IU School of Nursing Faculty Receive National Recognition from the National League for Nursing

Four IU School of Nursing faculty members were recognized during the annual National League for Nursing Education Summit, September 23-26, 2009--a four-day gathering of nurse educators and administrators at the Marriott Downtown in Philadelphia, PA.

Judith A. Halstead, DNS, RN, ANEF, executive associate dean for academic affairs and professor at the Indiana University School of Nursing (IUSON), was inducted into the office of President-Elect, Board of Governors. She will serve as president-elect of the NLN from 2009-2011 and take office as president for 2011-2013. Dr. Halstead has over twenty-eight years of experience in undergraduate and graduate nursing education, with a special focus on curriculum development and online education. She received her BSN and MSN from the University of Evansville, and her Doctorate in Nursing Science from Indiana University.

Pamela M. Ironside, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF, associate professor and director of the center for research in nursing education at IUSON, was the recipient of the NLN Award for Excellence in Nursing Education Research. This award recognizes a nurse scholar who has made significant contributions to nursing education knowledge through nursing education research in a variety of settings. Dr. Ironside is nationally and internationally known for her research on innovative pedagogies in nursing education. She received her BA in Nursing from Luther College, Decorah, IA, her MSN from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, and her PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Deanna Reising, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, ANEF and Sharon Sims, PhD, FAANP, ANEF are two of 21 fellows who were formally inducted into the NLN Academy of Nursing Education. The fellows, selected by the NLN Board of Governors, the oversight body for the Academy, have been chosen for their sustained and significant contributions to the field of nursing education.
This third class of fellows represents 20 schools of nursing throughout the United States and joins the 65 individuals who have been previously selected for this competitive honor since the NLN established the academy in 2007. Its mission is to foster excellence in nursing education by recognizing and capitalizing on the wisdom of outstanding individuals who have made enduring and substantial contributions to the field. It important to note that Drs. Halstead and Ironside are also fellows in this esteemed academy.
Dr. Reising is associate professor, department of adult health, on the Bloomington, Indiana campus of IUSON. Her areas of expertise are socialization of critical care nurses, and service-learning. She earned her BSN and PhD in Nursing Science at Indiana University, and her MS in Clinical Nurse Specialist/Adult Health at Purdue University.

Dr. Sims, chair and professor, department of family health, is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner with an interest in behavioral pediatrics and pediatric home health care. She conducts research in the area of pediatric home health care and has published findings from this research in the Western Journal of Nursing Research and Image. Dr. Sims obtained her BS from Metropolitan State College of Denver, her MS from University of Colorado, and her PhD from University of Utah.

“Innovative and cutting-edge programs are critical to nursing education, especially in light of the nursing faculty shortage. Drs. Halstead and Ironside are key leaders in curricula changes that are being incorporated into schools across our country. IUSON is well-known for its excellence in nursing education, research and best practices which are strongly supported by our faculty, staff and administrators in an environment conducive to learning. Also, I am so very pleased that Drs. Reising and Sims were selected to be Fellows of the Academy and know both will be great resources in the Academy,” said Marion E. Broome, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean and distinguished professor at IUSON. “In addition, we are all very proud of Dr. Halstead’s achievement of being elected president-elect of the NLN Board of Directors--a testament to her commitment to nursing education and Dr. Ironside’s receipt of this special NLN award that recognizes her accomplishments in nursing education research.”

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Dedicated to excellence in nursing education, the National League for Nursing is the preferred membership organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. NLN members include nurse educators, education agencies, health care agencies, and interested members of the public. The NLN offers faculty development programs, networking opportunities, testing and assessment, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 28,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members.

For more information on the IU School of Nursing, please visit http://nursing.iupui.edu.