Member spotlight - Kathy Parrish

Epsilon Omicron member Kathy Parrish was inducted into the chapter in 1982. She currently lives in Judsonia, AR, with her husband Donnie, daughter Cindy, and grandson Joseph. She also has 2 "grown" sons, Ronnie and Daniel. Her daughter-in-law, Steffie (married to Daniel), graduated this past spring from Harding's nursing program, and Kathy is "very proud of her." Steffie works at White County Medical Center. Kathy is currently employed as an APN by Heart Clinic Arkansas, Searcy office, and works with Dr. Leon Blue in cardiology. Most of her work is done at WCMC.

Kathy has been a nurse 30+ years. Graduating in the Beta class from Harding University in 1978, she furthered her education at University of Arkansas Medical Sciences with a Master's of Nursing Science as a family nurse practitioner in 1997. Regarding her nursing interests, Kathy states, "I am very much a 'clinician' with a strong interest and background in cardiology. Nursing has been very good to me - I have been a staff nurse, nurse manager, nurse administrator, educator, and now advanced practice nurse. I feel nursing was a 'calling' for me and it has been a wonderful experience. I love being a nurse, and am always proud of it. When patients try to compare me to a doctor, I always correct them. I am a nurse because I want to be. I get to relate to patients in a unique way because of that. I value my physician colleagues but don't want to BE them."

When asked what she has seen change in nursing, Kathy says, "Things have changed SO MUCH!! When I graduated as RN, we still wore caps and white uniforms (dresses, even). One RN, one LPN, and 4 nurses aides cared for 28 patients. I remember the first IV pump at the local hospital - before that we 'counted drops' to control rate of infusion. Patients routinely got IM medications for pain. Nurses proudly wore not only school pins, but Sigma Theta Tau pins and evidence of ACLS and PALS certifications on uniforms. Nothing was computerized. I can even remember as nurses aide in 1977 doing 'p.m.' care, including rubbing backs with lotion, for patients. I also remember patients being admitted to the hospital just for "tests" or as a "rest"!! Now everybody is really, really sick and care routinely includes things like dialysis, which once was considered 'heroic'."

What would Kathy like to see change in healthcare? There are so many bureaucratic rules about reimbursement that fail to acknowledge the value of the APN/physician "team". And so much nurse time is taken up by documentation that sometimes patients don't get as much "personal" attention as before. There are so many checklists, etc., to meet different regulatory and "quality" measurement programs.

Kathy's advice for new members---read, read, read. "Read journals every month, even after you graduate. Your education as a nurse has just begun when you get that license. Learn something new every day. Pay attention, ask questions, THINK! Stay active in professional groups (as your life will allow), but also have 'a life' outside of nursing."

Initially, Kathy became a member of Sigma Theat Tau because it was an honor and privilege. "Now," she states, "(it is) because I value the profession of nursing and want to support organizations that advance the profession. And it's still an honor and privilege."

We value the membership of our graduates and nurse leaders!

Spotlight on Nell Ard

Nell Ard, PhD, CNS, RNC, CNE, was inducted into Epsilon Omicron on February 1, 1983. She currently lives in McKinney, TX. Dr. Ard is the Director of Nursing for Collin County Community College and Research Consultant for Medical Center of Plano. She graduated from Harding University (BSN) in 1983; West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M) - MSN in 1988; and University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - PhD in 1994. Currently her research interests focus on nursing education. She is working closely with the National League for Nursing.

When asked what she has seen change in nursing, Dr. Ard writes, "Overall the acuity of patient care has changed significantly during my career - many who didn't survive then are now are "regular" units while really sick patients are in ICU. I would like to continue to see more individuals come into the wonderful profession of nursing - we need more nurses to meet the needs of America. We also need more nurses willing to teach in our nursing programs - even though you do not 'get the BIG bucks'."

Her advice for new members is to "find your love of nursing and get involved. There is a need to add to the evidence base practice of nursing whether in direct patient care or in nursing education. Find someone younger to mentor in the process - even boys/girls in elementary and/or junior high school."

Dr. Ard's reasons for being a member of Sigma Theta Tau International are:
#1 it is a means of staying and/or getting involved in the future of the nursing profession.
#2 - I've always had a passion for research - now if I only had the time to do what I want.
#3 - It assists in keeping the nursing profession at the forefront of academia - wearing your cords with your regalia at graduation - always brings opportunties.

Spotlight on members

Each week we will spotlight two Epsilon Omicron members. Be looking for an email message asking for your update information. We want to use this space to keep in touch and start networking.

