Spring 2004 Honor Society
                                                        President's Letter

Hello to each of you.  I hope the new year is off to a great start for you! The beginning of the year often signals new beginnings. It can a time of beginning a new career trajectory for some. For others it is a time of shift, in thinking, in doing, and in engaging in new professional activities. For still others it is the beginning of new relationships with members of the Honor Society or reaffirming continuing friendships with colleagues. For the Florida Gulf Coast University School of Nursing Honor Society, this new year will also be a time for change. On April 10, 2004, the School will officially be recognized and receive its charter as a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI). This event marks the culmination of a vision and the dedication of SW Florida nurses to encourage, strengthened scholarship and leadership within the community. A steering committee was formed in January 1998 and the first officers were elected in 1999. Since that time the Honor Society has grown in membership and in its financial base. Last November, Drs. Marydelle Polk, Denise Heinemann, Peg Gray-Vickrey, Joyce Thornton, and other Board members including Jane Cox, Doreen Cassarino, and Rosalyn Gross, and traveled to Toronto, Canada to present the FGCU School of Nursing petition to the International House of Delegates for their approval. 

Sigma Theta Tau International is nursing’s only honor society and the second largest nursing organization with over 120,000 active members in more than 90 countries. Six nursing students at the Indiana University School founded the honor society in1922. They chose the name from the Greek words Storge (love), Tharsos (courage), and Tima (honor). Continuing the vision of those early founders, the mission of STTI is to provide leadership and scholarship in practice, education, and leadership. With the incorporation STTI into an international honor society in 1985, the mission was extended to create a global community of nurses who lead using scholarship, knowledge and technology to improve the health of the world’s people.

We are most fortunate in that the gala event will bring in Dr. Billye Brown, Dean and Professor Emeritus from the University of Texas at Austin as the officiating officer for Sigma Theta Tau International. Dr. Brown is a highly published and respected national and international scholar and a former President of STTI. She has been recognized as leader in the area of Deanship and in mentoring of new Deans. The Honor Society is   pleased in having the opportunity to have Dr. Brown as our officiating officer for the chartering ceremony. The name of the FGCU chapter of STTI will be Tau Zeta.

This will truly be a gala event as we plan to incorporate our yearly induction ceremony into the events for chartering. The chartering ceremony includes presentation of the charter and coat-of-arms, induction of charter members, and installation of current chapter officers. The gala ceremony is scheduled for April 10, 2004 at the Grandezza Country Club. Networking and sign-in will be at 9:00 AM. 

As we move toward full Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) recognition, I encourage you to reflect on ways you can help the new chapter continue to grow and flourish as well as contribute to the STTI organization. As new graduates and new members of the chapter, opportunities will abound for mentorship and leadership in the chapter and organization. As new community leaders and members, opportunities abound for extension of mentorship and leadership skills in a new STTI chapter. For all members, continuing and new, it will be a good time for reflection on the meaning of membership and the meaning of participation in the chapter and in STTI. Future individual contributions to the new chapter and STTI can be an outcome to such reflection. This is your Honor Society and it will be as strong and vital as each of you want it to be. So think about how your unique talents and abilities can be used to the benefit of all our members!

Congratulations are in store for the new members to the Honor Society Board. At the Transition Meeting in August 2003, the following individuals were welcomed to the Board and to their new responsibilities:

Jane Andel Cox - Vice President (2003-2005)
Beth Murray - Faculty Counselor (2003-2005)
Denise Heinemann - Board Member (2003-2005)
Elaine Wade - Nominating Committee (2003-2005)
Elena Hanabarger - Nominating Committee (2003-2005)
Barbara Kruse - Scholarship & Awards Committee (2003-2005)

I know each of these new Board members will lend their creativity and energy to the Honor Society and continue the tradition of commitment and service to the goals of the Honor Society.  Also, I want to thank the out-going members of the Board for all their time, efforts, and commitment...each have given of themselves so graciously and our Honor Society has become stronger because of their efforts! Also, I wish to thank Lauree Schultz for all her contributions during the past year and a half serving as the Chapter's secretary. Lauree has taken a new position, which prevents her from attending the meetings. We'll miss her! Dr. Linda McCash, a new faculty and recent doctorate, has graciously agreed to serve the remaining months as the Chapter secretary. We welcome her to the School of Nursing and the Honor Society.

