BATON ROUGE, LA. - Southern University’s School of Nursing has been named the “Nursing School of the Year” by the Louisiana Nurses Foundation and Louisiana State Nurses Association.
“This award serves as a testament to the commitment of the school’s faculty and staff to provide students with a quality educational background that prepares them to enter the professional nursing workforce,” said Dr. Wanda Spurlock, associate professor in Southern’s School of Nursing. “Our graduates leave equipped with the necessary competencies to make a significant contribution to improving the health of the citizens of Louisiana, the nation, and the world.”
There are several criteria that determine the recipient of the Nursing School of the Year award. Among those include first-time passage rate on the NCLEX-RN, accreditation status, innovations in education/teaching and support of student organizations.
Also receiving awards from the nursing groups are Southern’s Dr. Cheryl Taylor, Dr. Jacqueline Hill and Dr. Enrica Singleton.
Dr. Taylor, Director of the School of Nursing’s Nursing Research Department, received the ‘Outstanding Nurse Researcher’ Award. The award recognizes a registered nurse who has led significant formal or informal nursing research which has impacted healthcare or the community.
“I am eternally grateful to my nursing colleagues of Louisiana and the Nation for acknowledging and celebrating my research contributions to Nursing and Health Care,” said Taylor. “It is an honor for me, and thousands of research study participants to make a difference in health care by continuing my legacy of leadership in community based participatory research.”
Taylor is a former American Nurses Association Ethnic Minority Fellow. She has spent the past four decades mentoring nursing students, leading community health initiatives, and creating partnerships across the nation.
As a member of the graduate faculty in Southern’s School of Nursing, Taylor teaches research, philosophy of science and health policy.
Dr. Hill, associate professor and Chair of SU’s School of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, received the ‘Nursing Administrator of the Year Award’ and the ‘Volunteer of the Year Award.’
The “Nursing Administrator of the Year Award,” recognizes a registered nurse who is responsible for the administration of a school of nursing or division within a school of nursing.
“I consider it an honor just to be nominated by my colleagues, for both awards, but especially the ‘Nursing Administrator of the Year Award’ since I have only served in this position for a short period in time,” said Hill. “I believe that I can only be as good as the wonderful group of faculty and staff I lead, as well as having a supportive dean who encourages me. I am grateful to God for placing me in a position to serve.”
Hill has served as President of the Baton Rouge District Nurses Association and she received the 2009 statewide Nightingale Award for District Officer of the Year. She currently serves as the President-elect of the Louisiana State Nurses Association. After her term as president-elect ends in 2011, Hill will assume the office of President of the LSNA.
Dr. Singleton, professor of the graduate program in Southern’s School of Nursing, was inducted into the Louisiana State Nursing Association Hall of Fame.
The “Hall of Fame” award recognizes Registered Nurse’s lifelong commitment to the profession of nursing and its impact on the health and social history of the state of Louisiana.
“Dr. Singleton has truly shared a lifetime commitment to the profession of nursing. Her pioneer work in the realm of nursing administration and organizational structure has obtained national prominence and has helped to shape the health care delivery system for the state of Louisiana,” wrote Dr. Sandra Brown, a professor in SU’s School of Nursing, in a nomination letter for Singleton. “Her enduring accomplishments will certainly live on in the memory of those she has served and continues to serve beyond her lifetime. Her achievements, values of integrity, humility and civility make her most deserving of the induction into the LSNA Hall of Fame,” added Brown.
Singleton has served on the faculties at Southern, LSU Medical Center and as Dean at Dillard University. She has authored numerous manuscripts and book chapters primarily in the domain of Nursing Management, Nursing Administration, Staff Development and Clinical Leadership. Singleton has also served as the keynote speaker for national forums on Transforming Nursing Education and Leadership and served as a presenter at numerous state-wide conferences on Nursing Leadership, Organizational Structure and Health Care Delivery Systems.
“I’m honored and humbled to receive this symbol of recognition from my professional peers,” said Singleton. “I hope I have the vision to make meaningful contributions to the profession.”
The awards were presented at the Louisiana Nurses Foundation and Louisiana State Nurses Association 2010 Nightingale Gala held Feb. 20, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Southern University’s School of Nursing (SUSON) was granted initial approval by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing in 1985 and admitted the first baccalaureate level students to upper division courses in the fall of 1986. The school offers Bachelors, Master’s and doctoral degrees. It houses two academic departments, the Office of Nursing Research, the Learning Resource Center and the Nurse Managed Clinics.
The school has four funded Endowed Professorships through the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, the Louisiana State Board of Regents and three area health care agencies (Our Lady of the Lake, Woman's Hospital, and the Baton Rouge General Medical Center).
Posted By: LaKeeshia Giddens
Thursday, March 11th 2010 at 12:52PM
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