Faculty Leadership & Mentoring Program Continues to Transform Nursing Education

NLN, NLN Foundation, and Johnson & Johnsons Campaign for Nursings Future Announce Second Group of Mentors and Proteges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY — November 20, 2008 — The National League for Nursing and the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education have announced the selection of a second group of mentors and proteges to participate in the innovative Faculty Leadership & Mentoring Program, supported by a grant from the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future.

The program began in early 2007 with a group of 10 — five experienced and five emerging leaders in nursing education — matched in accordance with their interests and experience. Patricia Young, PhD, RN, a professor at the Minnesota State University Mankato School of Nursing, will continue as project director, overseeing the group whose work will extend through the summer of 2009. In that time, each pair will complete their own leadership development project and the entire group will complete a collaborative project related to leadership in nursing education that, "it is hoped, will help transform the future of nursing education," said Dr. Young. Results of the group project will be presented at the 2009 NLN Education Summit, to be held in Philadelphia, September 23-26.

The inaugural cohort presented a qualitative research study on becoming a nurse educator-leader at the 2008 Education Summit in San Antonio in September. They will be presenting again at the NLN Leadership Conference in New Orleans in January 2009 where several of the mentor-protégé pairs will staff breakout sessions.

The selection of protégés was competitive; about 50 nurse educators submitted applications for the five available slots. Among the criteria applicants were required to meet were demonstrated evidence of teaching effectiveness and a clear rationale for specific leadership development goals. Mentors were chosen from among the fellows of the NLN Academy of Nursing Education, recognized visionary leaders committed to fostering excellence in nursing education.

"We are so proud to be partnering with Johnson & Johnson to nurture the future leaders in nursing education," noted Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN, the CEO of the NLN and the NLN Foundation. "And we are indeed fortunate to have todays leaders in nursing education, our NLN fellows, as enthusiastic, supportive mentors. I am confident that this program will lead to real innovation in nursing education, which will, ultimately, benefit all nursing students and therefore, the patients who rely on their professional preparation."

Following an initial meeting in early October at NLN headquarters in New York, the group participated in a conference call to fine tune the direction of individual and group projects.

Speaking of the programs success thus far, Dr. Young noted, "It works wonderfully. The protégés learn a great deal from their specific mentors, and additionally, everyone in the group learns from one another. The diversity of academic programs and diversity of geographic areas represented by the mentor-protégé pairs contribute to understanding different perspectives of leadership, as do the differing backgrounds and skill sets of the individuals."

Participants in the current NLN/Johnson & Johnson Faculty Leadership & Mentoring Program are:

Mentor: Kathleen B. Gaberson, PhD, RN, CNOR, CNE, ANEF, retired
Protégé: Theresa Adelman, MSN, RN, CEN, Methodist College of Nursing

Mentor: Marily Oermann, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF, University of North Carolina, Chapel HillProtégé: Deborah McCarter-Spaulding, PhD, WHNP-BC, RN, St. Anselm College

Mentor: Patricia Yoder-Wise, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, ANEF, Texas Tech University Health Sciences CenterProtégé: Debra Hagler, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, CCRN, CNE, Arizona State University College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation

Mentor: Mary Beth Hanner, PhD, RN, ANEF, Excelsior CollegeProtégé: Cindy Mulder, RNC, MS, MSN, WHNP-BC, FNP-BC, University of South Dakota

Mentor: Elizabeth Speakman, EdD, RN, CDE, ANEF, Thomas Jefferson UniversityProtégé: Theresa Puckett, MSN, RN, CPNP, CNE, Cuyahoga Community College

Reporters/Editors: To arrange interviews with awardees, please contact Karen R. Klestzick, chief communications officer, at 212-812-0376 or kklestzick@nln.org.

Dedicated to excellence in nursing , the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education offering faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 28,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members.

The mission of the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education is to raise, steward, and distribute funds that promote excellence in nursing education to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce.