Clinical director of surgical technology earns doctorate

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Elizabeth S. Gizenski, clinical director of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s surgical technology program, recently earned a doctor of healthcare administration degree from Walden University.

Gizenski’s dissertation, titled “Newly Licensed Registered Nurse Generation Cohorts and Retention in First Registered Nurse Positions,” evaluated the association between newly licensed registered nurses by generational cohorts and newly licensed RNs who plan to leave or have left their first nursing position.

The results of her study suggest that organizations struggling with poor newly licensed RN retention may be able to predict intent to leave based on age group. Developing orientation programs based on generational preferences regarding technology, delivery of learning materials and type of hands-on instruction from which each age group would benefit the most may contribute to increased retention of new RNs.

Gizenski is a certified surgical technologist and registered nurse. She holds bachelor’s degrees in nursing and applied health studies and associate degrees in nursing and surgical technology, all from Penn College, and a master of science in health care administration from King’s College, where she was inducted into the Alpha Epsilon Lambda graduate students honor society.

She began her work with the college’s surgical technology program in 2005. In addition to serving as clinical director of surgical technology, she is a part-time operating room nurse for UPMC and teaches in Penn College’s applied health studies program.

Penn College offers an associate degree in surgical technology that can be continued to a bachelor’s degree in applied health studies. The bachelor’s level coursework can be completed online. To learn more, call 570-327-4519 or visit www.pct.edu/surgical.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.