
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The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing at the University of Wyoming announces their 2021 Distinguished Alumna, Jeanine Niemoller, BSN, MS. Niemoller has been selected for this year's award for her significant contributions to the nursing profession for excellence in leadership.
Examples of Leadership
“Leaders are willing to make decisions, but also are willing to take risks to bring a group to a better place. Jeanie has demonstrated this repeatedly during her rich nursing career in long-term care, alumni relations at Wyoming, and with the Wyoming Center for Nursing (WCN),” states a nominator.
“Jeanie Niemoller’s passion for and commitment to seniors and to gerontological nursing are rightfully legend in Wyoming,” states another nominator. "She was nationally certified in gerontological nursing and spent the bulk of her career at Laramie Wyoming's Ivinson Memorial Hospital in the Extended Care Unit as the Director of Nursing and Administrator.”
Niemoller has used her expertise within the community as well, serving on the board of directors for Hospice of Laramie, as a facilitator for the Albany County Prostate Cancer Support Group, and on the Eppson Senior Center Task Force.
She has been a leader in the Wyoming Nurses Association (WNA), holding positions including president, where she represented Wyoming’s voice at the state and national levels in Wyoming and Washington, D.C. She has been a long-time member of American Nurses Association (ANA), has been president of Sigma Theta Tau Alpha Pi Chapter, and has served in the Wyoming Quality Healthcare Foundation as well as the Soroptimist International of Laramie. She also served as vice-president of the UW Alumni Association Nursing Chapter.
And, her leadership extends to supporting future nurses. She regularly attends UW recruiting fairs and other mentoring events, reviewing student resumes, holding mock interviews, encouraging students in their career development. “She uses every opportunity to help students understand the excitement and fulfillment of gerontological nursing,” states a nominator.
Examples of Leadership ventures:
Wyoming Center for Nursing Advisory Board
When the Wyoming Center for Nursing (WCN) needed complete reorganization into its own 501c-3 entity recently, she gathered a group of experts to begin writing new grants to continue the WCN Mission while serving as the organization’s Vice-Chair.
Colorado Center for Nursing
Niemoller’s work with the Colorado Center for Nursing enabled WCN to be included in the “Next 50” project, which created toolkits to help caretakers better understand what elderly clients experience in living with dementia.
Wyoming Nurse Leadership Institute
Niemoller has worked to assist in the rebirth of the Wyoming Nurse Leadership Institute, developing Nurse Leaders in Wyoming under the WCN umbrella this past year.
ReNEW and Wyoming Nursing Education Summit
Jeanine has worked closely with the Revolutionizing Nursing Education in Wyoming (ReNEW) faculty—nursing educators from all of Wyoming’s community colleges and from the University of Wyoming—to continue the annual Educational Summit.
Transforming care for elderly during COVID 19
Niemoller worked to coordinate the education and technical support needed to implement a joint project with Wyoming Institute for Disabilities [WIND] and the University of Wyoming Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing. The project sought funds from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) for innovative work addressing nursing providing health equity, well-being and promoting a culture of health with the elderly. Though only ten Nursing Innovative Grants were awarded by Robert Wood Johnson and AARP for 2020, Wyoming Center received funding to help build America's Health Equity. Matching funds had to be raised, and Niemoller was able to solicit contributions from local organizations.
Selected Awards Demonstrating Leadership:
National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care [NADONA] Award
Excellence in Public Health Nursing Award
Albany County Nurse of the Year Award
UW School of Nursing Community Service Award
Outstanding Service to WNA Award
Wyoming Hospital Association's "Norman S. Holt Award for Nursing Excellence"
UW Alumni Association Nursing Chapter's "Memorable Mentor" Award
Plans for Celebration
Jeanine Niemoller will be honored in person during University of Wyoming Fall 2021 Homecoming week at the “Friends of the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing” development board meeting and at the College of Health Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award reception.
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Story Placed: 2021-09-09