College of

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

Spring 2015

IMPACTINGPUBLICHEALTH

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Dear College of Nursing Alumni and Friends,

The College of Nursing has officially reached the milestone of 80 years of exceptional education(1935-2015). I send my warmest regards to our alumni, partners, students and friends who are readingthis issue. Thank you for all of the exceptional ways that you represent the college. Youraccomplishments and support are cause for celebration! We are immersed in preparation for the 80thAnniversary Celebration of Excellence Gala that will take place April 10 on campus. I hope you will joinus as we pay tribute to the first 80 years, recognize alumni and friends with awards for excellence andenvision the future. Information about the celebration events will be available very soon on the SDSUAlumni Association website.

Impacting public health is the timely theme for this issue. The very foundation of professionalnursing practice and research is grounded in an understanding of the complex interplay betweenpersonal, biological, social and environmental factors that impact health status and quality of life.Regardless of role and practice setting, our students, faculty, professional staff and alumni apply theirknowledge to improve population health outcomes. This issue features partnerships with culturallydiverse communities that are essential to impacting health inequities among the people we serve.

In 1935, the United States was in the midst of a serious economic depression. That same year, thefirst-ever National Health Survey was initiated and its focus was on chronic disease and disability. Thesurvey was driven by a need for health-care reform, and the data generated showed that quantifiableinformation on morbidity and disability provided a broader view of the pressing public challenges thanthe previous use of mortality data only. The focus on chronicity identified that lower health status in apopulation was in part due to poverty.

Fast-forward 80 years and the entire U.S. health-care system is under intense transformation. Due tothe rising cost of care and the need for improved quality and patient satisfaction, population health hasemerged as an effective and essential health-care management strategy. Advanced practice and registerednurses have managed population health for more than a century. Those populations may be peopleliving with a particular chronic illness or perhaps they are people who share a common geography orcultural background. Regardless of the people served, nurses have consistently provided qualitypopulation-based care that has led to improved health indicators. As our entire health-care systemembraces this reality, we know the role of professional nursing in managing population health will beupheld as an exemplar of quality.

As our alumni and friends, you represent a population that will lead us into the future of betterhealth for all. Your past, present and future work is inspiring.

With best regards,

DEAN’S MESSAGE

Nancy Fahrenwald, Ph.D., RN, APHN-BC, FAANDean and ProfessorSDSU College of Nursing (BS, ’83)

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FeaturesImpacting Public Health — SDSU’s role improving the state’s health

2 — Students work on Crow Creek reservation6 — Strengthening Native American families to help youth8 — Using cultural traditions to help Native Americans

10 — Caring for the mind, body and spirit11 — College receives Impact Award12 — Examining smoke-free policies

Department news14 Eight join college’s faculty15 Former dean, alums receive honors16 Minton moves into associate dean role24 Worth receives college’s distinguished service award

Student news18 DNP students experience rural life20 Hinsch, Kittelsrud receive Jonas Scholarships20 Goodales create an endowed scholarship for an outstanding scholar

Alumni news21 Romness Foster and Relf named SDSU Distinguished Alumni 22 Teamwork still part of Mason’s life25 Dean’s Club25 Stacey Tait-Goodale Help celebrate the college’s 80th anniversary

The College ofNursingPresident of South Dakota State University: David L. Chicoine

Publications Editor: Andrea Kieckhefer

Design:Virginia Coudron

Editor:Matt Schmidt

Writers & Photographers: Christie Delfanian, Dave Graves, Karissa Kuhle and EmilyWeber

Special thanks to the College of Nursing for its assistance.

This publication is published by the Office of University Marketing and Communications,South Dakota State University,Brookings, S.D. 57007-1498.

7,500 copies printed by the College of Nursing at $1.66 each. NU025 2/15

Cover photo:Brittany Raap and Lindsey Clem, a pair ofDecember 2014 graduates, review abrochure during their time with the IndianHealth Serivces Center in FortThompson.They were part of a group ofeight students who spent a week on theCrow Creek reservation as a public healthclinical opportunity.To learn more about theirvisit, see page 2.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

Winter 2015

College of

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College can be about experiencingdifferent things. Eight College ofNursing students did just that when

spending one week on the Crow CreekReservation.In addition to working at the Fort

Thompson Indian Health Service, thestudents also visited homes and immunizedstudents at the Crow Creek Tribal School.Nursing students have been going to FortThompson since 2008.All stated they came away with a different

perspective not only of life on thereservation but also of nursing and healthcare.“I would encourage others to step outside

their comfort level and participate,” saidBrittany Raap, a senior from Montrose. “Ifeel it opened my eyes as a student to adifferent way of living, and I learned a lotfrom participating. I got to see how creativeand dedicated the health-care workers are atan IHS clinic. They don’t have easy access to

resources. I learned some resourcefulnessskills that will help me to be a better nurse.Even if other students don’t feel like theoutreach effort is anything they would everwant to do, I encourage them to go andparticipate because in the end you can sayyou’ve experienced something unique and itmay strike an interest in somethingcompletely new.”“Being aware of the limited access to

health care is an eye-opener,” Rappcontinued. “It made me rethink what path Iwant to take after I graduate.”Like Raap, others were eager to learn

about health care and life on the reservation.Several students—Kayla Feuchtenberger,Morris, Minnesota; Shauna Foor, Chesterton,Indiana; Zachary Gebhart, Mitchell; andRyan Guthmiller, Yankton—worked withAbby Bacon (BS ’07/MS ’12) at the CrowCreek Tribal School.“I hope to teach the students what rural

health and public service can mean to a

“I realized that we were trying to

help patients but we had no idea

what was realistic to ask of them.

We were asking patients to follow

treatment plans but we had no

idea how feasible it was for them

to follow through. I wanted to learn

what resources are available on

the reservation.”

Kayla Feuchtenberger Morris, Minnesota

Work on Crow Creek Reservation impacts community through sustained programs

IMPACTING STUDENTS’ CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

Crow

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population, along with its challenges andbenefits,” said Bacon. “Although it is anintense week, I am always a bit moreinspired at the end of the experience. Thestudents seem to bring new life to theeveryday workweek, and it’s nice to see theirenthusiasm.”Bacon is no stranger to the college’s

outreach efforts. As an undergraduate, shetraveled to Biloxi, Mississippi, in 2006 afterHurricane Katrina—the deadliest and mostdestructive Atlantic tropical cyclone of the2005 Atlantic hurricane season—struck thecity and many others in the Gulf of Mexico.Faculty member Becky Maurer, who was

with Bacon in Biloxi, continues to work withBacon during the week at Crow Creek.“I enjoy seeing the people at Crow Creek

and working together on health initiatives,”said Maurer, who has overseen the outreachefforts since retiring in 2011. “I’ve made alot of friends in Crow Creek. They alwaysseem to be able to make our experience very

rich and always ask when I’m coming back,they’re always excited to have us come.”

Different interests, perspectivesThe students were unsure what to expect

when making the trip. For example, Raapwas interested in seeing how rural healthcare was different in addition to seeing whatdaily life was like on the reservation.“I was also anxious to see IHS and how it

was run and operated,” she said. “IHSseemed well organized and very busy theentire week. They were telling us how theyrecently expanded their hours which I feelwould be very helpful.“Knowing that there is minimal access to

health care on the reservation made methink a little about what I want to do in thefuture,” Raap continued. “I have done amission trip out of the country and I couldrelate this experience to that. There is a lotof help needed by volunteers, especiallythose with qualifications to serve health-careneeds. I would love to be able to serve on

medical missions in the future, whether it bein the state of South Dakota or out of thecountry again.”

Commissioned CorpsDestiny Hildebrant, a Rapid City native,

spent her week doing home visits with apublic health nurse. She taught the patientshow to take care of their inhalers andvarious other aspects of asthma control.“As I interacted with the people in their

homes, I started to see a glimpse of what atypical day in their lives might look like, andany preconceived notions I had started tofade away,” she said.“Honestly, my week at Crow Creek was a

once-in-a-lifetime experience. I was able tomake personal contact with people in thecommunity in their homes and go to mostof the neighborhoods throughout thereservation. I had contact with peoplethroughout the age spectrum.“One of the greatest parts of my

experience was the opportunity I had to

Destiny HIldebrant spent her time on the Crow Creek Reservation working with residents oncontrolling their asthma.

Creek

work with the public health nurse. She tookme under her wing and really made aneffort to educate me about the communityand the public health nurse perspective,”Hildebrant continued. “My experience atCrow Creek allowed me to step outside mycomfort zone and understand health fromtheir perspective. I will always remember myweek at Crow Creek and will be moreculturally mindful during my nursing carein the future.”For Hildebrant, that future might include

joining the Commissioned Corps. Overseenby the Surgeon General, the U.S. PublicHealth Service Commissioned Corps is adiverse team of more than 6,500 highlyqualified public health professionals. Shedoes see herself starting her career byproviding bedside care at a hospital but cansee herself later working in a public healthnurse role.Rapid City’s Emilie Hamilton also was

paired with a public health nurse, ShellyPaynter, a 1989 State graduate.“During one home visit, I was overcome

with the feeling that it is the responsibilityof us who have been given so much to useour gifts to help those who need it,”Hamilton said. “I cannot really think of anyplace that needs help more than thereservations and they are right here in SouthDakota.”Like Hildebrant, Hamilton is researching

a position with the Commissioned Corps.“I understand that this type of nursing is

not for everyone, but there is such a criticalneed for nurses in this area,” she said. “Iexpected that this clinical experience wouldhave an impact on my life and it really waslife-changing. Growing up in South Dakota,I have always seen the reservations andheard about how different life is there, butuntil you are truly immersed in the culture,

you cannot understand the complexity ofdaily life. It is astounding to me that peopleare living in such poverty. It made me sograteful for the things and opportunitiesthat I have been blessed with and it reallyhelped to put life into perspective.”“My desire to continue on to become a

nurse only got stronger after spending thisweek on the Crow Creek Reservation,” saidLindsey Clem of Sioux Falls. “This week wasvery eye opening; a very rewarding andhumbling experience.”“My thoughts before going out there

were just to keep an open mind and to gainas much knowledge about Native culture aspossible,” said Guthmiller, who worked withcountless school-age children with Bacon. “Ihave told friends and family it was a veryhumbling experience. The hardships andpoverty that exist were a sobering reality forme.”After working with various Native

American patients prior to the school year,Feuchtenberger wanted to do more.“I realized that we were trying to help

patients but we had no idea what wasrealistic to ask of them,” she said of hersummer experience. “We were askingpatients to follow treatment plans but wehad no idea how feasible it was for them tofollow through. I wanted to learn whatresources are available on the reservation.“This experience did not change where I

want to work, but it did change how I willcare for my Native American patients,”Feuchtenberger said. “Because of thisexperience, I feel like I have a betterunderstanding of how to relate to my NativeAmerican patients and what lifestylechanges and resources I can recommend forthem. It also gave me a stronger desire to domore volunteering and find more outreachefforts.”

