By Lucille Kelley, Ph.D.

The academic year is well underway at Seattle Pacific University, and in the School of Health Sciences we're moving forward in several new ways. This newsletter, a revived and renewed way of communicating with our alumni and partners, outlines a few of these ways, including an opportunity for SHS alumni to gather during our Dean's Complimentary Homecoming Coffee in January, and news of an exciting matching gift challenge that will help SHS meet its areas of greatest need.

Another way SHS is moving forward is with two new faculty members. We're excited to welcome Dr. Bomin Shim and Dr. Bethany Rolfe Witham to our teaching team. Bomin, who completed her Ph.D. at Duke University, will teach in the undergraduate pre-licensure program. And Bethany, who completed her DNP at the University of Washington, will teach in our graduate program and will accompany undergraduate nursing students to Vietnam as part of our Vietnam study abroad program during Winter Quarter 2012.

It's a time of change, and we're excited to meet the challenge and move forward with plans, determination, and a stellar team. I hope you enjoy this new version of Nursing Notes, and I look forward to hearing from you and to seeing you at Homecoming.

On January 28, plan to reconnect with former classmates and faculty at the annual SHS Dean's Complimentary Homecoming Coffee. Thanks to generous support by the SPU SERVE grant for vocation, this year's keynote speaker will be Dr. Kathy Schoonover-Shoffner, editor of the Journal of Christian Nursing. Her presentation promises to stimulate thinking about vocation across the professional lifespan. The event begins at 9:30 a.m.; the coffee and program are complimentary for SHS alums. If you have questions or to RSVP to reserve your seat, contact Claire Johnson at johnsc13@spu.edu.

The Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission adopted rules for RN licensure renewal effective January 2011. Registered nurses are required to keep documentation showing at least 531 hours of active practice and 45 clock hours of continuing education. The documentation of hours must start on the nurse's license date in 2011. As a registered nurse, you will have until your renewal date in 2014 to meet these requirements (three years). Random audits will begin in 2014. Learn more.

A generous $20,000 challenge gift has been given to the School of Health Sciences! This challenge is intended to increase the number of SHS supporters giving at the Dean's Giving Circle level. When you give $1,000 or more, you can direct half of your donation to one of the school's identified needs, and allow our dean to invest the other half in a similar strategic way. Whether you're an alum, a community partner, or someone who cares about the future of nursing, please join the Dean's Giving Circle, and make a huge difference in the lives of SHS students and faculty for as little as $2.74 per day.

Puget Sound Christian Clinic is looking for dedicated nursing students and professionals to volunteer their time and talents. PSCC is a free clinic in Seattle that provides compassionate care to low-income, uninsured people in King and Snohomish counties. Since 2003, the clinic has served patients at a fixed site, and now can extend care through a mobile medical unit. Learn more about volunteering, or contact Jalle Gebisa at jalleg@pschristianclinic.org to find out when and where volunteers are needed.

In September 2011, SHS students and SHS Instructor Carol Redfield released "Take Control of Your Future: Tools for Successful Aging!" This 16-minute video outlines steps to ensure successful aging. Watch the video.

Former SHS Dean Della Tiede, 85, of Stanwood, Washington, died Saturday, August 27, 2011. Della attended Seattle Pacific College (now SPU) in pre-nursing, and went on to complete both her bachelor of science in nursing and a master's in nursing from the University of Washington. Her nursing career included clinical practice in hospitals, teaching, and finally administration of the nursing program at Seattle Pacific (1966-81).

SHS has ongoing needs for master's and doctorally prepared faculty. Word of mouth by SHS alumni is the most effective way to let our needs be known. Please help by encouraging interested persons to check the SHS vacancies or to contact the dean.

"Learning how to do primary care from my awesome NP internship preceptor, Pat, who has shown me how to minister to my patients in a meaningful, holistic way." -- Betsy Forman, current MSN student

"I get joy from seeing the systems that we put in place to help our health care providers improve care to our patients make a positive difference and really work!" -- Karen McHenry '93, MSN, RN; Director of Systems, Neuroscience Institute, Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle)

"It brings me joy when students feel empowered to apply theoretical concepts to real patient care situations. It also brings me joy when students are excited about providing high-quality, evidence-based care." -- Bethany Rolfe Witham, DNP, ARNP; SHS Assistant Professor, NP Program