Sigma Theta Tau
International Honor Society of Nursing
THE DELTA REPORT
DELTA OMEGA CHAPTER
Editor –
Winter 2011
Delta Omega Officers
President – Barb Brunt
[email protected]
President Elect – Kathy Rose
[email protected]
1st Vice President – Marlene Huff
[email protected]
2nd Vice President – Karen Mascolo
[email protected]
Immediate Past President – Dina Dornack
[email protected]
Treasurer – Peg DiMarco
[email protected]
Corresponding Secretary – Linda Shanks
[email protected]
Counselor – Lori Kidd
[email protected]
Archivist – Dina Dornack
[email protected]
Research Grants & Recognition Chair – Elaine Fisher
[email protected]
Leadership Succession Committee Chris Graor [email protected]
Externs –
Alicia Woo-Clark [email protected]
Allison Sabo [email protected]
Newsletter Editor – Open
The Delta Report is published three times yearly for Delta Omega
Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau, Inc. The Delta Report welcomes
information about members’ accomplishments in research,
promotion, publication, and/or presentation. Correspondence to the
Delta Report should be sent to the president Barb Brunt via email at
[email protected]
Sigma Theta Tau, International www.nursingsociety.org
Delta Omega http://www.uakron.edu/nursing/about-us/stti
Message from the Chapter President:
Barb Brunt
I want to thank the board of
directors for all the work they have
done for the chapter, and
encourage each and every one of
you to get involved in some way
with chapter activities. There are
many opportunities for all levels of
involvement. You can attend our
programs, help with our community projects such as
buying and/or wrapping Christmas presents for a
family we adopt, serving lunch at OPEN-M for
members of the community, or serving on a
committee. We also have opportunities for
reporters for the various hospitals and universities.
We are your organization and want to provide
activities and programs to meet your needs, so
please feel free to contact me with any suggestions
or ideas. You can reach me at (330) 375-3075
during the day or (330) 388-1620 in the evenings.
I am working on the application for Delta Omega’s
key award for excellence in leadership, knowledge,
service, community, and sustainability. We need
information about activities members have been
involved to document what our members and
chapter have done. Winning this award is a great
honor for the chapter membership, and we need to
capture things our members have been involved in
during the last biennium. Information can be
submitted to Barb Brunt at [email protected] or [email protected] Please let us
know about the things you are doing.
Areas included in the key award criteria are
listed below:
 Members presented at national or
international professional nursing
meetings, conferences, or forums
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Winter 2010
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(Need name of meeting, title of
presentation and date presented)
 Members presented at
interdisciplinary professional
meetings, conferences or forums
 Members or chapter provide at least
one program/activity/project focused
on increasing community awareness
of health promotion and prevention
of illness. Examples include:
participation in local health fair,
sharing information with
elementary/high school students
(Need name and nature of activity
with date presented)
 Provide expertise or consultation to
the community. Examples include
doing presentations to the
community through Speaker’s
Bureaus, providing screening to
community members. (Need name
and nurse of activity with date
presented)
 Collaborate at the local level for
health promotion and/or prevention
of illness projects with community
partners. Examples include:
volunteer at Special Olympics
events, cough etiquette kits for local
shelter, collaboration with other
health care organizations on specific
issues. (Need to know who the
collaboration was with and what was
done with the date of activity if
applicable.
I also encourage you to check out the Global
Communities and Volunteer Interest Profile
(VIP profile). Global communities give you
the opportunity to network with members
that have similar practice
issues/backgrounds. Some of the
communities include Good Work in Nursing
Community, Community/Public Health
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Nursing Forum, Palliative/Hospice Care
Community, and Crossing the Bamboo
Bridge: An Educational Project Exploring
the Complementarity of Nursing and
Healing Traditions. Please check it out at
http://www.nursingsociety.org/communities/
communities/Pages/index.aspx. To
complete a Volunteer Interest Profile, visit
http://www.nursingsociety.org/VolunteerCo
nnect/Pages/Default.aspx You do not need
to be concerned if you do not have specific
expertise in an area or are afraid that you
may be called to participate in a project –
they just would like potential volunteers in
their database so if a need or request does
come up, they can contact individuals to see
if they would be interested. You do not
have to commit to anything you are not
comfortable doing.
For those individuals who blog or are a
member of a social networking site, such as
Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or LinkedIn,
you can network online with your peers and
colleagues. If you have a Facebook account,
simply type in “Sigma Theta Tau
International” into the search function, click
on “Groups” and request to join the group.
You can also join STTI on LinkedIn.
~ Barb
Nursing – the Most Trusted
Profession
For the 11th year, nurses were voted the most trusted
profession in America in Gallup’s annual survey that
ranks professions for their honesty and ethical
standards. Eight-one percent of Americans believe
nurses’ honesty and ethical standards are wither
“high” or “very high.” Since being included in the
Gallup poll in 1999, nurses have received the highest
ranking every year except in 2001, when the fire
fighters received top honors.