Sweat lodge ceremonyThe students were invited to participate

in a traditional Native American sweat orInipi Ceremony with various Crow Creekcommunity members. The Lakota term forthe sweat lodge is Inipi which is apurification rite and helps to reach state ofhumility and a balance of body, mind, spiritand spiritual rebirth.“It was interesting to be involved with

some of the cultural traditions with thecommunity members. It helped me betterunderstand Native American spirituality andtheir culture,” Raap said.“It was an experience I will always

cherish and be grateful for being invited to,”said Hildebrant, noting it was the first thingshe told friends about when returning toBrookings. “During the sweat, I learned thatprayer plays an important role in health carefor the people of Crow Creek.”Hildebrant’s summarized her week by

saying:“I felt very welcomed and well received

throughout the entire week. I feel a sense ofresponsibility to educate my friends andclassmates about what Crow CreekReservation is really like to help stop someof the preconceptions that are wrong. Ifyou’re even slightly interested, just do it. Youwon’t regret it. Every person in my grouphad a vastly different experience at CrowCreek, but I don’t think any of us regretgoing. No matter what you do while you’rethere, you will take something away fromthe experience. So, if you feel like you mightwant to, just do it!”

Matt Schmidt

Above: From left, the students hosted a walk/run event whileworking at the Fort Thompson IHS Health Center.Kayla Feuchtenberger (left) and Shauna Foor pack suppliesafter immunizing students at the Crow Creek Tribal School.Emilie Hamilton finishes reports after a day of home visits.Opposite: Ryan Guthmiller takes one’s blood pressure at CrowCreek Tribal School.

IMPACTING STUDENTS’ CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

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Strengthening Native American familieswill help improve their children’shealth—that’s the premise behind a

research study targeting 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds and their caregivers on the Pine RidgeReservation.“We are trying to lift up the parents in

their roles as caregivers and teach thechildren how to best respect that,” saidprofessor Marylou Mylant of the College ofNursing in Rapid City. Her research focuseson the mental health of children, adolescentsand young families and attachment. Asprincipal investigator, she works with co-investigator Mary Isaacson, an assistantnursing professor who specializes in NativeAmerican health care.While doing health assessments in 2010

at the Red Shirt School near Hermosa,

Isaacson identified a dramatic increase in thenumber of children who were overweight orobese. In 2009, 60 percent of the childrenhad normal BMIs, she explained. By 2010,only 30 percent had normal BMIs.That trend has continued, noted

Isaacson. Now only 23 percent of Red Shirtpreschoolers have normal BMIs.The one-year pilot study will determine

whether an evidence-based StrengtheningFamilies Program for preschoolers canimprove the children’s social, emotional andnutritional health. The research is madepossible through a nearly $100,000 grantfrom the National Institute on MinorityHealth and Health Disparities of theNational Institutes of Health through theCollaborative Research Center for AmericanIndian Health.

“Historically, we have not had greatsuccess with obesity prevention programswith Native American school-aged children,”Mylant said. However, research has foundthat “secure, healthy caregiving is just asimportant as genetic factors in preventingfurther physical and emotional problems.”Native American families tend to be

headed by younger, first-time caregivers withfewer resources and a greater likelihood ofadversity, such as trauma and loss, accordingto Mylant. Through this program, thefamilies can gain more coping mechanisms.“The kids can learn how to deal with

stress and the parents as well,” she added.

Adapting program to communityMylant and Isaacson worked with Red

Shirt school personnel and communityleaders to adapt the Strengthening FamiliesProgram to their specific needs whileincorporating the Lakota culture.“The community has to decide what will

work best for them,” Isaacson said. “We arethe facilitators and that’s it.” Though Principal Evaleen Brave Heart is

in her first year at Red Shirt School, Mylantsaid, “she has embraced this research andengaged the community.”“They [school staff] go above and

beyond what happens in other places, whichis a real gift,” she added. “The school is aprotective factor for these children andfamilies.”When the head start program was

discontinued, Red Shirt School added apreschool curriculum, Mylant explained.Approximately 80 students in preschoolthrough eighth grade attend the ruralreservation school. SDSU doctoral nurse practitioner student

Jennifer Cuny Heil, a Pine Ridge native, isalso part of the research team. She wrote a

Strengthening Native American familiesto improve children’s health

IMPACT OF A NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH GRANT

Red Group leader Ben Good Buffalo, an elder in the Red ShirtVillage community, helps Conner Red Cloud, grandson ofschool counselor Vanessa Roubideaux, with a lesson abouteating fruits and vegetables. Robideaux has been instrumentalin starting the Strengthening Family Program at Red ShirtSchool. The involvement of community elders, such as GoodBuffalo, will help make the program sustainable.

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paper on nutritional health and the PineRidge Reservation for a graduate course inhealth promotion and disease preventionunder Mylant’s tutelage.Though Isaacson, who has worked with

the Red Shirt School community since 2007,established the foundation of trust neededto launch this project, she said, “Heil’sfamily connection and cultural backgroundare invaluable resources to the team,allowing her to easily connect and establishrelationships with select Red Shirtcommunity members.”The team has identified the leaders of the

community, Heil explained, “We are guidingthem to see the influence that they have—they have strengths within themselves thatthey might not even recognize.”Mylant added, “She has been a blessing

for the program.”

Modeling behaviors Beginning in October, the first

intervention group—10 3- and 4-year-oldsand their caregivers—began meeting eachFriday afternoon. In February, preschoolerswho have been on a wait-list and some 5-year-olds and their caregivers will begin the14-week program.Caregivers and children come together

for a meal. Following that, they separate forinstruction and later come together for acombined activity. For instance, parents lookat positive ways of helping their family behappier by learning to get along better,including how to talk about and understandeach other’s feelings, Mylant explained.Children might then talk about foods

that they like and don’t like and how theyreact when their caregivers serve these foods.Mylant encourages them to be open to newfoods.When the caregivers and children come

together for a joint activity after the meal, apuppet show might demonstrate how topromote and reward positive behaviors.Children learn lessons about “doing nice

things, saying nice things for what you likeand ignoring what you don’t like,” Mylantsaid. That applies to both foods andrelationships.

Incorporating Lakota cultureThe researchers also use the Eagle book

series, designed to combat diabetes andpromote wellness among Native Americans.These are available free from the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention.The book titled “The Color of Your

Plate,” for instance, talks about what achild’s portion should look like, Mylantexplained. In addition, Red Shirt Villageelders teach the children and caregiversLakota words, such as green for lettuce orblue for blueberries. ALakota blessing isalso provided by theelders before eachmeal and after thefamily session orclose of the weeklygroup.The project is

about empoweringpeople, Heilexplained, “finding aspecific family-centered path foreach family andchild.”

If this intervention proves successful, theprogram can then be used in other Lakotareservation schools, Mylant explained.

Christie Delfanian

Shirt School

Above right: SusannaSwallow helps hergranddaughter AdenShippacase choose justthe right colors andemphasizes theimportance of eatingvegetables and fruits.Swallow, an elder in RedShirt, also teaches thechildren Lakota word forthe color green, t�ózi.

Darell and Courtney Janisjoin in as daughterWakinyan (Bella) learnshow she should eat a“Plate Full of Color” to stayhealthy. The instructionbrings together caregiversand their children as theculimination of each Fridaylesson.

Pamphlets filled with medical jargonwon’t likely prompt a kidneytransplant conversation between

American Indians and their families, but thecultural tradition of oral storytelling mayencourage it. With help from a tribal community

advisory board and clinical advisory group,Nancy Fahrenwald and Shana Harmingcreated educational material that mayprompt a family conversation about kidneydonation and transplant. College of Nursing Dean Fahrenwald,

research coordinator Harming and facultyinvestigators Robin Peterson-Lund, MaryIsaacson and Howard Wey are workingtogether on the five-year research grant todevelop a culturally targeted educationprogram about living kidney donation andtransplantation. The team set up focusgroups and conducted individual interviewswith Native Americans to uncover the mosteffective ways to reach the tribalcommunities.The materials will be tested as an

education program on three reservationsand in areas with high Native Americanpopulations in South Dakota. After evaluating the outcomes of the

program, Fahrenwald and Harming plan on

making the materials available to health-careorganizations across the country that serveNative Americans.“This topic touches so many people’s

lives, which is unfortunate, but it’s reality,”said Fahrenwald. “Prevention is so veryimportant, but we can’t ignore the chronicconditions that exist right now. Individualswith chronic conditions need to makeinformed decisions about their treatmentoptions.”Through discussions with community

members, Fahrenwald and Harming foundthat videos and brochures were the bestmedia to reach Native Americans, but themessages needed to speak to their culture. “We learned that it was important to

limit the clinical focus of the program andinstead, focus on family and daily life,” saidHarming. “The advisory board for theproject recommended focusing on thebenefits of living kidney donation andtransplant, and overcoming barriers andfears.”“Even though the journey through

kidney failure is not ideal, people who sharethe experience of living kidney donation andtransplant are important and their storiescan bring inspiration and hope to those whoare going through the same journey.”

After conducting focus groups andindividual interviews, Fahrenwald andHarming worked together with thecommunity advisory board to help tailorthe messages to resonate with NativeAmericans. The board includes membersfrom each of the three reservationsinvolved with the project. “I think our project has really moved

people to tell their stories,” said Harming.“People felt the need to share with us sothat others can learn from theirexperiences.”Almost all of the material in the DVD

and brochure are personal stories fromNative Americans who have eitherreceived a living kidney donation ordonated a kidney.“They want to connect with other tribal

members with these same issues,” saidHarming. “It’s important to hear how afriend or family member arrived at thedecision to pursue a transplant and cameout successful. The cultural tradition ofstorytelling is an important way to make thisconnection while relaying valuableinformation.”

Lakota student respects messagingErnest Weston Jr., a political science

senior and member of the Pine Ridge IndianReservation, saw the DVD and brochure,and is grateful for the support the collegehas provided the tribes over the years. Weston is confident the messages will be

well received in the tribal communities.“It creates a bridge that connects

communities and the modern-day healthand science, which can be hard for NativeAmericans who may be out of touch witheverything taking place outside thecommunities,” said Weston, who is presidentof the SDSU Mihdowiya Society (formerlyNative American Club). “I strongly believe this type of work will

resonate with dialysis patients as well asthose who have or may be at risk ofdiabetes,” Weston continued. “The

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Storytelling:An effective way to connect with Native Americans

IMPACTING INFORMED HEALTH DECISIONS

reservations have high diabetes rates, whichlead to more people having to have dialysistreatments. One of the biggest problems wehave is educating people on how to preventthese diseases. Educating the population isimportant, especially in a way where peoplecan connect to the material.”

