Two faculty members at the UCF College of Nursing [1] were recently recognized by the Florida Organization of Nurse Executives (FONE) for their contributions to the nursing profession.
FONE, which promotes excellence in leadership to shape the future of health care in Florida, honored Diane R. Andrews, associate professor, with the 2017 Excellence in Nursing Education Award and awarded its 2017 Research Grant to Elizabeth V. Kinchen, assistant professor.
Excellence in Nursing Education Award
Andrews [2] was honored for her significant contributions to nursing education, including using best practices, evidence-based practice and research, and innovative approaches as an educator. A member of the college faculty since 2006, Andrews currently serves as program director of the Leadership & Management MSN [3] and the Post-Master’s Executive DNP [4] – an online program she developed and implemented in 2012. She is credited with changing the paradigm of doctoral education at the college to be an inclusive model recognizing the collaborative roles of the DNP and PhD. Andrews also contributes to nursing education through her research, which examines new graduate nurses transitioning into practice. In her career at UCF, she has been honored with several teaching excellence honors, including two Excellence in Graduate Teaching Awards from the college and the UCF Teaching Incentive Program award.
“Dr. Andrews’ commitment to educating the nurses of the future is evident in the outcomes of students who graduate from the many levels of nursing education at UCF,” said Donna Neff, associate dean for research at the college. “She prepares dynamic nurse administrators and leaders who make a difference in their field.”
Andrews’ leadership at UCF and in professional organizations includes serving as vice chair of the college faculty organization since 2014, secretary and bylaws chair for CGEAN (formerly known as the Council on Graduate Education for Administration in Nursing), a 10-year member of the FONE Research Committee, a second-term treasurer for Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Theta Epsilon Chapter, and a member of the Research Advisory Committee for the Florida Center for Nursing. Additionally, Andrews is an on-site evaluator for the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education [5], a founding trustee and member of the finance committee at Adventist University of Health Sciences, and a former board member of the Florida Hospital Foundation.
“Knowing the breadth and depth of excellent nursing educators not only here at UCF but throughout the state, I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition,” said Andrews. “I feel privileged to work in such a rewarding field, preparing nurse leaders who will shape the future of the profession and health care throughout the world.”
Research Grant
Kinchen [6], a board certified advanced holistic nurse and assistant professor at the college, received the 2017 FONE Research Grant for her study entitled, “The Preservation of Holistic Nursing Values in Nurse Practitioner Care.” The $2,000 grant was awarded to Kinchen based on her study’s valuable contribution to nursing knowledge, relevance to the organization’s priorities and applicability to the health care environment.
“Nurse practitioners have historically provided safe, cost-effective expert care to people of all ages. This study explores the inclusion of holistic nursing values, such as patient-centeredness, shared decision-making and consideration of the whole person, in the care that nurse practitioners provide,” said Kinchen.
“Since nurse practitioners are nurses, their care is grounded in holistic nursing values, so recognizing and exploring the value of this unique approach to care is important, especially in the current political and economic health care climate,” continued Kinchen. “FONE’s generous support of this study demonstrates the importance that this topic has, particularly for patients, nurse practitioners, faculty, insurers and policy-makers.”
In addition to contributing to knowledge about holistic nursing practice and nurse practitioner care, results from the study may also provide guidance in the ongoing evaluation and revision of nurse practitioner programs.