Sigma Theta Tau
International Honor Society of Nursing
THE DELTA REPORT
DELTA OMEGA CHAPTER
Fall 2015
Co-Editors – Rachel Patterson and Carolyn Sutter
Delta Omega Officers
Message from the President: Linda Shanks
President—Linda Shanks [email protected]
1st Vice President - Lisa Hart [email protected]
2nd Vice President –
Greer Kabb-Langkamp [email protected]
Immediate Past President –
Kathy Rose [email protected]
Treasurer – Kathy Rose [email protected]
Corresponding Secretary –
Cheryl Buchanan [email protected]
Archivist – Dina Dornack [email protected]
Faculty Counselor –
Carolyn Sutter [email protected]
Program Committee Chair –
Lisa Hart [email protected]
Leadership Succession Committee Aris Eliades [email protected]
Marilyn Perkowski [email protected]
Eileen Fleming [email protected]
Research Grants & Recognition Co-Chairs –
Marlene Huff [email protected]
Barb Brunt [email protected]
Governance Chair
Carolyn Sutter [email protected]
Karrie Boss [email protected]
Lori Ramnytz [email protected]
Newsletter Co-Editor
Rachel Patterson [email protected]
Carolyn Sutter [email protected]
As I begin my first year as president of the
Delta Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau
International, I would like to share with you some of
the achievements, upcoming events, and invite you to
become more involved with our chapter. We have a
very active chapter and recently received our 12th
Chapter Key Award! We are one of only two chapters
who have received this award 12 times. The Chapter
Key Award honors STTI chapters that excel in
chapter-related activities. Membership recruitment and
retention, publicity and programming, professional and
leadership development, and local, national and
international collaboration are areas that Sigma Theta
Tau examines in determining whether a chapter will
receive the Key Award. Our chapter also recently
received two Showcase of Regional Excellence
Awards: The Delta Omega Connectedness Award and
the Delta Omega Gratitude Award. All this was made
possible by the support and involvement of our
members.
Delta Omega provides three CE programs
each year. Thank you to Lisa Hart and others on our
programming committee for all of their hard work in
making this possible. Watch your emails for
information on upcoming programs. We are also
involved in volunteer activities such as providing bag
lunches for children at OPEN-M, and we sponsor a
family or two at Christmas (presents for the children
and a gift card for food).
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FALL 2015
THE DELTA
REPORT

Message from the President: Linda Shanks
Continued
We wish to recognize
Brunt
Donations are appreciated and emails will be sent
with more information. In January and September we will
be providing a hot lunch at OPEN-M and welcome
volunteers.
Participation of the chapter members is needed to
accomplish our goals and activities. Please let us know if
you want to become more involved and I will get you
connected with the chair of the appropriate committee. I
can be reached at 330-808-5261 or [email protected]. I
look forward to hearing from you!
Linda Shanks
Barb
who received the
Dorothy Garrigus Adams Award
for Excellence in Fostering
Professional Standards
The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta
Tau International (STTI) honors nurses and
health care professionals for their
contributions to professional excellence with
the 2015 International Awards for Nursing
Excellence. These awards were presented
during the 43rd Biennial Convention in Las
Vegas, Nevada on November 9, 2015.
Barbara A. Brunt, MA, MN, RN-BC, NE-BC
was one of five nurses in the world
recognized with a founder’s award. There
are awards recognizing each of the nurses
that founded STTI, honoring their
accomplishments. Awards are presented for
excellence in creativity, research, education,
nursing practice, and fostering professional
standards. Ms. Brunt received the Dorothy
Garrigus Adams Award for Excellence in
Fostering Professional Standards.
STTI president Hester Klopper, PhD, MBA,
RN, RM, FANSA said “These International
Award winners have been given the highest
compliment being nominated by the nursing
and health care professional peers and
colleagues to recognize their professional
excellence and personal commitment to the
profession.”
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FALL 2015
THE DELTA
REPORT