Help from community members“We couldn’t have made the video or

brochure as targeted and meaningfulwithout the leadership of the communityadvisory board,” said Harming. “We are soappreciative and happy that ourcollaboration with the community wasinspiring and resulted in a very meaningfuleducation program.” Jerry Clown is a member of the

community advisory board and lives inEagle Butte. Clown was asked to be on the board

because a relative who serves on the boardknew he was looking for a kidney donor, andmentioned his name to Fahrenwald andHarming.“I’ve been going to a lot of doctor

appointments trying to get on a transplantlist,” said Clown, who contracted the rareautoimmune disease Wegener’sGranulomatosis in 2001. “Shana called and asked if I wanted to try

and make a change in the Native Americancommunity. I said ‘yeah, absolutely,’ andwent to a meeting.”Clown said when Fahrenwald and

Harming began meeting with thecommunity advisory board, they didn’t haveany plans for how to get the informationout. “They just came and really listened tous,” Clown said. “I could tell they didn’tknow what to expect, but we just startedshooting ideas out at them. I was excited tohelp.”The group decided to make a video with

personal accounts of patients who were ondialysis treatments, had a kidney transplantor donated a kidney. The goal was to educate

on the importance ofdonating a kidney or beingscreened. “From there, we started

to shoot interviews on thereservation,” said Clown.“When it was my turn tospeak, I just started tellingfrom the heart. I talkedabout experience I wentthrough just like I wastalking to a friend.”

Hope for a donorClown said he knew the

work he was doing with theCollege of Nursing wouldimpact others to see adoctor, and in turn, heknew he was on a goodroad to getting on atransplant list. “Basically, the doctors

told me that the diseasewould start to attack mylungs, and eventually takeover my kidneys. I found adonor, and was in the final stages of goingforward with the transplant when doctorsdecided not to go through with it. In mysituation, doctors said the chance of myother kidney failing during the operationwas too high.”Clown said, now, he is restoring hope,

and looking for different routes fortreatment. “I am keeping my hopes up,” hesaid. “I want to be an example for others inthat I won’t give up hope.”In the video, Clown suggested setting the

background music of him playing the flute.“I played by the river and in the Eagle Butteculture center, and the video just felt a lotmore comforting to me.”Clown said the video will help people all

around the country, not just NativeAmericans. “It has a lot of great informationfor anyone,” said Clown. “Seeing us and

hearing our personal stories will help othersmake that important connection.“But it does speak to my culture in a

great way. It gives our people hope. Seeingother Natives involved and willing to talkand participate in dialysis screenings andprocedures will help them talk about it withfamily and a doctor to start with.”Clown wants to continue his involvement

in education about kidney donation andscreening. “I want to generate hope inothers,” he said. “And it all starts with ourstories.”

Karissa Kuhle

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Opposite: Jerry Clown believes the new educational programon living kidney donations and transplants will helpeveryone, not just Native Americans.

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Mary IsaacsonPalliative care at Pine Ridge

IMPACTING END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS

Palliative care—focusing not on curing,but caring for the mind, body andspirit—wasn’t in anyone’s vocabulary

when Mary Isaacson, an assistant professor ofnursing in Sioux Falls, approached a group ofPine Ridge Reservation tribal elders in May2013.“When I went there, they didn’t even know

what (palliative care) was. It was me bringingthe definition to them,” Isaacson said. “It is notuncommon for persons to not know aboutpalliative care—it just isn’t well understood inthe U.S.”But she quickly discovered that palliative

and end-of-life care wasn’t a foreign concept tothe Lakota and was, in fact, “compatible totheir ways,” Isaacson said. However, it wasn’tbeing implemented into formal care organizedby tribal health or the Indian Health Service,Isaacson said.The group of four elders and one tribal

health executive would like to see that change,Isaacson said.She said the group met monthly from May

through October even though Isaacson’sproposal only called for four meetings. Inaddition, the group didn’t want to leave it anacademic exercise. Plans were developed toapproach the tribal council to support aresolution to allow the group to begindiscussions with Indian Health Service abouthow to offer palliative and end-of-life care onthe reservation and late this fall the council putits support behind the effort.

The key to this is that the Indian HealthService now needs to buy into the concept,Isaacson said.“For me, this is like a new frontier. I have

not actually worked within the Indian HealthService administration,” Isaacson said. Shedoesn’t expect quick changes, but is excitedthat the initiative is coming from the talkingcircle she created for her study—HealthPromotion and Palliative Care on SouthDakota Reservations.

Advanced care directivesMore immediately, Isaacson and the talking

circle will encourage tribal members to createadvance directives.Advance directives put in writing a person’s

wishes for medical care in case they becomeunable to direct their own care.Those can be established on an individual

basis without having to coordinate withmultiple health agencies, Isaacson said. Thereare plans to include tribal legal services in theprocess so the directive can be completed at thetime of explanation if people are interested, sheexplained.Isaacson also desires to have one male and

one female travel to the reservation’s scatteredcommunities to explain advance directives andliving wills. That’s because a Lakota male ismuch less likely to explain his concerns to afemale than a male, Isaacson learned throughthe male elder in the talking circle.“I want to stay with them (the talking

circle) and hope to gain grant funding to go tothe next step,” said Isaacson, who has workedwith the Lakota since 2007.Patricia Catches the Enemy, a longtime Pine

Ridge resident and a member of the talkingcircle, said Isaacson “went to a lot of trouble tobe more culturally sensitive” with palliativecare language because “there are sensitive issueswith end-of-life, the attorney and makingwills.”

Dawley Seed Grant enables studyHer recently completed study was financed

through a Dawley Seed Grant, which isadministered by the college through fundsgiven by Delores Dawley to help a facultymember launch a research project and collectpreliminary data in order to pursue funds for along-term research project.

The first $2,500 award was given Sept. 11,2011. Dawley, a 1956 College of Nursing grad,died Oct. 1, 2013, in Sioux Falls.“I am very thankful to have the Dawley

Seed Grant to provide the resources to get thisproject launched,” Isaacson said. Part of thefunds were used to buy gas cards for studyparticipants to compensate them for driving toPine Ridge. In addition, Isaacson cooked ahealthy lunch for each meeting.

Barriers to palliative careShe would like to take the results of this

study and present it at other reservations.Original plans had her also going to theCheyenne River and Rosebud reservations.Those plans were dropped when limited

interest was shown there. However, membersof the Pine Ridge talking circle discussedapproaching neighboring Rosebud aboutadvance directives and palliative and end-of-life care. It is that kind of interest that excitesIsaacson about continuing the project.“Working with this group has been very

fascinating. I’m essentially the facilitator andthey’re the driver. They took it on and wantedit to go further,” Isaacson said.This study was a follow-up to one she

conducted in 2013 that explored the lack ofpalliative care services on South Dakotareservations from the perspective of Native andnon-Native health-care professionals. Theproviders expected there would be an interest,but it needed to be assessed, Isaacson said.Implementing palliative care will require

overcoming some barriers, such as the fact thatthere isn’t any formal home health care on PineRidge reservation and there isn’t likely to be afunding source to expand care, she said.“We have to look at how do you set up

programs that are needed and use whatresources we have,” Isaacson said.Currently, there is not even housekeeping

service available for elders on the reservation,Catches the Enemy said. So the possibility ofproviding care to elderly living at home makestalking circle members excited, she said.

Dave Graves

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Collaboration weaves richness into thefabric of projects—and the College ofNursing received an award for doing

just that. Recognized as a dedicated partner of the

South Dakota Comprehensive Cancer ControlCoalition, the College of Nursing received the2014 Impact Award.“When we work with other organizations,

we can do more with less,” said RebeccaRandall, assistant nursing professor at theSioux Falls campus. “Often, health-careagencies have similar concerns and goals, andworking together allows organizations to meettheir goals and avoid duplication of services.”Since 2002, the college has worked with the

coalition, which strives to reduce cancer’simpact on South Dakotans throughcollaborative cancer prevention and controlprograms.South Dakota’s Comprehensive Cancer

Control Program, a program of the SouthDakota Department of Health, is one of the 50states, the District of Columbia, seven tribesand tribal organizations, and seven U.S.territories supported by the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention through the NationalComprehensive Cancer Control Program. Prevention, early detection, treatment and

quality of life are the four priority focus areasof the coalition. “One agency might look at a concern from

a much different perspective than another,”said Randall, who specializes in underservedpopulations. “Yet, when two agencies worktogether, the programs are fuller and richer.”

Connections impact successThe college has been a dedicated partner of

the coalition since its inception and has lednumerous projects that have advanced thework of the state cancer plan. “We are passionate about the health of

people in South Dakota, and we seek outprojects that add value,” said NancyFahrenwald, the college’s dean. “When we workacross organizations and share our strengths,we can provide better health care across thestate. It’s a win for everyone.”The college was recognized for their list of

contributions, including:� Leading a study of South Dakota womendiagnosed with early-stage breast cancerand identifying factors that influenced

their treatmentdecision making;

�Assessing theavailability ofpalliative and end-of-life care in thestate;

�Evaluatingcolorectal cancer screening practices andcapacity indicators statewide;

�Exploring health-care providerknowledge, attitudes, practices and beliefsrelated to colorectal cancer screening inS.D; and

�Conducting 10 community listeninggroups in three communities to assure theSouth Dakota Comprehensive CancerControl Plan is congruent with the needsof the state’s residents.“Collaboration is one way to improve

health, sustainability, build relationships andmake wise use of resources—both time andfinancial,” said Randall. “Public health isimproved because issues are treated holisticallyrather than as separate silos. And communityparticipation is an approach that improvessustainability of projects.”

Faculty dedicationThe nursing faculty’s relentless work with

public health in South Dakota throughout thepast 10 years positioned them as impactfulpartners in the coalition. Nursing professors recognized for their

impacting community projects were:� Linda Burdette, assistant nursingprofessor, Randall and Gina Rowe,graduate nursing instructor: Listen toPeople: Perceptions of the South DakotaCancer Control State Plan.

� Linda Herrick, associate dean forundergraduate nursing: Assessment ofProvider’s Knowledge, Practices andBeliefs about Colorectal Cancer Screening;

�Mary Minton, associate dean for graduatenursing: Assessment of Palliative and End-of-Life Care in South Dakota; and

�Randall, Capacity to Conduct ColorectalCancer Screenings in South Dakota.Additional projects that contributed to the

College of Nursing’s impact were a researchstudy on treatment decision-making forwomen with early stage breast cancer, led byFahrenwald and research associate Jennifer

Kerkvliet. Kerkvliet and Jenna Cowan, researchcoordinator, also lead the annual evaluation ofthe coalition and participate in public healthresearch projects with various coalitionpartners. “We maintain a strong commitment to

addressing rural health needs throughcollaboration with our coalition partners,” saidMinton, a steering committee member for thecoalition. “Outcomes are richer when we worktogether and when we maintain a statewidefocus that allows us to consider both the ruraland urban geographic areas of South Dakota.”

Alum serves as coordinatorLexi Haux ’12 serves as the SDCCC

program coordinator for the South DakotaDepartment of Health. As a graduate of theCollege of Nursing, she was inspired tocontinue her work with public health.“Through the public health courses I took

as a student, I realized this was something I’denjoy in a future career,” said Haux, originallyfrom Mina, in northeastern South Dakota. “SDSU prepared me very well for

population-based health care,” said Haux. “Ihad a dynamic clinical experience workingwith the Flandreau community, really getting afirst taste of implementing a community healthneeds assessment. Throughout my nursingexperiences, I realized a large portion of thedisease burden is preventable. I want to helppopulations prevent disease and stay healthy.”

