UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa— U.S. Representative Fred Keller (PA-12) recently visited the Penn State College of Nursing and met with college leadership, faculty, researchers and student leaders.
Laurie Badzek, dean of the College of Nursing, welcomed Keller and shared the many ways in which faculty and students advance nursing practice and health care, especially in rural Pennsylvania. According to Dean Badzek, “the mission and vision of the college is to produce leaders across all levels of nursing and in all settings, to positively impact health and health care of all people in Pennsylvania and beyond. That is what Penn State Nursing is all about.”
Presentations and demonstrations included:
- The Center for Geriatric Nursing from Donna M. Fick, Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence director and Elouise Ross Eberly professor of nursing, and Erica Husser, Geriatric Workforce Education Program project director.
- The telehealth solution for sexual assault victims SAFE-T Center from Sheridan Miyamoto, SAFE-T Center principal investigator and assistant professor of nursing.
- The college’s support of community and veterans care from Beth Cutezo, assistant teaching professor, and Susan Maynard, doctor of nursing practice student.
A panel of undergraduate student leaders presented on activities of the pre-professional organizations and their work to improve societal wellness at local, state, and national levels through nursing organization engagement.
Rep. Keller also toured the simulation laboratory with nursing students Jaiden Coyne and Sarah Duffy, who shared that active learning reinforced knowledge, enhanced clinical and communication skills, and enabled them to learn in a collaborative, non-threatening environment.
Keller said, "Nurses are often the front line of medical care and seeing the training they receive both before and during their practice lives was both helpful and impressive. The people of the Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District are thankful for having a tremendous resource like Penn State right in out back yard."