ANNUAL SPRING
INDUCTION CEREMONY
Sigma Theta Tau International
Honor Society of Nursing
Delta Omega Chapter
SUNDAY
APRIL 12, 2015
WELCOME
Lyn Benedict, MSN, RN
President
Dr. Marlene Huff, MSN, PhD, RN
Interim Associate Director, College of Health
Professionals
Interim Director, School of Nursing
The University of Akron
INDUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS
Lyn Benedict, MSN, RN
Greer Kabb-Langkamp, BSN, MA, RN
Second Vice President
PRESIDENT’S CHARGE
AWARDS PRESENTATION
Christine Heifner-Graor, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC,
Chair, Awards and Recognition
Carolyn Sutter, DNP, RN, CNP
Chair, Governance Committee & Faculty Counselor
Lyn Benedict, MSN, RN
Excellence in:
Nursing Leadership: Cynthia Struk, MSN, PhD, RN PNP
Nursing Practice: Briana Ricciardi, BSN, RN
Nursing Research: Lori Ramnytz, MSN, RN, CAPA
Nursing Education: Christine Benson, MSN, RN-BC
Nursing Mentoring: Kim Kerr, MSN, RN
Nursing Research Utilization: Eileen Fleming, MSN, RN
Outstanding:
Graduate Nursing Studeny: Jason Legg, BSN, RN
Undergraduate Nursing Student: Deanna Klettlinger, UA
Nurse Leader Members Summer2015:
Carol Santschi MSN, RN-BC, CNOR(E)
Lori Ramnytz MSN, RN, CAPA
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NEW MEMBERS
Nurse Leaders
Clarisse Buchanan
Valarie L Grant
Graduate Students
Leah Bork (**)
Lauren Buehrle(**)
Jessica Erin Crimaldi
Angelo Gabriele Donatelli
(**)
Elizabeth Hight (**)
Renee Jett
Sarah Kalbus (**)
Heather Krichbaum
Richard John Kucera, Jr.
(**)
Jill Markle (**)
Nilda Mercado (**)
Marilyn Sue Nibling (**)
Julia Peterson (**)
Alexis Santangelo (**)
Eboni Steens (**)
Jennifer Tucholski (**)
Undergraduate
Students
Olivia Mary Albers
Shannon Bauch
Amanda Blomerley (**)
Sheri-Lyn Boggs
Devin Matthew Bremke
Meghan Grace Brickner
Erica Bryant (**)
Hope Caldwell (**)
Tera Marie Dannemiller
Marc George Dantimo
Brandyn Davis
Angela M. Fernandes (**)
Millicent Fiagmedzi (**)
Hannah Greczanik
Chelsea Groves
Lisa Gyurgyik (**)
Kaylin Marie Hauler
Allison Marie Heimburger
Evan Grant Heiner
Rebecca Holliday
Lauren Michelle Hurley
Emily Jones
Christie Kello
Megan Marilyn Kuhlman
Ashley Lamb
Nicole Elizabeth Langhais
Patricia Lloyd
Payton Taylor Lloyd
Vincent Alden Lupico
Anna Marsi (**)
Mallory Martha
Brittany Metzgar
Mackenzie Leigh Mosley (**)
Jessica Murphy
Olateju Olowe
Kayla Osoteo
Lisa Padro-Baire
Rachel Leah Patterson
Julia Elizabeth Schwarz
Danielle Kathryn Simones
Nicole Lynn Staples
Tiffany Nicole Steel
Amanda Lynn Stripe
Daniel Whited
Michelle Wolf
Emily Ziehm
Accelerated Undergraduate
Students
Krystal Ann Beckelhimer
Kimberly Cherry
Erin Dean (**)
Nila Ellison
Sara Elizabeth Flanders
Kristen Lowther
Rebecca MacGregor
Brooke Miller
Amy Vidka
Amber Wurgler
RN-BSN Students
Jill Cappabianca (**)
Andrea Marie Faurot
Joy Frye
Warren Christopher Isernia
Mark Stephen Jarjisian
Karen Jenkins
Xiaolei Jiang
**Not Present
Key Award
FALL 2015
THE DELTA
REPORT

Delta Omega
Chapter of
Sigma Theta
Tau
received its
12th KEY
AWARD!
Showcase of excellence award
Delta Omega Chapter also received the Showcase
of excellence Award for connectedness and
gratitude. It is displayed in the Delta Omega
display board on the 2nd floor of MGH.
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FALL 2015
THE DELTA
REPORT