Haux also sees the value of collaborationfirst hand.“Our real aim within the program is to

work together to reduce the burden of cancer,”said Haux. “The coalition has more than 50organizational partners—from governmentorganizations to medical facilities anduniversities. We certainly know there areevidence-based cancer interventions available,but in order to implement them, it’s importantto have partners in diverse sectors.”

Karissa Kuhle

Teresa ConroyEducation has helped career, patients

IMPACTING STATE’S PUBLIC HEALTHHonorsCollege receives 2014 SD ComprehensiveCancer Control Coalition Impact award

12

Armed with survey results by SDSUnurse researchers, the South DakotaDepartment of Health is trying to

reduce exposure to secondhand smoke forresidents of multiunit housing.The survey of 324 owners and operators

of multiunit housing facilities in SouthDakota showed that 54 percent had a writtensmoke-free policy. An additional 10 percentreported having a smoke-free policy, but thepolicy was not included in the leaseagreement. About one-third (32 percent) ofowners surveyed reported no smoke-freepolicy.The overwhelming majority did permit

smoking on the grounds. Only 8.5 percentprohibited smoking on the grounds, assistantprofessor Linda Burdette said.She and Gina Rowe, an adjunct assistant

professor, coordinated the study on behalf ofthe Department of Health.“An important finding was that property

owners who had smoke-free housing policiesin place perceived many related benefits.These benefits could be shared withowner/operators who didn’t have policies.Those without policies were concernedabout losing tenants and market share.However, those with policies didn’t find thatto be true,” Burdette said. Owners with smoke-free policies reported

no adverse effects related to turnover rates,rental fee, vacancy rates, management timeand insurance costs. Owners also reported adecrease in maintenance cost and nodifficulties enforcing the policy, she reported. Owner-identified policy benefits were

decreased maintenance costs, improvedsafety and tenant health, Burdette said. Among owners without a smoke-free

policy, 70 percent anticipated that addingsuch a policy would decrease maintenancecosts but 38 percent anticipated it wouldincrease turnover and 34 anticipated itwould increase vacancies. Among those withpolicies, only 1 percent thought it increasedturnover rate and 3 percent thought that itincreased vacancy rates.

Owners with smoke-free policies couldbecome policy champions in advocatingsmoke-free policies to those without thepolicies, Burdette reported.She added that the Department of Health

could play a role by using social media toeducate owners, operators and tenants ofmultiunit housing about the benefits of asmoke-free policy, and partnering with like-minded organizations.

Rural areas lead the wayThe survey was mailed to 780

owner/operators in 27 of the state’s 66counties for a response rate of 41.5 percent.The facilities were split proportionally

among the seven urban, 21 rural and 38frontier counties. The area with the highestrate of smoke-free policies (written orverbal) was in the rural areas, such as Brownand Brookings counties, at 74 percent. Ratesfor urban (Sioux Falls and Rapid City areas)and frontier were nearly identical, at 54 and56 percent, respectively.Owners without policies were twice as

likely to manage a low-income, government-subsidized unit and three times as likely tobe current smokers.Burdette noted it was the first statewide

survey on the topic and now gives “theDepartment of Health prevalent data onsmoke-free policies in multiunit housing.The findings provide opportunities fordevelopment of community-based educationand social marketing to increase voluntarysmoke-free policies.”

State puts recommendations in actionDee Dee Dugstad, tobacco program

coordinator for the South DakotaDepartment of Health, said the studyrecommendations have been taken seriously.An Apartment Manager’s Guide to

Adopting Smoke-Free Building Policy wasdeveloped and distributed to 121 ownerswho expressed an interest during the surveyin adopting a smoke-free policy. In addition,the department developed and distributed

IMPACTING PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY

At apartments, schoolsPartnering with health department to examine smoke-free housing policies

“An important finding was that

property owners who had

smoke-free housing policies in

place perceived many related

benefits.”

— Linda Burdette, assistant professor

13

no-smoking signs and window clings withtobacco-free messaging, Dugstad said.The Tobacco Program partnered with the

Sioux Empire Tobacco Free Coalition andLive Well Sioux Falls on an event for multi-unit housing owners. The 2014 eventfocused on the benefits of adopting a smoke-free policy, and featured speakers from theAmerican Lung Association, Sioux Falls Fireand Rescue, Rainbow International Cleaningand Restoring and owners and managerswho have adopted a smoke-free policy. Thiswas the third year for the event, Dugstadsaid.The department has worked closely with

the Live Smoke-Free program in Minnesotato draft a smoke-free multiunit housingmodel policy that is available to anyoneinterested in adopting a policy. Once a policyhas been adopted, free signs and windowclings are available to assist withenforcement.Resources to promote the toll-free South

Dakota QuitLine are also available. QuitLineresources, available at 1-866-SDQUITS or 1-

866-737-8487, include cessation medicationand coaching calls.Dugstad added that all efforts are to

encourage voluntary implementation ofsmoking policies. Legislative action isn’t onthe agenda, she said.

Presents at national conferenceBurdette also presented the study at the

41st annual policy conference of theAmerican Academy of Nursing inWashington, D.C., Oct. 18, 2014.She said she considered it a privilege to

present an electronic poster at theprestigious conference, even though herelectronic poster presentation was at 7:30a.m. Saturday in a hallway on theconference’s final day. Rather than carrying aposter on the airplane, she loaded herPowerPoint presentation on one of fivetelevision monitors in the presentation area.It was her first time to make such a

presentation and it came off well in additionto being favorably received, she said.

School tobacco study just completedBurdette now is focused on updating a

2011 survey coordinated by NancyFahrenwald, the college’s dean, on tobacco-free policies in South Dakota’s 220 public,private and tribal school districts. Thatwork, also under contract with theDepartment of Health, was completed Nov.30.Since the 2011 study on the completeness

of tobacco-free policies, the Department ofHealth’s Tobacco Program has developed aTobacco Prevention Toolkit K-12 and aTribal Tobacco Policy Toolkit. TheAssociated School Boards of South Dakotahas a sample model comprehensive tobacco-free school policy.The department is interested in policy

development progress since 2011, Burdettesaid.Each school district is to receive a report

card based on the strengths and weaknessesincluded in the policy, she explained.

Dave Graves

14

Victoria BritsonThough her mother

was a nurse, VictoriaBritson originallywanted nothing to dowith the field. However,she eventually felt anatural pull towardnursing and followed it.She received a diplomafrom St. Luke’s School

of Nursing in Sioux City, a nursing degreefrom Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa,and master’s and doctorate degrees fromSDSU. Britson also received a post-master’scertificate from Briar Cliff, making her afamily nurse practitioner. “I never thought that I would be a

teacher,” said Britson. “It wasn’t until Irealized that nurses were primarily teachersfor their patients. I can teach other nurses justlike I can teach patients to be independent.”Britson taught 12 years at Briar Cliff, acted

as the chair of the Bachelor of Science innursing program for National AmericanUniversity in Sioux Falls and Rapid City forthree years and now serves as an assistantprofessor at SDSU, primarily working in thegraduate nursing program.

Tiffany CrossTiffany Cross was

inspired to pursuenursing after a studentnurse assisted with hercare following the birthof her first child. Sheearned her bachelor’sdegree in nursing fromthe University of Iowa.Her interest in nursing

education developed as she realized a passionfor coordinating orientation of new nurses,being a student nurse mentor and teachingclinicals. Cross received her master’s innursing education from Indiana WesleyanUniversity. “I love the critical thinking aspect of

nursing,” said Cross. “It is not all black orwhite decisions. I enjoy each day beingdifferent and not knowing what to expect. Ialso love that there are so many directionsthat a nursing degree can take you.”

Cross serves as a nurse educator on theCollege of Nursing’s Sioux Falls campus.

Karin EmeryAlongside Karin

Emery’s background inpediatric and adultemergency nursing andnursing leadership andadministration, she hasbeen teaching nursingstudents for 10 years,focusing on leadership

and management. Emery received an RNExcellence in Leadership Award and anhonorable mention in Virginia’s 40 Under 40Nurse Leaders.After earning her bachelor’s degree from

the Medical University of South Carolina, shecompleted a master’s program in nursingadministration and leadership at VirginiaCommonwealth University and is nowenrolled part time in VCU’s nursingbiobehavioral research doctoral program. Herfocus is biobehavioral research in diabetes.“I am so excited to be a faculty member

here at SDSU,” said Emery. “I have had awonderful time during this transition andhave really enjoyed the students and faculty.”

Mary Beth JohnsonMary Beth Johnson

earned her bachelor’sdegree in nursing fromLuther College inDecorah, Iowa, and hermaster’s and certifiednurse practitioner inwomen’s health degreesfrom the University ofMinnesota. She has been

working as a nurse for more than 34 years.Most of Johnson’s nursing experience is in

women’s health—labor and delivery,postpartum care, gynecology and neonatalintensive care. She now serves as an instructorin obstetrics, traveling between Sioux Fallsand Brookings to teach future nurses.“I love to educate others,” said Johnson. “It

is my passion. Whether patients or students,the light in their faces when they finally ‘get it’is an awesome experience.”

Katherine LoganKatherine Logan

knew she wanted to be anurse and a teacher sinceshe was 5 years old. Shegraduated in 2002 withboth a bachelor’s degreein nursing and a minorin psychology from theBlessing-Rieman College

of Nursing and Culver-Stockton College dualdegree program in Quincy, Illinois. Hermaster’s in nursing education is from ThomasEdison State College, and Logan plans tocomplete her doctorate in nursing educationfrom the University of South Dakota this year.“I am looking forward to being ‘Dr. Logan’

and seeing what sort of adventure that thisnew role makes available,” said Logan. “I lovefinding out what is around the next corner innursing and teaching, and I look forward toeach new challenge.”

Logan currently teaches the mental healthportion of the West River Nursing Program.

Melody ParsonsMelody Parsons

became interested innursing during her teenyears when she workedas an office assistant in asmall-town clinic. Shehad a supervisor whoserved as a mentor andencouraged her to

explore health care as a career option. Parsonsreceived her associate degree from theUniversity of South Dakota and herinstructing credentials from SDSU. Most of her nursing experience is in

maternal-child health, including labor anddelivery. As a member of the West Rivernursing faculty, Parsons teaches maternal-child and women’s health and instructssecond- and third-semester students in on-campus labs and clinical practices. “One of the things I’ve really enjoyed so

far is the opportunity to work in thesimulation skills lab,” she said. “Though I’vedone some simulation instruction before,SDSU’s West River simulation skills lab is astate-of-the-art facility and it provides a greatenvironment for learning.”

