University of Kansas School of Nursing

📣 Calling all KU School of Nursing alumni and friends! We hope you'll join us for several events at the 2024 Alumni Reunion Weekend on Sept. 26-29. Don't miss the chance to reconnect at these exciting events: 🔹 School of Nursing Reception & Reunion 🔹 School of Nursing Class of 1974 Reunion 🔹 School of Nursing Class of 1994 Reunion 🔹 Distinguished Nursing Alumni Lecture with Christine Pabico, Ph..D’19, RN, NE-BC, FAAN Enjoy campus tours, the annual Alumni Awards luncheon and more. Check out the full schedule and secure your spot soon! https://bit.ly/3A8dGDH

Women who live in rural areas have a 9% greater chance of dying or suffering a severe health condition as a consequence of maternity compared with their urban counterparts. Researchers at KU Medical Center are working to change that. KU Medical Center has been awarded a four-year, nearly $4 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSAgov), HHS to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes in rural Kansas. The grant, which includes researchers from the schools of Medicine and Nursing, will fund the creation of a sustainable model of quality obstetrical services and care at a network of hospitals in three rural Kansas counties. Learn more:

Karen Weis, Ph.D., Christine A. Hartley Rural Health Nursing Endowed Professor at KU School of Nursing-Salina and director of research at the Kansas Center for Rural Health, is a featured speaker at the Kansas Rural Maternal Symposium on Oct. 4 in Salina. The symposium, hosted by the Kansas Center for Rural Health, will explore the latest and most pressing issues in maternity care across the state. Participants will be able to hear from experts in the field and dive into topics like the rising perinatal population, the challenge of OB deserts and navigating insurance coverage and reimbursement complexities. Learn more and register online today: https://bit.ly/480tllh

Some more of our favorite moments from the Dedication to the Profession ceremony 📷 Congratulations again to the Class of 2026! KU School of Nursing is excited to be a part of your journey.

The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center, based at KU School of Nursing, has issued its first official report, detailing the state of the nursing workforce in Kansas. The report pulls together data from 17 different sources and will be a vital resource for decision-making, program development and the formulation of public policy impacting nursing in the state. Analyzing data from various sources uncovered some key facts: “We hypothesized that the communities with more nurses would have better overall health outcomes,” said Amy Garcia, DNP, FAAN, co-director of the center. “We saw a direct correlation that was measurable and significant. The Kansans living in counties with fewer nurses have a lower quality of life and die younger. Simply put: The number of nurses matters to the health and well-being of Kansans.” Learn more and see the full report online: https://bit.ly/3AURfmc

Students on our Kansas City campus had the opportunity to learn about community organizations during a special event during our annual Hawk Week celebration. Hosted in partnership with the Office of Student Life and the Institute for Community Engagement, the event gave nursing students the chance to meet with local non-profit organizations. Students also helped assemble hygiene and household kits for those in need. A special thank you to all who participated! Reach Out and Read Kansas City BETHEL NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER Cross-Lines Community Outreach KC Shepherd's Center IMPACT KCK - Avenue of Life KC Mission Adelante Juntos Center for Advancing Latino Health Friends of Yates, Inc. PREP-KC Project Eagle ThrYve

This afternoon, we officially welcomed our Bachelor of Science in Nursing Class of 2026 at the Dedication to the Profession Ceremony. During the event, students received their jackets and recited an oath to the profession, signifying the beginning of their nursing careers. Please join us in offering a warm welcome to our 134 incoming BSN students! Learn more about today's event: https://bit.ly/4dxeMYP

On August 20, we gathered to officially welcome Jean Giddens, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, ANEF, as the new dean of KU School of Nursing. Joined by leadership from the University of Kansas Medical Center and The University of Kansas Health System, Dean Giddens shared her goals and plans for the future of our school. A native Kansan, alumna of the school and national nursing leader, Dean Giddens discussed an abundance of opportunities for our continued growth and success. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the celebration!

Congratulations to KU School of Nursing's 2024 Alumni Award honorees. The recipients will be recognized during Alumni Reunion Weekend at a luncheon on Sept. 27. Learn more about the honorees and join us in congratulating them online: https://bit.ly/3SPxMcH 🔹 Early Career Achievement in Nursing Alumna: Jennifer McNiel, MSN, BSN '08, RN, CPHQ 🔹 Honorary Nursing Alumna: Mary Beth Warren, M.S., RN 🔹 Distinguished Nursing Alumna: Christine Pabico, Ph.D. '19, RN, NE-BC, FAAN

KU School of Nursing is expanding the nursing workforce through Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded opportunities. DNP student Maddie Schulte, RN, BSN, is a recipient of the Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW): Grow and Stay grant. “The ANEW grant helped me immensely throughout the past three semesters," said Maddie. "The grant money gave me the financial freedom to focus so much more on learning and really getting the full experience in my rural clinical setting. Dr. Gray and Dr. Paramesh were pivotal throughout this program, and I am so grateful for their wealth of knowledge and help. I feel very well prepared to serve my community!” The ANEW grant allows nurses, nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives to earn up to $25,000 while studying and serving in rural, urban and/or tribal underserved communities with focus in the areas of mental health, maternal-child health, and substance use disorders. Learn more about the ANEW program: https://bit.ly/3SyEl3f This ANEW: Grow and Stay project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $2.58 million with 0 percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The ANEW: Grow and Stay project period runs from 07/01/2023 to 06/30/2027. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information visit HRSA.gov.