Summa transformed clinical questions into
research and EBP projects.
Delta Omega Fall Program
Delta Omega’s Fall Program
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Akron General Medical Center
Delta Omega’s Fall 2015 program, “Why do we do it
that way?” Answering Clinical Questions featured
four outstanding speakers: Christine Heifner-Graor,
Aris Eliades, Eileen Fleming and Kimberly Kerr.
Each speaker presented for approximately 20 minutes,
engaging the audience in achieving the program goals
of understanding how different organizations and
resources assist nurses to develop research, evidence
based practice (EBP) implementation or performance
improvement (PI) projects. The turnout for the
program was fantastic with approximately 30 nurses
in attendance.
The first speaker, Chris Heifner-Graor, PhD, MSN,
APMHCNS-BC, RN is an Associate Professor in the
College of Health Professions, School of Nursing at
the University of Akron. Chris presented a wonderful
and thorough understanding of how to define
research, EBP and PI and several implementation
models related to them.
Aris Eliades, PhD, RN, CNS, was our second speaker
and is the Director of Operations and Nursing
Research at the Rebecca D. Considine Research
Institute at Akron Children's Hospital. Aris presented
a historical perspective of the development of nursing
research at Akron Children’s since 2000 as well the
organization’s multi-faceted and ongoing support of
nursing research. Aris also provided specific
examples of how nurses at Akron Children’s have
engaged in research.
The third speaker, Eileen Fleming, MSN, RN, CNS,
NE-BC, Nursing Research Coordinator at Summa
Akron City and St. Thomas hospitals, presented on
Summa’s organizational approach to supporting
nursing research and their use of EBP implementation
models, such as the IOWA Model Revised. Eileen
presented many wonderful examples of how nurses at
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The program ended with a wonderful presentation
from our fourth speaker, Kimberly Kerr, MSN,
NEA-BC, RN-BC, CCRN, Director of Nursing
Professional Practice, Development & Research at
Akron General Medical Center. Kim also
presented an overview of how research, EBP and
PI has been revitalized at Akron General and how
they have facilitated nursing and nurse manager
engagement in these processes. Kim provided an
excellent example of a PI project to promote
nurses taking breaks and lunch during their shift.
We are very thankful to Chris, Aris, Eileen and
Kim for sharing their expertise and to Akron
General Medical Center for providing the venue
and the wonderful food! Our programs are a great
way to learn and to network!
Submitted by Lisa Hart, 1st Vice President, Delta
Omega Chapter
Research Grants and Recognition and program (B.
Brunt, M. Huff)
• Abstracts will be peer reviewed and the
next deadline for submission is Feb. 15,
2016.
Recognitions Committee
• All Delta Omega members are able to
submit nominations for awards. Awardees
do not have to be Delta Omega members.
Think ahead about whom you will
nominate next winter. We need
nominations from more Delta Omega
members.
FALL 2015
THE DELTA
REPORT

Membership (G Kabb-Langkamp):
• A membership survey went out on 10/18 to
those who have been recently inducted. So far,
18 responses have been given. The survey
ends on 11/15/15.
Program Committee
• L.Shanks and L. Hart are planning a winter
program with the KSU chapter in the future,
as an opportunity to collaborate on a winter
program.
• Annual Spring Research Conference,
Tuesday, May 17, 2015. Same format: 3
hours, one keynote speaker and 3 additional
speakers. Theme: Continuing the Journey.
Theme: dissemination- sharing results.
•
•
Delta Omega members are in charge of
shopping, assembling, and delivering bag
lunches for the appropriate amount of kids.
Delta Omega Bag Lunch Dates: November
24th, January 14th, February 4th, March 3rd,
April 7th, and May 5th
Volunteers are welcome for all Open-M
events! Please contact any Delta Omega
Officer if you are interested.
Governance
• C. Sutter asked Biennial convention attendees
to check on updates to bylaws.
OPEN-M Christmas for the Love of Children:
December 2015
• Adopt a family for Christmas: Delta Omega
chapter can sponsor approximately 10
children. We will drop off the gifts,
unwrapped, but also supply wrapping paper
and supplies for wrapping. Also we will
supply gift cards for food to the families of the
children sponsored.
OPEN-M Hot lunches
• OPEN-M serves hot lunches weekdays, on the
last 2 weeks of the month. Delta Omega
provides hot lunches and as a chapter we
agreed to provide Sloppy Joes, chips, carrots,
celery, ranch dip and desserts. There are 3
shifts available: 9-11am Set-up, 11-1pm
Serving Meals, and 1-3pm Clean up.
Open M Bag Lunches
• Bag lunches are provided for kindergarten
students once a week.
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Congratulations to Jessica Truesdell on
receiving the Sigma Theta Tau Delta Omega
Nurse Excellence Award for Akron Children’s
Hospital!
Jessica received the award on July 30, 2015
after being nominated by her fellow co-workers:
Joyce Burton, Nancy Mosca, and Meghan Weese.
Jessica is seen as an outstanding nurse who
exemplifies the ideal standards for this award.
Jessica works to help reduce skin breakdown and
pressure ulcers. Jessica has her specialty
certification in wound care and is a member of the
Pressure Ulcer work group. Jessica exemplifies
superb leadership skills and is truly an advocate
for her patients.
FALL 2015
THE DELTA
REPORT