Eight individuals join facultyFaculty News

15

Danielle SchievelbeinDanielle

Schievelbein is nostranger to SDSU. Sheearned both herbachelor’s and master’swith an emphasis innurse education fromState before going towork in both the

neonatal intensive care unit and heart andvascular admissions at Sanford Health inSioux Falls. She also served as an educationand training specialist for the cardiovascularservice area. Since her first semester as a nursing

student, Shievelbein knew she wanted to be anurse educator. “I am looking forward to growing as an

educator. I will always have something tolearn and I am looking forward tocontinuing to learn,” she said. “I love SDSUand am a Jackrabbit at heart. I have reallyenjoyed getting to know the students andfaculty.”

Penelyn TiltonAs she pursued her

education in nursing atDakota WesleyanUniversity, Penelyn(Penny) Tilton knewshe wanted to make adifference in others’lives. She hadinstructors who

inspired her, and she wanted to do the samefor other nurses-in-training. She received hermaster’s degree in nursing education fromKaplan University.Tilton has experience working in labor

and delivery, home health and nursinginformatics. “Nursing is an ever-changing profession,”

said Tilton. “I love that as a nurse you haveso many options—anywhere from being abedside nurse to nursing informatics.”

Madelin Mack

College honors Worth

For her work in welcoming refugees to South Dakotaand helping College of Nursing students play a role inthat initiation, Debra Worth was chosen as the

college’s annual distinguished service award recipient.Worth, a social worker and the associate director of the

Center for New Americans at Lutheran Social Services ofSouth Dakota, started at LSS in 2001—the same yearassociate professor Tom Stenvig created a new approach forthe college’s community nursing experience. Shortly afterthe fall semester started, 9/11 attacks took place, slowing theprogression of refugees entering the U.S. for resettlement.

Worth, then a caseworker, Stenvig and the students continued working with theindividuals present at that time.

“She’s a remarkable woman,” Stenvig said of Worth. “She is passionate about thiswork. The people are so thankful to be in the United States and to have theopportunity to live the American dream. She helps them do that.”

Stenvig said LSS works with resettling refugees in Sioux Falls but also withBurmese Karen refugees in Huron.

Since the original meeting, Worth hasprogressed through LSS.

“I still go to some of the meetings wherethe volunteer coordinator has to introducethe students to the families, overcome the fearof lack of communication barrier, the racialand religion barriers,” Worth said. “But, overtime, you see friendship and trust develop toreach across the barriers. I miss shepherdingthem through it. I miss the hands-onexperiences.”

Worth has told the students about whyrefugees flee their home country, why theychoose the United States and how LSS servesthem. She knows both the students andrefugee families gain from the experiences.

Worth has seen how the students, aftergraduating, evolve into more caring nurses.

“They have a different way of interactingwith patients compared to others,” Worthsaid, recalling visits she made with the refugeefamilies. “They look at them, talk directly tothem and encourage the doctors and othernurses to do the same.“

Stenvig has heard that, too.“I know that the students are better

nurses from this experience,” he said. “I hearabout it repeatedly whether they take a job atAvera or Sanford and there are refugee peoplewho come in not speaking much or anyEnglish—these students are at an advantagein being able to problem solve and get to thebottom of things.

“Deb has been a key facilitator to help allthat happen.”

1979/1980 R. Esther Erickson1980/1981 Inez Hinsvark1981/1982 Joy Nelson1982/1983 Anna Haugen Berdahl1983/1984 Alice Olson1984/1985 Mary Fuller Schnelker1985/1986 Bernice Wittkopf1986/1987 Carol J. Peterson1987/1988 Genevieve Johnson1988/1989 Margaret Cashman1989/1990 Cathy Wasem1990/1991 Beth Hanson1991/1992 Barbara Klug Redman1992/1993 Betty Shiefelbein1993/1994 Maralee Dennis1994/1995 Evelyn Peterson1995/1996 Phyllis Newstrom-Niimi1996/1997 Barbara Goddard1997/1998 Bonnie Frederickson1998/1999 Patricia Gross1999/2000 Rebecca Nelson2000/2001 Gloria Thompson2000/2001 June Peterson Larson2001/2002 Diana Berkland2001/2002 Noreen Davis2001/2002 Rita Haxton2002/2003 Dr. Mary Helen Harris2003/2004 Joan Nelson2004/2005 Nancy Nelson2005/2006 Adele Jacobson2006/2007 Dr. R. Maclean Smith2007/2008 Leonard Little Finger2008/2009 Caral Joffer2009/2010 Edward R. Mailloux2010/2011 Dr. Carole & Alan Johnson2011/2012 Linda Kropenske2012/2013 De Ann Eastman-Jansen2013/2014 Debra Worth

Distinguished Service Award recipients

16

One thing has stayed consistentduring Mary Minton’s pathfrom candy striper to nurse to

faculty member and researcher to nowadministrator, nursing is a caring role inthe health-care profession.Recently named the associate dean

for graduate nursing, Minton has been amember of the college’s West Riverfaculty since January 2007.“I was passionate about patient care

as a candy striper in junior high in

Minneapolis and that passion hascontinued over a 30-plus year nursingcareer which has encompassed roles inthe hospital, community, the church andnow a university,” Minton said. “Thethread that is continuous is the purposeand the shape of the care I deliver, whiledifferent according to the setting, butalways around the inherent dignity ofeach human being. Whether it’s patients,parishioners, students, and now faculty, Isee this as a caring role.”

“Even though I wasn’t formally

connected to SDSU, these nursing

colleagues were great support in

those initial doctoral statistics courses.”

Minton recalled. “(Then) Dean Roberta

Olson was also a continual source of

support and mentorship.”

Mary Minton

Mary Mintonmakes the transition from faculty to administration

Faculty News

17

While caring takes precedence, shealso strives to see each student or facultymember reach one’s potential.“Nurses advocate for the patient. I was

an advocate as a staff nurse, as a homehealth nurse and as a parish nurse,” shesaid. “As a faculty member, I’m a strongadvocate for the student and now I addbeing a strong advocate for our faculty ...I believe in the potential for growth andtransformation that accompanies lifelonglearning, practice and research. It is aprivilege to help facilitate that growthamong my colleagues.“The difference in this role is while

I’m still an advocate for the student infacilitating learning, I’m now an advocatefor the graduate faculty and the goalsthey set for their teaching and theirresearch,” Minton continued.

Research emphasisAs a nurse researcher, Minton’s recent

collaborative projects cover quality of lifeareas related to breast cancer patientnavigation, palliative and end-of-life care,abdominal massage for constipation, andnurse’s comfort with patient request forprayer. She believes the graduate facultybenefits from protected scholarship timeand also seeks to extend the scholarlyimpact of the college’s master’s, doctor ofnursing practice and doctor ofphilosophy students.Minton was honored as the college’s

2014 recipient of the Faculty Award forExcellence.“Our graduate faculty research

endeavors represent diverse interests anddesign approaches as well as a stronginvestment in interprofessionalcollaboration,” she said. “I am proud topromote and showcase theirachievements.”

Minton holds a bachelor’s degreefrom Augustana College, a master’sdegree from the University of Michiganand a doctor of philosophy degree fromthe University of Nebraska MedicalCenter’s College of Nursing.

Family influencesMinton’s academic career got a push

from her husband, Tim, during hisophthalmology residency in Ann Arbor,Michigan.“Tim said I should get my master’s

degree while there was a university in ourbackyard because when we get to RapidCity you wouldn’t have one,” recalledMinton, breaking into a laugh. “This wasbefore the advent of online education.”“I had to agree his idea was a good

one. I was an oncology nurse at the timeand was taking a chemotherapycertification course at the university. Irealized what an exciting and progressivelearning environment I was in,” Mintonsaid. After the couple returned to Rapid

City, Minton worked as a nursinginstructor, home health nurse and parishnurse while raising four sons. It wasduring that time she decided to pursue adoctorate from the University ofNebraska Medical Center. While shevalued achieving the terminal degree, shealso knew its pursuit would take awaytime from her family, not counting therequired travel time.“My husband questioned me long and

hard about pursuing the doctorate. Hewanted me to be really solid about why Iwas doing it,” she said. “He probablyknew better than I what a long haul thiswould be. It took me seven years becauseI went part time.”

Several faculty members of the SDSUWest River program were also workingon doctorate degrees then.“Even though I wasn’t formally

connected to SDSU, these nursingcolleagues were great support in thoseinitial doctoral statistics courses.” Mintonrecalled. “(Then) Dean Roberta Olsonwas also a continual source of supportand mentorship.“My family was very supportive,” she

continued. “Prior to one lengthy writtenexam I assured our youngest sons, twinsRoss and Trevor, that even though Iwould be holed up in the basementwriting all day I was still available if anemergency developed. Ross rather sternlysaid, ‘for Pete’s sake, Mom, do what youhave to do, don’t mess it up now.’” Myoldest son, Ryan, had a similar tone whenI was contemplating quitting. He said,‘Well now, that’s just not a discussionwe’re going to have.’ I realized I wasaccountable to others who were investedin my education and cared about mereaching my goal.”Now Minton gets to put her care into

seeing both students and faculty worktoward their goals.

Matt Schmidt

Opposite: Mary Minton, left, explains what needs to befinished on a grant proposal to Amanda Mitchell, thecollege’s assistant to the dean. Minton, who wasrecently promoted to an adminstrative role, plans tokeep research as a focus of her role.

18

Student News

DNP students introduced to rural life and primary careSpend summer in Custer and Miller

Doctor of nurse practitioner studentsKimberly Schmidt and Becky Hrubyalready had years of experience working

at hospitals in Oklahoma City, Minneapolis, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and Sioux Falls.

But to grow professionally they thoughtthey needed even more experience and theyfound it spending a month in rural SouthDakota thanks to the Rural Experiences forHealth Professions Students Program.

Schmidt, 34, has worked as a nurse since2003. Her resume began as a critical care nurseat an Oklahoma City intensive care unit. Shealso worked at a Minneapolis ICU and a LaCrosse pediatric and neonatal ICU beforestarting work at Sanford in Sioux Falls in 2008.

Hruby (pronounced Ruby), 30, earned herbachelor’s degree from State in 2008 and spent ayear working at a cardiac unit in Arizona. In2009, she moved to Sioux Falls and worked atSioux Falls Surgical Hospital in post-anesthesiacare unit.

So neither were green when they enrolledin SDSU’s bachelor’s to DNP program in 2011and 2010, respectively, and they’ve gained moreexperience through their clinicals in the DNPprogram.

But both saw gaps in their training theywanted to fill before becoming a nursepractitioner.

“I knew I would experience that which Iwouldn’t get otherwise—time in a lab, withphysical therapy, speech therapy, occupational

therapy—things we don’t get in our usualclinicals,” said Hruby.

Schmidt added, “I thought it would be agood way to get some more experience.” Sheacknowledged that she was already anexperienced nurse, “But there’s always more tolearn. Call me a go-getter. I would rathercontinue to get experience. Pretty soon I’mgoing to be a nurse practitioner out on my ownand not have any one to look over me.”