Honor Society Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 5:30-6:30 PM. The meetings are in the Ben Hill Griffin Building in the 2nd floor Conference Room (Room 240). Members are always invited as this is an excellent way to become actively involved in the workings of the Honor Society. If you have any questions or are seeking active involvement, please contact me at (239) 590-7518.

Members in the News - Members of the Honor Society who have been busy in their clinical, leadership, and scholarship endeavors.

Congratulations to Beth Murray, who completed her dissertation on "Struggling for Dignity and Respect: Patient's Beliefs of their Rights 
When Hospitalized in an Acute Care Facility." and was awarded the Ph.D. degree from the University of Miami in May. Dr. Murray presented her dissertation at University of Miami Graduate School 7th Annual Research & Creativity Forum and was awarded 3rd place in the Social, Behavioral, & Administrative Category. She also presented her findings at the FNA Convention this month in Daytona, FL.

Congratulations to Patti Azilone and Tracey king....... Additionally, both are enrolled in doctoral studies in education at University of Central Florida.

Congratulations to Dr. Marydelle Polk, Coordinator of the PHC-MSN Program at FGCU, in the completion of the Mentor-to-Mentor Scholar Program with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and for receiving a HRSA Traineeship Grant for students enrolled in the MSN program. In collaboration with Dr. Barbara Kruse, presented poster sessions "Assessing Families Through Visual Analogue," and Cultural Encounters: Developing Cultural Competency in Family Nurse Practitioner Students" at the NONPF and AANP Conferences in April and June, 2003. Additionally, she is serving as a Board Trustee for the Florida Nurses Foundation.  

Congratulations to Marie Morrison, faculty member at Edison Community College, for being selected as Keynote Speaker at the ECC Nursing Pinning Ceremony in May. It is a special award!

Congratulations to Dr. Denise Heinemann on her appointment as Dean of the College of Health Professions at FGCU and for receiving the Team Faculty Service Excellence Award.

Congratulations to Dr. Karen Miles as the new School of Nursing Director and for receiving a HRSA Traineeship Grant for students enrolled in the Nurse Anesthesia program.

Congratulations to Dr. Peg Gray-Vickrey, faculty member at FGCU, for receiving the FGCU Faculty Service Excellence Award for 2002-2003. Dr. Gray-Vickrey has also given six presentations, to both local and national groups of nurses. These include: "Finding the Best Patient Education Resources: Top Web Sites for Patient Education" and "Geriatric Assessment: Practical Skills for Today’s Nurse," at St. Anslem College. in Lancaster, NH on June 16 & 17, 2003; "Medication and the Elderly," at the Annual Aging Symposium: Improving Geriatric Care Through Innovation in Bonita Springs, FL on June 13, 2003; "What’s So Special About Geriatric Patients?" at the Nursing 2003 Symposium: The Conference for Clinical Excellence in Lake Buena Vista, FL on April 13-16, 2003; "Medication in Elders." at the Second Annual Southwest Florida Conference on Aging in Fort Myers FL on April 11, 2003; and "Care of the Geriatric Patient." at the Spring 2003 EMS Seminar in Danville PA on March 22, 2003. Her article on "Advances in Alzheimer's Disease" was published in Nursing 2002 in the November issue. 

Congratulations to Dr. Barbara Kruse, faculty member at FGCU who in collaboration with Dr. Marydelle Polk, presented poster sessions "Assessing Families Through Visual Analogue," and Cultural Encounters: Developing Cultural Competency in Family Nurse Practitioner Students" at the NONPF and AANP Conferences in April and June, 2003.

I know I have not listed all the noteworthy activities that our members have been engaged in over the past year. However, we very much want to recognize each member's achievements so we can share them with our "community of scholars." My e-mail address is mpolk@fgcu.edu

Best wishes to the following individuals who have taken the "big step" and have started to work toward their doctoral degree:
Tracey King and Patti Anzilone at University of Central Florida
Donna Wolf at Florida Atlantic University
Rosalyn Gross at University of South Florida

This is a wonderful pursuit that each of you are embarking upon and all of us wish you much success! We'll love the benefit of having so many in our community sharing their research with us!