Dina Dornack and Barb Brunt served as the Delta
Omega delegates for the STTI 2015 Convention, held
in Las Vegas from November 7th through November
11th. More than 2,000 nurses attended the
convention, and this report presents the highlights of
the convention.
On Saturday November 7th, STTI President, Hester
Klopper, PhD, MBA, RN, RM, FANSA, FAAN
presented the opening keynote session, following a
flag processional. She highlighted initiatives that
supported her call to action over the last biennium.
This was followed by a concurrent session, and then
the exhibit hall grand opening and welcome
reception, where attendees networked with one
another, connected with healthcare vendors and
learned about various STTI programs.
On Sunday November 8th, there was a plenary session
by Jacquelyn Campbell, PhD, MSN, RN, who
received the Epistone Laureate award. She shared the
results of her research and work to improve the health
of marginalized populations over the last 30 years.
After the keynote, attendees could attend their choice
of thirty concurrent sessions that were offered for
each time frame. These included something for
everyone – there were clinical, evidence-based
practice, leadership, and scientific sessions, as well as
special sessions, clinical symposium, and chapter
leader sessions for each time frame.
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Monday November 9th was a big day for Delta
Omega. We had two members (Lori Kidd and
Sheri Hartman) who had both a poster and
concurrent session. They spoke on “A Poverty
Simulation for Health Care Profession Students”
and also Lori had a poster on “Resilience and
Connectedness in Graduate Psychiatric Nursing
Students: Influence on a Virtual Community of
Practice (VCoP). That was also the day that Dina
Dornack accepted the 12th Key Award for the
chapter. We are one of two chapters in the world
who have received the key award twelve times.
That evening Barb Brunt received the Dorothy
Garrigus Adams Founders award for Excellence
in Fostering Professional Standards.
Tuesday November 10th had more concurrent and
poster viewing sessions, and then we had the first
session of the House of Delegates. The House of
Delegates continued on November 11th, where
they had the installation of officers and the
presidential Call to Action.
FALL 2015
THE DELTA
REPORT

Event
Date
Time
Fall Program
October 27, 2015
6:00 pm
Location
Akron General Medical
Center
OPEN-M Adopt a Family
December 2015
OPEN-M Bag Lunch
January 14. 2016
Board Meeting
January 25, 2016
5:00pm
MGH 101
Open M Hot Lunch
January 29, 2016
9am-2pm
OPEN-M Bag Lunches
Research Grants
Deadline
February 4, 2016
12:00 noon
February 15, 2016
Board Meeting
February 22, 2016
Winter Program
March 2016
OPEN-M Bag Lunches
March 3, 2016
Awards Deadline
March 15, 2016
Board Meeting
March 28, 2016
OPEN-M Bag Lunches
April 7, 2016
Induction /Awards
5:00 pm
MGH 306
6:00 pm
MGH 101
Akron General Medical
Center
5:00pm
MGH 101
April 10, 2016
2:00 pm
Student Union
Ballroom
Board Meeting
April 25, 2016
5:00 pm
MGH 101
OPEN-M Bag Lunches
May 5, 2016
Spring Program
May 17, 2016
5:00pm
5:00 pm
Summa Akron City
Hospital
Board Meeting
May 23, 2016
MGH 101
Visit the Calendar of Events on our website for important deadlines and upcoming events:
http://www.uakron.edu/nursing/about-us/stti
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
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