Hruby, a Spearfish native, spent June atCuster Regional Hospital and Clinic. Schmidtspent July at Avera Hand County MemorialHospital and Clinic in Miller.

DNP, pharmacy students pairedThe Rural Experience for Health

Professions Students Program was started in2011 by the state. It draws physician andphysician assistant students from the Universityof South Dakota Medical School, SDSUpharmacy students and advanced nursingpractice students from SDSU and Mount MartyCollege.

SDSU’s DNP program began participatingin 2012 and has had five participants, DNPprogram coordinator Nicole Gibson said.

In 2014, there were 21 participants pairedin 11 communities. Schmidt was paired withpharmacy student Catherine Creech. Often theirschedules didn’t overlap, but “we got to see itall,” Schmidt said. “Even though I am going to bea nurse practitioner, we literally saw every

department—physical therapy, occupationaltherapy, respiratory therapy, lab and pharmacy.”

The pharmacy was Rexall Drug indowntown Miller. The students also spent timeplaying bingo at the assisted living center andwith nurse practitioners and two physicians.

Their role was mostly as observers,witnessing emergency room patients, acolonoscopy and a cataract surgery, as well asassisting in the transfer of patient to Sioux Fallsby helicopter.

A lesson in e-emergency roomWhile Schmidt has had emergency room

experience, at Miller she learned about Avera’seCARE system, in which the health-care team insatellite facilities like Miller are connected withmedical personnel in Sioux Falls via computer.Cameras let both sides exchange audio andvisual image as well as monitor patient data.

In Schmidt’s experience, the Millerphysician received assistance inserting a chesttube on the patient.

“It went pretty smooth,” she said. “It wasnice to have the other set of eyes that has dealtwith chest tubes more often than the physiciansin the rural community. In the ruralcommunities, you’re still going to haveemergencies, but not see them as much. Youneed to learn how to deal with them.”

Looking back at her four weeks, Schmidtsaid the highlight was “getting to know thepeople and the community. I really like a ruralcommunity and it reassured me that a ruralcommunity is the place to be. Small-town livingis the place to be.”

While she has always worked in big cities,she said she has always lived in smaller towns.Schmidt grew up in Tea and now lives in DellRapids.

Assisted with SDSU Extension projectThe pair also worked together on an SDSU

Extension project to assess local resources forhealthy eating and physical fitness. That was arequired project through the Rural Experiencesfor Health Profession Students Program.

Schmidt and Creech found that the peoplethought there were adequate resources forhealthy eating, although “people felt like at thesmall-town grocery store, the prices were a littlehigh for fresh produce and fruit. At the sametime, they realize the store owners have a toughtime getting people to buy the product, too.”

19

Regarding physical fitness, there is a bike trail andthe hospital has a wellness center, but the challenge is toget people to use them, Schmidt said.

The challenge was the same in Custer, where aYMCA and the hiking and biking trails of Custer StatePark offer underutilized beauty, Hruby said.

She and SDSU pharmacy student Ashley Pedersondrove through Custer State Park and fed the donkeys aswell as climbed Harney Peak. During the workweek, theyspent most of their time together with the majority ofthat being with physicians while they saw patients at theCuster Clinic.

‘Kind of a wild ride’While touring the ambulance service, a call came in

and the students rode along. “We were going over hillsand through sharp curves. It was kind of wild ride,”Hruby said.

Hruby’s stay was during her final round of clinicals,so she was able to count her Custer time toward herclinical requirements. Schmidt’s stint was during asummer break in her nurse practitioner education, so shewasn’t able to use the hours toward clinicals. Allparticipants receive a $2,500 stipend and have housingprovided.

“I learned a lot about other areas of medicine—howthe lab works, what it is like to be a rural provider. Younever know what is going to come through the door andyou’re on your own,” Hruby said.

What the future holdsUpon graduation in August, Hruby was named the

college’s outstanding graduate student and received a jobas a nurse practitioner at Neurology Associates in SiouxFalls.

Nonetheless, she doesn’t regret the month spent inCuster even if though it meant being away from herhusband. “I really liked the rural setting. I think somedaythat might be an option. Right now it just worked for meand my husband to stay in Sioux Falls and I got awonderful job.”

Schmidt won’t graduate until August 2015.She said, “I am leaving the doors open to see what

opportunities are presented. My idea would be to work inthe smaller community in family practice working withall ages. I do believe my time in a rural area reassured methat’s where I’d like to be,” recalling fond memories onher grandparents’ farms.

“It feels like a good fit being in a rural facility,” shesaid. And that’s what the Rural Experience HealthProfession Student Program is all about.

Dave Graves

Becky Hruby didn’t see this one coming.When her name was called at the August 2014pinning ceremony as the outstanding graduatestudent in her doctor of nurse practitioner class,Hruby (pronounced Ruby) may have been themost surprised one in the audience. Theannouncement was not a surprise to associateprofessor Jo Voss.

Voss, the West River instructor whonominated Hruby, said the Spearfish nativecould qualify for graduate student of thedecade.

“I nominated her for that award because ofher evidence-based practice project. I have saton several committees and I have never seensuch a project. It was far above any otherprojects I have seen. She was already workingat the level of a doctorate-prepared nursepractitioner,” Voss said.

Hruby’s project was title The Assessment,Identification and Management of Sleep ApneaPerioperatively.

How the 30-year-old, SDSU-trained nursewent about the project left Voss amazed.

“Becky gained the trust and support of thenurses, physicians and management at thehealth-care facility (Sioux Falls SpecialtyHospital). She did an amazing job incommunication with other health-careproviders,” Voss said. “Becky was credible, shewas knowledgeable” about sleep apnea.

One would have never thought that theproject was Hruby’s first experience as anexpert on sleep apnea, Voss said.

Nearly 1,800 patients screenedThe study consisted of sleep apnea

screening for 1,772 patients who visited SiouxFalls Specialty Hospital between February andApril. All patients age 18 or older who wereentering the hospital participated in the survey,which was implemented into the hospital’selectronic intake assessment.

“If they met certain risks factors, like age,weight and snoring, we then suggested they geta formal sleep study done,” Hruby explained.

The fact that the hospital permittedscreening of all its patients for Hruby’s studyattests to her networking, credibility andconcern for patients, Voss said. “She’s anamazing communicator and very trustworthy.The staff felt it was an important project, too.”

On top of all this, Hruby secured a $2,500grant from the American Association of NursePractitioners to cover costs. That funded aresearch assistant to compile data, costs forthose requiring an overnight stay, and two $25gift certificates to thank the nurses for theirhelp.

Study resultsmeetexpectationsHruby saidsurvey resultsmatchedexpectations.

Of the1,772screenings, 13percentpreviously hadbeen diagnosed with sleep apnea. Another 10percent were found to be at risk. “We thensuggested they get a formal sleep study done”in which they were connected to monitoringdevices, Hruby said.

That part of the testing was done by a sleepspecialist physician with whom Hruby wasworking.

In her research for the study, Hruby found “astudy showing that people who have sleepapnea but don’t realize it are more at risk tohave a heart attack as well as to stop breathingat night after having surgery.”

There was no cost to the study participants.“It was a great service to the patient,” Voss said.

Began DNP program in 2010Hruby, of Sioux Falls, entered the bachelor’s

to DNP program in 2010. After earning her BSNat State in 2008, Hruby worked at a cardiaccare unit in Arizona for a year. When she movedback to Sioux Falls, Hruby went to work at SiouxFalls Surgical Hospital in the post-anesthesiacare unit.

She worked there throughout the 4 ½-yeargraduate school program, finishing with a 3.97GPA.

In June 2014, Hruby participated in theRural Experiences for Health ProfessionsStudents Program at Custer Regional Hospitaland Clinic. (see page 18)

This June, she was chosen to present aposter on the sleep apnea project at theAmerican Association of Nurse PractitionersConference in New Orleans, where more than5,000 nurse practitioners will be present. “It isan honor to be chosen,” she said.

Voss noted, “She was sought foremployment by several hospitals because of herinvolvement in this sleep apnea project.”

Dave Graves

Becky Hruby

Outstanding graduate studentHruby honored for stellar sleep apnea study

Opposite: Kimberly Schmidt and Catherine Creech stand at the drive-intheater in Miller. Schmidt and Creech, a pharmacy student, were paired aspart of the Rural Experiences for Health Professions Students Program.

20

National initiative to develop nurse leaders

As part of a national effort to stem thefaculty shortage and prepare futurenurses, the College of Nursing and the

Jonas Center for Nursing and VeteransHealthcare have teamed to provide two-yearscholarships to exceptional graduate students.Julie Kittelsrud and Kelli Hinsch each receivedthe scholarship for the 2014-15 academic year.Kittelsrud is working on a doctorate of

philosophy degree while Hinsch is pursuing adoctor of nursing practice.Kittelsrud originally earned a bachelor’s

degree in German before making the switch tonursing. After receiving her bachelor’s degree innursing from Augustana and a master’s degree asa family nurse practitioner from ClarksonCollege, she started working for the AveraInstitute for Human Genetics.

Genetics interestKittelsrud had always been interested in

research but wanted patient interaction.Working in the field of genetics has almostallowed her to fulfill both. She spent the pastsummer doing a genetics course with theNational Institutes of Health.

“Genetics is growing fast, very innovative andyet so new. There is still a lot of research to bedone,” Kittelsrud said. “It directly affects patientslives. Within a week, you can have apharmacogenetic result and get answers on theclinical impact ... you see the clinical utility ofit—that’s what is different about this and getsme excited about it, too.“For example, when looking at medicine. If

you have patients who are having pain difficulty,you take a sample of blood, run genetics on itand have a better idea of what medications willwork for that patient,” she continued. “As aresult, you are able to impact patients’ lives withsome of the basic science of genetics.”

More than a scholarshipKittelsrud looks at the Jonas scholarship as

more than an opportunity to get a degree. “It’s not only the ability to continue in school

without a financial burden, but also anopportunity for leadership in nursing,” she said.Like Kittelsrud, Hinsch is appreciative of thescholarship but not just because of what it canmean for her.“I thought it was not just about the money

but the purpose of what I’m doing with that

money,” she said. “When I served, I saw a lot ofbroken souls come back from Iraq.”Hinsch’s interest in nursing came when she

was 14 and a brother, Kurt, was in an accident.She later shadowed a nurse practitioner and washooked.“I asked ‘what do I need to do to do what

you do?’ I was told ‘be a nurse, get my feet wetand then go back to school to be a NP,’” saidHinsch, who enrolled in the U.S. Army afterearning a bachelor’s degree in nursing. “I startedmy career as an Army nurse. Like a lot of nurses,I’ve seen a lot of bad stuff and feel helpless attimes.”Hinsch is pursuing a goal to improve

identification of military sexual trauma inprimary care. “We can look at veterans and learn from

their situations,” Hinsch said.