Fall 2008 - Induction of 23 New Members!

On November 10, 2008, Epsilon Omicron welcomed 23 new members at its induction ceremony. The ceremony took place in the American Heritage Conference Center on Harding University's campus. The guest speaker for the evening was Dr. Helen Lambert. Dr. Lambert spoke to the new members about making their practice their own. It was wonderful to have Dr. Lambert with us again. The new members come to us from all across the country and world. The new members are listed below along with their hometowns.
Elizabeth Allen, Corvallis, OR
Hannah Buzhardt, Pawleys Island, SC
Lauren Caldwell, Duluth, GA
Erica Casey, White House, TN
JM Corella, Scottsdale, AZ
Sarah Cox, Midlothian, TX
Jes Ellis, Dallas, TX
Ali Gerber, Hendricks, IN
Sara Grady, Nashville, TN
Kendyll Helf, Henderson, TX
Ashley Hunt, Searcy, AR
Tanya Johnson, Texarkana, AR
Christa Lewis, Transylvania, LA
Jesaca McCartney, Beebe, AR
Joanna Meeks, Stafford, TX
Katrina Miller, Cambridge, OH
Sarah Morgan, Bergamo, Italy
Kelly Passafiume, Little Rock, AR
Sarah Rummage, Antioch, TN
Gwendolyn Scott, Fulton, MO
Jessica Snell, Florence, AL
Lori Wise, Louisville, KY

Current Officers - 2009

President – Lisa Engel
Vice-President – Jackie Harris
Secretary – Patty Smith
Treasurer – Cheryl Lee
1st Counselor – Juli Lane
2nd Counselor – Lisa Engel
Chair – Governance – Cathleen Shultz
Chair – Leadership Succession – Michelle Mason

Tri-Chapter Research Day 2009

This year's Tri-Chapter Research Day is being held at Arkansas Tech University, in Russellville, AR, on Thursday, April 2. The theme is Nursing Research and Family-Centered Care and Judith MacFarlane will be the keynote speaker.

Deadline for submissions is February 23, 2009. Abstracts should be submitted by email to jhelms@atu.edu (Jennifer Helms, PhD, RN).

Hope to see you there!

New members inducted, November 26, 2007

Epsilon Omicron chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International inducted new members on November 26, 2007. The induction ceremony was held at the American Heritage Conference Center on the Harding University campus. The chapter was honored to have Elizabeth Lee, MSN, RN, speak regarding her recent trip to the National Convention. Inductees and their guests enjoyed a dinner prior to the ceremony. Inducted this year were:
Tracy Bailey, Searcy, AR
Anne Marie Coors, Golden, CO
Deron Johnson, Heber Springs, AR
Cara McCormick, Chattanooga, TN
Kala McNally, Louisville, KY
Reginald Randle, Lake Charles, LA
Sara Kathryn Smith, Conway, AR
Mary Valen, Searcy, AR
Jennifer Varner, BSN, RN, Searcy, AR

Induction - Fall 2006

Epsilon Omicron welcomed 17 new members on Monday, November 6, 2006. Kyle Vath opened the ceremony with a prayer. Cathleen Shultz was our guest speaker. She addressed the history of the honor society at Harding University College of Nursing. Chapter President Lisa Engel inducted the new members. A belated welcome to these members:

Cali Anderson, Nashville, TN
Jennifer Arnold, Romance, AR
Kristen Edwards, Jamestown, TN
Erin Griffith, Alpha, IL
Erin Guin, Tuscaloosa, AL
Jennifer Johns, Lancaster, OH
Meredith Lacy, Searcy, AR
Cynthia Landon, Groton, CT
Michelle Mason, BSN, RN, Searcy, AR
Meredith Pence, Jacksonville, FL
Sarah Petrillo, Littleton, CO
Erin Reese, Tulsa, OK
Millie Rummer, Utica, OH
Amy Sanders, Port Orchard, WA
Krista Spencer, Columbus, TN
Maribeth Thompson, Floral, AR
Brandon Thornton, Jonesboro, AR

Tri-Chapter Research Day 2008

The 18th annual Tri-Chapter Research Day was held March 13, 2008, at Harding University. The consortium of Epsilon Omicron, Eta Theta, and Kappa Rho-at-large chapters work each year to put together this seminar. This year's planning chapter was Epsilon Omicron.