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WANTED
NOMINATIONS FOR RECOGNITION AWARDS
Do you have a colleague who excels as a nurse
leader, clinical nurse, nurse educator, nurse
mentor, nurse researcher or can bring current
research to life in their practice or teaching? Then
we want to know about them. It is time to
nominate these individuals and recognize
excellence nurses in these areas. Guidelines for
Recognition Awards can be found at:
http://www.uakron.edu/nursing/aboutus/stti/stti_recognition-awards.dot. The Awards
submission deadline is March 15, 2011. Award
nominations may be submitted via email to
[email protected] or via mail to Dr. Elaine Fisher,
The University of Akron, College of Nursing, Akron,
OH 44325-3701. It is important to recognize our
peers, please consider submitting your
recommendation today. There is no limit to the
number of nominations you may make.
Science Fair Winner:
Mia Cutrefello, a 5th
grade student from The
National Inventor’s Hall
of Fame School won
Delta Omega’s award
for best Nursing and
Health-Related poster
for her work on “The
Whitest Smile.” She
received a $50 check
and a certificate for her
work.
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Winter Program
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Workplace Peer to Peer Incivility”
Alpha Mu, Delta Omega, Delta Xi, and Iota Psi
Chapters of Sigma Theta Tau International
collaborated on our winter program, presented by
Laurie Patterson, MA, CO-OP from Akron General
Medical Center. She gave a very interesting
presentation on workplace peer to peer incivility,
defining the term and providing strategies on how
to deal with this phenomenon.
Save the Dates
Be sure and mark the following dates on your
calendars:
Thursday March 3, 2011 –Delta Omega is coproviding and providing sponsorship for the
Advanced Medical Surgical Workshop presented by
Summa Health System. Delta Omega members can
attend for the same price as Summa Health System
employees, which is $40 for the all day program,
and $25 for the morning session. Marybeth
Farquhar, PhD, MSN, RN, the .Vice-President of
Performance Measures at the National Quality
Forum (NQF), will be speaking on Nurses Role,
Quality Enterprise, and Healthcare Reform. This
will be followed by an expert panel discussion
about the delirium quality initiative. Other topics
include alcohol and drug withdrawal, patient selfmanagement, highlights of the 2010 AAHA
Guidelines for CPR, GI Surgical updates, and an
update from the Academy of Medical-Surgical
Nurses (AMSN)
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Community Corner
Wednesday March 23, 2011University of Akron College of Nursing 13th
ANNUAL DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
3-4:00 p.m. Presentation, 4-5:00 p.m. Reception
Inn at Quaker Square, Quaker Station
Speaker: Joanne Disch, PhD, RN, FAAN, Clinical
Professor and Chair, Population Health and Systems
Cooperative Unit; Director, Katharine J. Densford
International Center for Nursing Leadership;
Katherine R. and C. Walton Lillehei Chair in
Nursing Leadership from the University of
Minnesota, School of Nursing.
Dr. Disch’s lecture, Raise the Voice, will focus on
nursing leadership in the context of
interprofessional health, education, and practice.
Thursday April 14, 2011 – Delta Omega’s spring
program, Practice Pearls, will focus on
presentations by Delta Omega members and
students on research or evidence-based practice
projects. If you are interested in submitting
something for that program, please contact Marlene
Huff at [email protected]
Silent Auction Results
As a result of contributions of 18 Delta Omega
members who either donated or purchased silent
auction items at the October 6th program, Delta
Omega raised a total of $227.00, which will be
donated to ACCESS, a women’s shelter in Akron.
ACCESS is dedicated to addressing the plight of
homeless women and children in our community.
The agency encourages the development of selfesteem and the attainment of self-sufficiency
through its commitment of providing a holistic, safe
and supportive environment, and through its
programs of housing, advocacy and empowerment.
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.
OPEN-M Christmas
Marcia Cornell, Dina Dornack and Allison Sabo
went shopping to purchase gifts for the families that
Delta Omega adopted through the OPEN-M
(Opportunity Parish Ecumenical Neighborhood
Ministry) “Christmas for the Love of Children
2010” Program. We had seven children to
purchase gifts for, ranging in age from 8months to
11 years. Additionally, we purchased a gift
certificate from a local supermarket totaling at least
$300 for the family. The gift certificate specifically
stated “not valid for tobacco or alcohol.” Inclement
weather prohibited members from spending an
evening sorting and wrapping presents at OPEN-M.
Research Corner
The Research Grant Deadline was February 15,
2011. If you did not get a proposal done in time for
this deadline, the next deadline will be September
15, 2011.