Goodale scholar an endowed nursing student scholarship

While having coffee one morning, Geneand JoAnn Goodale were reminiscingand talking about how, “if we each

had not had that little piece of paper called ascholarship, we wouldn’t have come to State. Welooked at each other and said we really need todo more.”JoAnn then called Nancy Fahrenwald, dean

of the College of Nursing, and told her abouttheir latest scholarship idea to create adistinctive endowed scholarship. What Goodaledid not expect was silence on the other end ofthe line.“I was stunned by their generosity,”

Fahrenwald recalled. “They find such joy ingiving, and this new generous scholarship is alegacy gift that will impact the future of nursingby awarding a generous financial gift to astudent in the final year of their program, at thegraduate or undergraduate level, for generationsto come.”Both Goodales call State home, JoAnn

graduating in 1959 with a bachelor’s degree innursing and Gene, who was active with the U.S.

Air Force ROTC whenreceiving a bachelor’s degreein civil engineering in 1957.While Gene was the first oneto graduate from State, JoAnnknew she was going here formany years.“I had known since I was 5

years old that I wanted to be anurse and I wanted to cometo this university,” saidGoodale, who grew up on adairy farm north of Huronand was the oldest of eight children. “I had anuncle, Harlan Olson, who managed the studentunion when it was in Pugsley and we alwayscame for Hobo Day, not to see the game, but tosee the parade and hear the band. I knew that Iwanted to come here. There wasn’t ever anydoubt at all.”The couple started providing scholarship

gifts in 1993.“We started the scholarships because we

wanted to see others have the opportunity that

we had,” JoAnn said. “It’s an opportunity to saythank you.“I think the nursing profession is evolving

into one of the most important parts of ourhealth-care system,” JoAnn continued. “Withoutnurses to manage and get people where theyneed to be, they’re pretty lost. Somebody has tobe there on the ground floor to organize howpatients get through the system. We nurses cando that and we can do that very effectively andvery efficiently.”

Kelli Hinsch Julie Kittelsrud

Nancy Fahrenwald (left) dean of the College of Nursing, is joined by JoAnn (Olson)Goodale (second from left) and Gene Goodale (right) in honoring Karissa Hielkemaas the inaugural Goodale Scholar recipient.

Student News

Jonas Scholars

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Two of the eight members who formedthe 2014 class of Distinguished Alumniat SDSU hailed from the College of

Nursing.Roxie Romness Foster, of Arvada, Colorado,

is a member of the class of 1967. Michael Relf,of Durham, North Carolina, is a member of theclass of 1988. Both were honored in theprofessional achievement category.

Roxie Romness Foster, PhD., RN, FAANAn expert in the assessment and treatment

of children’s pain, Foster has been principal orco-investigator on more than 20 researchstudies on pain, several funded by grants fromthe National Institutes of Health.Recently retired, she held a joint

appointment from the University of Coloradoand Children’s Hospital Colorado. The unique,collaborative appointment allowed her topursue faculty responsibilities and incorporateresearch findings in practice.In 2000, she was selected as a fellow, the

most prestigious honor in nursing, in theAmerican Academy of Nursing.Her list of honors begins in 1967, when she

was inducted into the Sigma Theta TauNational Honor Society of Nursing at SDSU. In1994, she was named one of “90 Nurses WhoHave Made a Difference” during the 90thanniversary celebration of the Colorado NursesAssociation.She became the first endowed chair of

pediatric nursing at The Children’s Hospital in1998 and Colorado Nurses Foundationpresented her with the Nightingale Award forExcellence in Human Caring in 2004.At the children’s hospital’s pain center, she

provided direct pain-relieving care for childrenwith recurrent and long-term pain. The teamshe co-directed provided rapid response to staffwho had urgent patient pain concerns, helpingstaff revise the plan for care for pain treatment.However, when Foster graduated from

SDSU in 1967, health-care disciplines paid littleheed to pain management, especially inchildren.As awareness of the need for pain-relieving

care grew, Foster became a recognized expert inthe assessment and treatment of children’spain. Through practice, research, education andpolicy development, she has improved painmanagement practices for children around theworld.

Academically, she was co-editor of thetextbook “Family Centered Nursing Care ofChildren,” which was awarded AmericanJournal of Nursing Book of the Year in 1990.The book focused on the holistic care ofchildren within the context of the family andwith a particular focus on providing homecare.Also, serving as editor, Foster guided the

“Journal for Specialist in Pediatric Nursing”from a fledgling journal to one withinternational impact. In retirement, shecontinues as editor-in-chief.Writing on behalf of Foster’s nomination,

Karen Miller, the former vice president ofnursing at Children’s Hospital Colorado, stated,“One of the hallmarks of success for Dr.Foster’s research program was her ability toinvolve members of other health-careprofessions in addition to nurses. Dr. Fosterdeveloped teams of clinicians who workedtogether to manage the most complex patient-care situations.”Raised on a farm in northwest South

Dakota near Hettinger, North Dakota, Fosterand her husband, Ron, have two daughters,Kristen Overstreet and Andrea Foss, and sixgrandchildren.

Michael Relf, Ph.D., RN, ACNS-BC, AACRN, CNE, FAANRelf is a nationally recognized HIV/AIDS

nurse clinician, scientist and leader, who in2008 was elected a fellow of the AmericanAcademy of Nursing.

While serving as president of theHIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board in2001-03, he led a successful effort to develop anational certification exam in advancedHIV/AIDS nursing for advanced practicenursing. The exam and certification exists tothis day, according to Adele Webb, formerexecutive director of the board.As president of the board, Relf led the

national work group to define the practice ofHIV/AIDS nursing by advanced practicenursing students. Through this effort, he andcolleagues established the scope of practice inthis domain, developed an examinationblueprint to match the scope and developed thecertification exam.Relf also worked with colleagues from six

southern African countries in the developmentof the essential nursing competencies related to

HIV/AIDS for nursing endorsed by theInternational Council of Nurses. He is now associate dean for global and

community affairs at the Duke UniversitySchool of Nursing in Durham, North Carolina.He joined Duke in 2008 after serving as thechair of the department of nursing atGeorgetown University.His research has focused on the

psychosocial aspects of HIV/AIDS. To date, heobtained more than $5.9 million in externalfunding to support his work. The results of hiswork have appeared on the front pages of theBoston Globe (Dec. 18, 2002), The WashingtonPost (May 30, 2005) and the Toronto Star (Feb.15, 2003).The scholarly work of the Rapid City

Stevens High School graduate also has beencited in a report by the World HealthOrganization and the Institute of Medicine.Since becoming assistant dean at Duke in

August 2008, the number of underrepresentedgroups has grown to constitute between 25 and30 percent of each bachelor of nursing class.In December 2010, Relf was chosen by

graduating seniors for the Excellence inTeaching Ward honor. His commitment toengaging the next generation of nursingscholars also is seen in having mentored morethan 25 undergraduates in scholarly writingand including them as co-authors.Back at SDSU, Relf was appointed to a

three-year term on the SDSU FoundationCouncil of Trustees Jan. 1, 2013, and morerecently was appointed to the College ofNursing’s Dean Development Council.Raised in Black Hawk, it is noteworthy that

he is the first member of his family to graduatefrom high school and college.Relf and his partner, Shawn McKenna, a

lawyer, reside in Durham, N.C.

Michael RelfRoxie Romness Foster

Awards and HonorsAlumni News

Distinguished AlumniTwo graduates among the university’s class of Distinguished Alumni

22

For someone who admits her first majorin college was basketball, health carejumped into focus for Randee Mason,

who is now Rapid City Regional Hospital’sdirector of clinical integration.Mason was a member of the women’s

basketball team at South Dakota School ofMines and Technology when a friend wasdiagnosed with cancer. As a result, she spenta lot of time at a hospital. Seeing the care

and compassion shown by nurses in theoncology unit, she quickly changed hercareer plans.At the time, she was in the first week of

her fifth semester at Mines. To figure out ifshe could make the transition, Mason visitedthe College of Nursing’s West River site. “I said I want to be a nurse. What do I

do?” Mason recalled, noting Barbara Hobbs,the college’s assistant dean, reviewed her

classes and thought Mason could enter theprogram in the spring. “I went back andchanged all of my classes. I picked SDSUbecause it had a really good reputation. Ialso wanted a four-year degree not onlybecause of the clinical experience but alsothe business and leadership aspects. Thatwas really important to me.“It was challenging and rewarding all at

the same time,” she said. “I was deadset on

Alumni News

Randee MasonRapid City Regional Hospital’s director of clinical integration values trust and relationships

“When looking at standardizingprocesses throughout the system, (thecare continuum, and utilizing Leanmethodology, a teamwork approach)you’re building relationships withcolleagues and physicians through trustand partnerships,”

Randee Mason

23

being a hospice nurse. It was the reason Iwent in to nursing. I then did an externshipon the monitored acute care unit (MACU), astep-down unit from ICU, and the rest ishistory.”After graduating from State in 2002,

Mason continued working in MACU beforebecoming a case manager. She then receiveda call stating that James Keegan, Rapid CityRegional’s vice president of quality, wantedto meet with her. Keegan was startingRCRH’s quality division.“I did not know what quality meant at

the time. I knew about giving high qualitycare but did not know what the qualitydepartment would do,” Mason said. “We sixcoordinators built the department from theground up. I was the cardiac clinical qualitycoordinator.”With the focus on meeting the Centers

for Medicare & Medicaid Services coremeasures, she looked at the process when apatient entered a hospital after suffering aheart attack, broke it into steps, identifiedbarriers and helped to design the ideal state.“We were applying Lean methodology in

the quality division in 2006,” Mason said. “Insix months of starting the STEMI (segmentelevation myocardial infarction) program,Rapid City Regional Hospital was leadingthe nation in STEMI care.“Consequently, we decided to extend this

process to all Regional Health hospitals. Atthat time the five Regional Health hospitalshad individual processes to transfer a heartpatient,” she continued. “We standardizedthe STEMI program throughout the system.For example, when a patient presents with aheart attack in Sturgis, the goal was toadminister necessary medications andtransfer to the RCRH cath lab within 30minutes. These results along withcollaborative relationships lead to partneringwith other state hospitals, the S.D.Department of Health, and the AmericanHeart Association in developing a Heart andStroke Advisory Board for the state of SouthDakota.”From there, Mason’s role developed into

a clinical integration coordinator and theninto her current position as its director.