The theme for the day was Research and Ethics: Protecting Vulnerable Populations. The theme was identified as nurses must have the ability to identify ethical dilemmas as research consumers and investigators. The program addressed the ethics of research, giving nurses and nursing students the tools to critically think about the situations they face in current practice.

The term “vulnerable populations” refers to groups that are at risk for developing “higher comparative mortality rates, lower life expectancy, reduced access to care, and diminished quality of life” (UCLA School of Nursing Center for Vulnerable Populations Research). These groups include pregnant women, unborn fetuses, newborns, children, prisoners, racial and ethnic minorities, the chronically ill, the mentally ill, and the financially impoverished. As researchers, nurses must work to create a balance: safeguard patients from the inherent risks of research, but also ensure that quality, applicable, and safe investigation is conducted to benefit all groups.

Our keynote speaker was Mr. Fred Gray. As a young attorney, Mr. Gray represented Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1972, he represented the participants in the notorious Tuskegee Syphilis Study. The U.S. Public Health Service recruited 623 African American men from Macon County, Alabama, for a study of the “the effects of untreated syphilis in the [African-American] male.” For the next 40 years—even after the development of penicillin, the cure for syphilis—these men were denied medical care for this potentially fatal disease. Mr. Gray has published two books, Bus Ride to Justice (1995) and The Tuskegee Syphilis Study (1998). In 1997, he established the Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center. Mr. Gray is a graduate of Nashville Christian Institute, Alabama State University and Case Western Reserve University. He is a senior partner at the law firm of Gray, Langford, Sapp, McGowan, Gray and Nathanson in Tuskegee and Montgomery, Alabama. He has served as president of the National Bar Association and the Alabama Bar Association.

The seminar was well attended, with around 500 attendees. Other speakers at the Research Day were:

Nelda New, PhD, RN
Jennifer Helms, PhD, RN
Cheryl Slaughter Smith, PhD, RN

DeeAnn Martin, MSN, APN
Julie Meaux, PhD, RNC

Angela Green, PhD, RN

Cathleen Shultz, PhD, RN, CNE, FAAN

Johnnetta Kelly, MNSc, RN
Rebecca Matthews, DNP, MNSc, IBCLC, RN

Epsilon Omicron Research Poster Awards Spring 2008

The Epsilon Omicron Research Poster Awards were given out during the HU College of Nursing Transition Ceremony in January 2008. The winners were:

1st Place - Beating Middle School Inactivity - Anne-Marie Coors and Kristin Stewart

2nd Place Tie

Improving Outcomes for Hispanics with Diabetes: A Holistic Approach by Laura Lemmons and Kala McNally

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension by Melissa Higgins and Kristen Smith

3rd Place Tie

The Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes in Hispanic Women by Triston Graham and Amy Thomas

Educating Nurses to Screen for Intimate Partner Violence Victims by JoJo Elliott and Cara McCormick

Congratulations to these graduating seniors on their hard work!

Epsilon Omicron Research Poster Awards Fall 2007

Each semester, Epsilon Omicron recognizes outstanding student research from the Nursing 412 research course. In the spring semester of 2007, this course was taught by Sheila Sullivan, Cheryl Lee, Jeanie Burt and Johnnetta Kelly. Winning posters receive a small monetary reward and a certificate of recognition. This fall's winners are:

1st Place Stress Reduction - Click a Button by Katelyn Kirby, LeaAnn Grieb, Jennifer Hughes, and Elizabeth Cramblett.

2nd Place Talking Through the Grief by Brian Hall and Anyan Parsons.

3rd Place Simple Olympics for a Sharp Mind by Morgan Booth and Stephanie Upchurch.

Congratulations to our winners!

Epsilon Omicron Research Poster Awards Fall 2006

Yes - you read that right! I'm playing catch up! During the August 2006 Transition Ceremony at Harding Univeristy College of Nursing, Epsilon Omicron presented awards to the following Nurs 412 (Nursing Research) students.

1st Place - Terminal Restlessness by Jennifer Arnold & Mandy Black

2nd Place - Unspoken Grief by Melanie Green and Rachel Rivas

Tie for 3rd Place

Simulating Natural Feeding in the NICU by Jenny Cummings and Jamie Jansen

Benefits of Kangaroo Care by Cali Anderson and Erin Reese.

The students received certificates and monetary awards. Very belated congratulations!

Welcome to Epsilon Omicron's Blog

After several attempts to communicate through the internet, I chose to establish a blog for Epsilon Omicron. By using the blog, Epsilon Omicron can communicate with its members all over the world. We'll use this to post articles, announcements, etc. Your comments and ideas are welcome!