During these unprecedented and exceptionally challenging times, I could not be prouder of the School of Nursing. Our faculty and staff quickly shifted to online platforms to finish the spring semester. Our students have continued working diligently on their studies. And, our alumni have stayed connected and supportive. Many of you are simultaneously on the front lines, caring for COVID-19 patients.

All of us feel the impact to the healthcare field and know the effects will continue for some time to come. In the midst of this, you continue being courageous nurse leaders, making a difference one patient at a time. Thank you for all you do to provide exceptional care, especially at this time when our world is not how we have known it or want it to be.

Stay safe and well,
Laura Bernaix, PhD, RN, Dean

Master’s in Nursing 11th Most Affordable Nationally

Onlineu.org has ranked the School of Nursing's Master of Science in Nursing - Healthcare and Nursing Administration program 11th in the nation on its list of the 2020 Most Affordable Colleges. The methodology for the rankings incorporates a return on investment formula to show accredited programs with the best value.

“I can’t think of a better place than SIUE for a graduate nursing student!” said Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs Andrew Griffin, PhD, CRNA, APRN. “Student satisfaction is high, students are meeting their outcomes, and they are getting quality jobs. And as OnlineU has indicated, we are among the most affordable options in the nation. I couldn’t be more excited regarding what we are achieving at SIUE.”

Learn more about the rankings.

School Hosts Virtual ANEW Conference

The School of Nursing had planned to welcome nearly 300 Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) and students to campus in March for its Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) program's first continuing education conference. When on-campus activities were suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty members worked quickly to transition the conference to a virtual format.

“We received so much interest from healthcare providers in the bi-state area for this conference, so it meant a lot to us to be able to deliver on our commitment to provide educational credits to this group, despite current COVID-19 challenges,” said Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Site Coordinator and Instructor Melissa Bogle, DNP, FNP-BC, ACNP-BC. “The majority of attendees are required to have this type of opioid-focused education to renew their licenses within the state of Illinois.”

Learn more about the conference.

Nursing Student Travels to New York to Treat Coronavirus Patients in ICU

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) student Brooke Buffington, RN, selflessly agreed to travel to New York in April to bring help and relief to patients and her medical colleagues who are “overworked and emotionally stressed.” Buffington earned a bachelor’s in nursing from SIUE in 2017, and began the DNP FNP program in 2018.

“I chose to pursue a career in nursing, so that I could serve people in their most vulnerable state,” Buffington said. “I will be working in one of the ICUs treating COVID patients at NYC Health+Hospitals in North Central Bronx. My contract is at least four weeks long. I will be working a rotation of seven days on with two-day breaks in between.”

Learn more about Buffington's journey.

Student Nurses Association Raises $3,000 for Students in Need

The School of Nursing's Student Nurses Association (SNA) hosted a flash store this spring to help raise funds for their fellow students undergoing hardship due to COVID-19 through the SIUE Student Emergency Assistance Fund. The store featured t-shirts with the saying, "We're all in this together," along with SIUE face masks. In only two weeks, the store raised $3,000 for the Student Emergency Assistance Fund, thanks in part to a $485 donation from Casual Tees.

“SNA knows that numerous students are struggling financially as many have lost their jobs or have parents out of work,” said SNA President Sydney Kesner, who graduated in May. “A major aspect of SNA is service to the University. We raise money annually for SIUE nursing scholarships. We hope that this fundraiser can assist some of our fellow students in need during the current crisis.”

Learn more about the fundraiser.

Gopalan Named 2020 Arthur C. Guyton Educator of the Year

Hailed as an “exceptional mentor,” “highly-accomplished and adaptable educator,” and an “authority on implementing flipped classrooms methodology,” Chaya Gopalan, PhD, has been named the American Physiological Society’s (APS) 2020 Arthur C. Guyton Educator of the Year.

Gopalan is an associate professor in both the School of Nursing's Department of Primary Care and Health Systems and the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior’s Department of Applied Health. The distinguished Arthur C. Guyton Educator of the Year Award honors Gopalan for excellence in classroom teaching at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels, and for her strong commitment to the improvement of physiology.

Graduate Completes Degree While Working Front Lines of COVID-19

As Kathleen Antos worked to complete her bachelor's in nursing this spring, she was also putting her compassionate care and technical skills to critical use amid a global pandemic. Antos is a nurse assistant at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hospital in St. Louis, where she cares for patients with a variety of complex diseases who require high-quality care.

“I love caring for these children and working alongside the most inspiring nurses a student could ever wish to have as mentors,” Antos said. She and her colleagues are exhibiting their compassionate care as much as ever as they deal with issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more about Antos.

Ampadu to Build Success of WE CARE Clinic in East St. Louis

The School of Nursing has managed the WE CARE Clinic in East St. Louis for more than 20 years, with the mission of providing comprehensive evidence-based primary care services to people in the Metro East area. Longtime clinic contributor  Jerrica Ampadu, PhD, RN, CCP, has been named the Clinic’s new director. 

“I am excited to be director at the WE CARE Clinic,” said Ampadu, a native East St. Louisan who earned her bachelor’s and master’s in nursing from SIUE in 1997 and 2002, respectively. “It will better allow me the opportunity to provide healthcare services to underserved and vulnerable populations, specifically residents of East St. Louis and surrounding communities.”

Learn more about the WE CARE Clinic.

Private support for the School of Nursing and our students is especially meaningful during these challenging and unprecedented times. Over the last few months, many alumni, faculty and friends have helped build and sustain our general development and scholarship funds through their generous gifts. They have also contributed to the newly established Student Emergency Assistance Fund, which directly helps SIUE students undergoing unexpected financial hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis.  

To learn more about ways to partner with the School of Nursing and the SIUE Foundation to make a direct impact on the education, lives and futures of students, please explore the following links:

Give to SIUE School of Nursing 

Give to SIUE Student Emergency Assistance Fund

Graduating Nurses Amid Pandemic: KMOV Talks to SIUE School of Nursing

SIUE Alumni Bravely Serve on the Front Lines of COVID-19

SIUE Nursing Alumnae, Soccer Teammates Share Front Lines Experience

SIUE Students in National Guard and Reserves Deployed as Essential Workers

SIUE and JALC Combine for Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing

SIUE Nursing Students Return to Costa Rica