She said a large part of her job is buildingtrust and relationships with others in thefield.“When looking at standardizing processes

throughout the system (the care continuum,and utilizing Lean methodology, a teamworkapproach), you’re building relationshipswith colleagues and physicians through trustand partnerships,” she said. “Looking atsystems, processes, patient flow, transitionsof care, wellness from a communityperspective—they’re all building blocks toget us to where we’re going—populationhealth. The main goal is to create a healthyenvironment—that’s our whole focus.“For me, the drive is doing the right

thing,” Mason said. “My focus is to ensurepatients are receiving the right care, at theright place, at the right time. I don’t justreach one person at a time, I’m reaching awhole population. That’s what drives me.”After making the statement, Mason looks

across her office at a picture containing her,her husband Thad and sons, Jackson, 10,and Talon, 4.“They’re the reason ... you always have to

find that personal reason that makes youwant to do things, that desire,” she said. “Isay that because I have family here and Ihave extended family in the area. When theyneed health care, I want to make sure they’regetting the best care possible, that’s thereason for what I do.” Mason’s latest career turn almost did not

happen. She had been accepted to nursepractitioner school at the University ofNebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

“It just didn’t feel right when I wasdriving down to orientation. I stopped andturned around,” she said. “Had I not turnedaround, I wouldn’t have the job in thequality division. I’m actually very thankful Ididn’t go that direction. (Quality) hasopened so many doors for me.”While she had second thoughts about her

nursing career at that point, she does notregret making the choice to get her nursingdegree from State.“It has given me the basic fundamentals

in the clinical aspect of nursing and healthcare to help guide me to make betterdecisions,” Mason said. “It’s given me abroader understanding of health care.“I would suggest they look at what their

passion is and what really drives them,”replied Mason about the field of nursing.“There are people who are very nurturingand compassionate, they just fit at thebedside with the patients, holding theirhands and just being there with them. Thereare others who are more technical, they’reworking in health care but maybe they’rebehind the scenes, working with technology.There are people who are doing research,creating best practices, creating the best wayto do things. Really, in my job, the goal is toeffectively communicate with others. If youcan build relationships ... it’s the key.”

Matt Schmidt

Opposite: Randee Mason gives a presentation on Rapid CityRegional Hospital’s recent activities. She started a collegebasketball career at South Dakota School of Mines andTechnology but switched to nursing at SDSU’s West Rivercampus.

24

Blue on the boardAlumni News

Award winnersThree graduates receive recognition for work

Olson selected forthe Sr. BernadetteArmiger AwardRoberta K. Olson,

dean and professoremerita for SouthDakota StateUniversity’s College ofNursing, received the Sr.Bernadette Armiger

Award from the American Association ofColleges of Nursing in October 2014.Olson, who is the first recipient of the

award from South Dakota State, washonored at AACN’s Fall SemiannualMeeting in Washington, D.C.“I am humbled to be selected for this

prestigious recognition by the AACN Boardof Directors,” Olson said. “It was myprivilege when serving as the dean ofnursing at SDSU for nearly 20 years to servefour of those years on the AACN board ofdirectors. I was also invited or elected toprovide leadership for a variety ofcommittees and task forces, and presentinformation on mentoring for professionaldevelopment and leadership.”The award recognizes a nursing leader

who has made significant contributions toAACN and its goals, to nursing educationand to the advancement of the profession. Itwas created to honor Sr. Bernadette Armigerfor her distinguished service to AACN andto recognize and encourage efforts towardthe advancement of nursing education andpractice.

State graduatechosen forprestigioushepatologyfellowshipRebekka Klemme,

CNP, in conjunctionwith Avera MedicalGroup Liver Disease

Sioux Falls, has been selected for an NP/PAClinical Hepatology Fellowship with theAmerican Association for the Study of LiverDiseases.

Klemme received a Master of Sciencedegree from State in 2010 withspecialization as a family nurse practitioner,after earning a Bachelor of Science innursing from SDSU in 2003. Since 2010, shehas worked with Avera Transplant Institute,providing care to patients undergoingkidney and pancreas transplantation withthe Avera Transplant Institute, and inDecember 2013 shifted her focus to theAvera Liver Disease program, in care ofpatients with liver disease and itscomplications.The AASLD Liver Research Fund has

committed $1.587 million in funding tohealth care institutions for the 2014Research and Career Development Awards.This level of funding represents the largestsingle commitment in support of liverresearch and advanced hepatology trainingby any professional organization.Klemme is one of four to be awarded the

prestigious NP/PA Clinical HepatologyFellowship, with a $78,000 stipendagreement through Avera’s Liver Diseaseprogram, and one of 16 overall selected toreceive Research and Career DevelopmentAwards based on professional potential,experience and commitment of their facultymentors, quality of the proposed researchproject or clinical program, and the clinicaland/or academic environment of theirinstitution.

Letcher receives theBecky NelsonFellowshipDeborah Letcher,

the academic affairsenterprise executivedirector for clinicaland team developmentat Sanford Health, hasbeen named the

inaugural recipient of the Becky NelsonFellowship at Sanford.Letcher, who graduated from South

Dakota State in 2013 with a doctorate ofphilosophy in nursing, provides oversightfor the onboarding of new nurses to

Sanford Health. She also leads a clinicalacademic partnership project in concertwith South Dakota State and North DakotaState. The collaborative work betweenSanford and the two universities guideslearning and development for nurses whoserve as preceptors for newly hiredregistered nurses and preceptors who aspireto become adjunct faculty members fornursing students.The Becky Nelson Fellowship was

created by Sanford to honor Nelson’scontributions to Sanford Health during her40 years of service. The fellowship providesa yearlong experience of leadershipdevelopment and integration, representingher passion for lifelong learning and sharingof knowledge. Nelson, a 1992 State graduatewith a master’s in nursing, was a member ofthe 2002 class of Distinguished Alumni bySDSU. Nelson retired in summer 2013 assenior vice president and chief operatingofficer. Nelson joined Sanford in 1975 as anurse and also served as president of theSanford USD Medical Center.Letcher also provides leadership support

and mentoring for the directors of theCenters for Learning in Sioux Falls andBemidji, Minnesota, and in the NorthDakota cities of Fargo and Bismarck. Herleadership role is also responsible forsimulation-based learning activities as wellas patient and community educationendeavors across the enterprise.The fellowship will allow Letcher to

pursue interests in population healthmanagement, patient education science andtransitions of care. She will hold her currentposition but is able to devote 20 percent ofher time in activities related to thefellowship, which started Jan. 1.“We look forward to having Deb ‘pave

the way’ for future fellows and to help usbuild a strong foundation for innovativelydeveloping and advancing nurse leadersacross the enterprise,” said Diana VanderWoude, enterprise vice president ofacademic affairs at Sanford.

Thank you

Stacey Tait-Goodale

25

January 2014 - December 2014

Stacey Tait-GoodaleCollege of Nursing

Development DirectorStacey.taitgoodale@sdstatefoundation.org

Toll-free: (888) 747- SDSULocal: (605) 697-7475

605-595-5591

Dean’s Club 2014

3M - Matching GiftsAmerican Association of Colleges of NursingAvera McKennan HospitalJames H. and Ruth A. AlexanderKurt D. and Susan D. BassettBlack Hills Utilities Holdings LLCFrancis M. and Beverly A. BlazeRobert BoekelheideJohn E. and Marjorie J. BottDianne M. BreitbarthJerrold L. and Dodie BrownDaniel R. and Linda K. BurdetteCaterpillar FoundationGary S. and Rosemary L. ChappellPhyllis Y. CollierGloria P. CraigJalanne K. DodmanDow Chemical USABarry H. and Jane K. DunnNoel H. EganCharles A. and Valerie ErpenbachDean P. ErpenbachSteve W. and Michelle A. ErpenbachNancy L. FahrenwaldBrett T. and Leann C. FarnhamKay L. Foland

GE FundDouglas M. Goodale and Stacey-TaitGoodaleEugene C. and JoAnn O. GoodaleJohn C. Gustafson and Anna M. Atteberry-GustafsonJeffrey P. and Melinda M. HaliburtonRichard and Kathy J. HardeggerGordon B. and Judy R. HarrisJames S. Hartung and Patricia JagoeBarbara J. HegartyLinda HerrickNancy B. HoffartKeith J. and Lisa A. HoltHormel Foods CorporationRyan L. and Stacy L. HowlettCecelia JenneweinLuke J. JobmanAlan C. and Carole L. JohnsonElizabeth A. JohnsonDonald JonasCory L. and September L. KirbyArdelle A. KleinsasserAudrey KleinsasserKathy K. KnitigMilton L. Knutson

Stephen C. and Patricia N. KoehnJane Kipp KotewaMark G. and Susan M. LeddyJames and Melody MielkeRichard L. MooreDavid A. and Sela E. NagelhoutLynette R. NygaardDavid Trump & Elaine Olness TrumpDrs. Roberta K. and David P. OlsonJames OlsonLarry OlsonSteve and Sue OlsonDr. Carol J. PetersonArnold Lund and Robin R. Peterson-LundJames K. and Karen K. PetrosSylvia K. and James E. PickardDwayne A. and Cheryl L. PlenderMichael G. and Mary G. PryorSteven J. QuailMichael V. RelfShirley J. RingnessLes RobertsMichael D. and Patricia A. RothMonica RudigerVernon R. and Ruth A. SchaeferCarole J. Schauer

Patrick M. SchretenthalerPaul F. SeamansSigma Theta Tau Phi ChapterMerlin J. SnyderDeborah A. SoholtState Farm Co. FoundationThomas E. StenvigA. Arlene SternLarry E. and Linda R. StodghillRaymond J. SturdevantJoyce C. SugrueWesley G. and Lois J. TschetterMary L. TylerKaye Vander VenJerry J. and Michele M. VisserJohn T. Vucurevich FoundationPeggy E. WantaMary A. WarnePamela R. and Merritt G. WarrenMarvin E. and Corinne N. WastellKaren A. WaxdahlCheryl A. WiederrichJames C. and Venita J. WinterboerRoger L. and Helen K. Zebarth

After 80 years of excellence in nursing education, the College ofNursing looks forward to continue building upon that tradition ofsuccess. Your investment in the college is crucial as it looks to expandthe opportunities for students and faculty, further develop its abilityto advance knowledge and discover solutions that contribute to theoverall health of our community.

You can make an impact by investing in one or more of three vital

areas:

• Scholarships• Competitive scholarships help attract and retain outstanding students and support their pursuit of a degree. Rising enrollments increase the need for student support.• Multiyear scholarships would allow the college to offerstudents consistent support throughout their nursing education.

• Many students have made the commitment to help othersachieve their educational and career objectives.• We see how JoAnn Goodale (p. 20) attended State withthe benefit of a scholarship and has returned the favor.Endowed scholarships can be created from a one-timegift or installment payments over five years of at least $25,000.

• Faculty Chairs and Professorships• Endowed chairs and professorships are prestigious academic positions that honor and recognize scholarly excellence. • The college is focused on creatingan endowed Chair for Rural Health and Nursing and an endowedDean’s Chair.

• Programs• Our programs offer excellent real-world educational opportunities for students, research that enhances improved health outcomes in society, and affordable care options to some of the most vulnerable populations in our community.

We encourage you to consider making an impact in honor of thecollege’s 80th anniversary celebration. Please contact me to explore anoption that best fits your area of interest or one or more of the vitalareas the college needs to be successful and grow for the next 80 yearsand beyond.

NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE

PAID BROOKINGS, SD

PERMIT 24

South Dakota State UniversityCollege of NursingBox 2275Brookings, SD 57007-0098

Address Service Requested

Celebrating

Dean Nancy Fahrenwald is joined by former deans Roberta Olsonand Carol Peterson at the college’s tailgate event in September.