Guidelines and application forms can be located at
http://www.uakron.edu/nursing/aboutus/stti/stti_research-grants.dot
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News from Summa Health System
Reporter: Barb Brunt
Summa Health System Akron City/Saint Thomas
Hospitals received Magnet® designation, the 21st
hospital in Ohio to receive this status.
Linda Gleespen, BSN, RN presented “Technology
Can Translate to Quality: Use of Computerized
Physician Order Entry (CPOE) to Achieve Optimal
Glycemic Control” at the International Hospital
Diabetes Meeting in San Diego, California in
October.
Marcia Cornell, MSN, RN-BC, EMT-P presented
“Celebrating the International Year of the Nurse
and Global Health” at the pre-convention evening
program of the Kids 2010: Diversity in Pediatric
Nursing Conference at Children’s Hospital in
October.
Jan Weinhardt, MSN, RN GCNS-BC presented
“Stroke Prevention/Recognition and Intervention”
at the Cuyahoga Falls Lions Club in October 2010.
Tim Norman, RN, CCRN received the 2nd Annual
“Gift of Life” Nursing Excellence Award in
October at the LifeBanc Organ Donor Summit in
October.
Barbara A. Brunt, MA, MN, RN-BC, NE-BC had
articles on “Facilitating the Establishment of a Just
Culture” and “Evaluating Outcomes Demonstrates
Value of Education” published in the July and
December 2010 issues of Briefings on EvidenceBased Staff Development
Jocelyn Davis, DNP, MSN, RN, CNM, is the
Principal Investigator of the perinatal mood
disorders arm of a $164,196 Summa Research and
Innovation Award grant.
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Victoria Wells, MSN, RN, CAPA, was selected as
the 2011 Nurse of the Year by Nursing 2011. She
will be recognized at their annual conference in
April in Nashville.
Sandy Germano, BSN, RN and Linda Gleespen,
BSN, RN presented a poster on “Meaningful Use . .
. Meaningful Outcomes: A Nursing-Focused
Success Story of a Computerized Clinical
Information System” at the NDNQI Conference in
Florida in January, 2011.
Suzanne Hughes, MSN, RN, FAHA, FPCNA was
named the 2011 AHA Heart Champion. Ms.
Hughes is known for her contributions to the field
of cardiology in the areas of research, education,
and patient care. She is an AHA Fellow and has
participated in American Heart Association
activities at both the local and national levels.
Carolyn Holder MSN, GCNS-BC and Kathy Wright
RN MSN, GCNS-BC, PMHCNS-BC, FGNLA
presented “Bridge to Home Transitional Model” to
the Premier ACO Implementation Collaborative via
teleconference, December 16, 2010.
Carolyn Holder MSN, GCNS-BC to present
“Defining a New Model of Health Care Delivery”,
2011 Winter Conference for Long Term Care &
Senior Living Executives, Ohio Health Care
Association Columbus OH, February 16, 2011.
Jane Soposky, MSN, RN, NEA-BC and Eileen
Fleming, MSN, RN, CNS did a paper presentation
on “Care Beyond – Identifying Nursing
Professional Practice Models at Summa Akron City
and St. Thomas Hospitals” at the Professional
Practice Models Conference in Dallas, TX on
February 25, 2011.
Jennifer A. Foster, BSN, RN, IBCLC, RLC was
elected Vice-President of the Ohio Lactation
Consultant Association (OLCA). According to its
website, OLCA is one of the oldest and most active
affiliates of the International lactation Consultant
Association.
Winter 2010
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Local News Reporters
The Delta Report - we are seeking reporters who
are willing to provide updates about nursing and
their organizations. The Delta report comes out
three times a year and is published on the Delta
Omega website.
Reporters are needed for the following:
Barberton Citizens Hospital
Akron General
Children’s Medical Center of Akron
I currently have listed the following reporters:
Robinson Memorial
Summa Health System
University of Akron
Jan Bahle
Barb Brunt
Linda Shanks
Focus on International
Collaboration
Wicked Problem Solving in a World Environment
Submitted by Elaine Fisher, PhD, RN, CNS
Chair of Research and Recognition Committee
I recently attended a conference in which the
speaker referred to complex human problems as
wicked problems. Wicked problems are categorized
as difficult or impossible to solve because of
incomplete, contradictory and changing
requirements; problems such as poverty, hunger,
cancer and social injustice. These are worldwide
problems that affect the health and well being of
world citizens and society. An awareness of the
commonality of wicked problems between nations
calls for integrated solutions with international,
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multidisciplinary efforts to resolve controversies in
care and establish best practices.
As we become an even more connected world
society with informational sharing capabilities, we
forge new linkages between nurse colleagues via
the internet, email, conferences and travel.
International collaborations are being formed to
work on important health problems, with nurses
increasingly recognized as key players on these
multidisciplinary teams. The exchange of ideas
offered by international panels of experts present
diverse perspectives regarding current treatment and
future research and can be a jumping off point to
solve wicked problems.
Clinical and research are also intricately linked in
the search to solve wicked problems. A major
nursing role involves generating and using the
findings from international data to compare and
assess differences in context and processes in regard
to protocols, i.e., policies and procedures.
Attending a conference in China, I had the
opportunity to visit a military hospital. An
important question based on my observation was,
“What are the similarities in critical care provisions,
including structure of the ICU, staffing ratios and
skill mix of personnel.” Literature has shown these
factors influence patient outcomes. Researchers and
clinicians must recognize context as an important
factor in solving important human problems.
International collaboration most recently helped
prevent, through the efforts of scientists and
healthcare professionals, an H1N1 pandemic. Other
international endeavors have succeeded in laying
foundations to define, classify and give prognosis of
disorders, e.g., chronic kidney disease, hepatorenal
syndrome, eczema and sepsis. From such efforts
consensus is developed to yield sets of core
outcomes leading to the development and
implementation of international guidelines.
Looking to our future, we can enhance nursing
student learning opportunities by expanding
international educational programs which include
travel to distant lands and learning strategies based
on dynamic and globally relevant programs.
Activities such as these will foster readiness to work
in teams on wicked problems. Emerging on college
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campuses across the nation are interprofessional
educational programs capable of cultivating
partnerships between students from diverse majors.
Such programs challenge students to work on
wicked problems as they interact with professionals,
patients and public policy makers to expand their
depth and breadth of working within diverse groups.
Student, faculty and clinical nurse exchange
programs designed to engage diverse two-way
sharing of accurate information, explore common
interests, healthcare projects and international
research collaborations provide opportunities to
move research further and faster. These research
collaborations decrease time lags between initiation
of research, publication of outcomes, and
international recognition.
Global collaboration in wicked problem solving is
necessary to bridge gaps between research, policy
and practice. As nurses of the world, I challenge
you not only to interface with other international
nurse colleagues but to become members of
multidisciplinary teams as you think broadly when
identifying goals toward building a science for
better care and improved outcomes for world
citizens.
Opportunities for Involvement
It that time of year when we are putting together
the ballot for the Delta Omega Chapter. The
following positions are open on the ballot.
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT; SECRETARY; LEADERSHIP
SUCCESSION COMMITTEE (1) GOVERNANCE COUNCIL
(ELECT 2); FACULTY COUNSELOR (MUST BE FACULTY
MEMBER FROM UA NURSING DEPARTMENT)
If you would rather get started with a committee,
committee spots that are available include:
AWARDS COMMITTEE; BYLAWS COMMITTEE;
INDUCTION COMMITTEE; NEWSLETTER/WEB
COMMITTEE; PROGRAM COMMITTEE’ WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE; RESEARCH GRANTS COMMITTEE
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If you are interested in finding out more information
or serving as an officer or on a committee, please
contact Christine Graor at [email protected]
Need Money??
Have you been accepted to present a paper or poster
at a convention and wondered how you are going to
get the money to attend? A Task Force formalized
the process by developing submission guidelines
and requirements, as well as a Scholarly Activity
Funding Request Form. You can find these on the
Delta Omega website at
www.uakron.edu/nursing/about-us/stti/scholarlyactivity-funding.dot
Winter 2010
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Event

Sigma Theta Tau International
Delta Omega Chapter
Calendar of Events 2011
Date
Time
Location
Akron General Medical
Center
Winter Program
January 19, 2011
6:00 pm
Board Meeting
January 24, 2011
5:00pm
Winter Program
February 3, 2011
6:00 pm
MGH 101
Akron General Medical
Center
Information Session
Research Grants
Deadline
February 7, 2011
February 15, 2011
12:00 noon
MGH 306
Board Meeting
February 28, 2011
Newsletter deadline
5:00pm
MGH 101
March Program
March 3, 2011
7:30 am – 4:15 pm
Summa Health System
Awards Deadline
March 15, 2011
Board Meeting
March 28, 2011
5:00pm
MGH 101
Induction /Awards
April 10, 2011
2:00 pm
Quaker Station
Spring
Program\Business
Meeting
April 14, 2011
5:30pm
TBA
Board Meeting
April 25, 2011
MGH 101
Board Meeting
May 23, 2011
5:00 pm
Newsletter deadline
5:00 pm
MGH 101
Transition Meeting
June 27, 2011
5:00pm
MGH 209
Visit the Calendar of Events on our website for important deadlines and upcoming events:
http://www.uakron.edu/nursing/about-us/stti
Sigma Theta Tau, International
Delta Omega Chapter
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