College of Nursing and Health Professions

The College of Nursing and Health Professions is planning a study abroad opportunity in Osnabrück, Germany May 10-20, 2024. Learn more at an informational meeting from 1-2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15 in HP 3083. Stop in and ask questions, meet the faculty and learn about scholarship opportunities. There will be cookies. Email Dr. Erin Reynolds (ereynolds@usi.edu) or Dr. Zack Ward (zdward@usi.edu) for more information.

Jordan Thomason '13, Instructor in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, passed her abdominal sonography national certification exam, becoming one of seven people in the U.S certified in abdomen, OBGYN and pediatric sonography, as well as adult echocardiography, pediatric echocardiography and fetal cardiography. Plus, she is the only person in Indiana with those credentials. Thomason is the Clinical Coordinator for the USI DMS program and also teaches all the echocardiography courses.

Congratulations to Dr. Ashley N. Carter ’08 MSN, Assistant Professor of Nursing, for receiving the 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award from the Indiana League for Nursing (ILN).

Calling all high school students! Don't miss this chance to get the inside scoop on all things healthcare during USI's Health Professions Day. Explore 13 different majors and a world of career opportunities. There will be fun, food and free swag! Space is limited, so register now!

Hey Screagles! Are you in the USI Nursing program or interested in applying? Come connect with other nurses-to-be on October 17 in the HP, Room 1027. There will be food, fun and some swag! For more information, contact Ami Lloyd, Nursing Retention and Recruitment Coordinator, allloyd@usi.edu.

On September 22, National Centenarian’s Day honors those who have celebrated 100 birthdays or more. The Bronstein Center for Healthy Aging and Wellness is inviting USI students, employees and alumni to share stories of their centenarian loved ones. Simply submit their details: name, year they were born and a cherished memory or life lesson you've learned from them. Let's shine a spotlight on the wisdom and longevity of these amazing individuals as we celebrate a century of life and the wealth of knowledge it brings. Their photos will be shared on the Bronstein’s Center’s social media platforms.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, large numbers of nurses are retiring or leaving the profession. This national workforce decline is often attributed to the challenges encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to staffing issues, stress, burnout and concerns for nurses’ overall mental health. Because resilience involves adapting to and overcoming stressful life circumstances, several faculty members in the USI Nursing program have been researching ways for students to build resilience from the start of their nursing education.

The USI Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is offering non-diagnostic ultrasounds to expectant mothers in their second or third trimester (18-34 weeks pregnant) on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons through December 2023. Students will be practicing assigned images under the direction of experienced faculty members. To schedule an appointment, email usi1dms@usi.edu

A revenue cycle management company headquartered in Evansville, Pollux Systems, Inc., has created a deep-rooted connection with the University of Southern Indiana–particularly the Health Services, Health Administration and Health Informatics and Information Management (HIIM) programs.

The deadline to apply for USI's MSN and Post MSN Certificate programs has been extended to October 15.

Nursing leaders at the University of Southern Indiana report that all 78 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students who graduated in May 2023 and took the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX®) in June and July have passed on their first attempt. The NCLEX is an exam required to become a registered nurse (RN), and USI’s 100% pass rate is over 12% above the year-to-date national pass rate of 87.6%, according to second quarter statistics from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).

In early June, Beth Thompson and Carly Andrews attended the 2023 ASPE Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon, where they attended sessions learning and sharing innovative ideas in standardized patient simulation and had the opportunity to experience the latest in simulation technology. ASPE stands for "Association of Standardized Patient Educators," and it is a global network for human simulation education. Their trip was funded by the USI Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program as part of ongoing initiatives to incorporate standardized patients into the gerontology curriculum. Learn more about USI's Clinical Simulation Center by clicking the button below.

Three Posey County teens recently visited USI to thank a member of our Nursing faculty for her quick response when they were injured in a three-vehicle accident.

Congratulations to Amy Wilson, Clinical Associate Professor and Chair of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS), and Dr. Katherine Peak, Clinical Assistant Professor, for receiving the 2023 Faculty Development Award for the College of Nursing and Health Professions! They used the monetary award to purchase a 3D/4D transducer to use with the program's new ultrasound machine.

USI's Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene students are making a difference! They provided oral health screenings and free dental care products for community members impacted by homelessness at the Homeless Connect event yesterday in downtown Evansville. Our students were able to screen 118 people. Of those, 83% were identified as needing early or immediate dental care. The students connected these individuals to local safety net clinics at the event for restorative dental care.

Two student-athletes in the College of Nursing and Health Professions made a splash during their freshman year as members of USI's first Swimming and Diving teams! Read more about our inaugural swimmers in the newest issue of USI's Illume magazine.

Three USI students received the prestigious Rising Star of Research and Scholarship Award from Sigma Theta Tau, international honor society of nursing. They are Cassandra Nepp, BSN '22 graduate (not pictured), and current DNP students, Byron Rademacher, at left, and AnnMarie Humphress, at right. Pam Thomas, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing, recognized Rademacher and Humphress at USI's annual Research Conference, held April 19.

Congratulations to Dr. Marilyn Ostendorf, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing, and USI Nursing students on two exciting wins! On April 10, they won the 2023 Critical Care Challenge sponsored by the Greater Evansville Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. The team also captured first place at the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) Challenge sponsored by the Kentucky Nurses Association on March 21.

Congratulations to Jenna Thacker, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, '11, OT '12, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy (OT), for receiving a $5,000 Early Career Faculty Grant from the University of Southern Indiana Provost’s Office. These grants are given each year to encourage early career faculty to pursue promising research, creative and engagement projects for one consecutive 10-week summer term. Thacker intends to study functional dry needling (FDN), which she says is “growing like wildfire” in the field of physical therapy (PT).

Congratulations to Emily Holt, Clinical Professor of Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting, for making an impact on student success at USI! She was recognized in the inaugural Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Outstanding Faculty-Commitment to Student Success Awards!

Alexandra Gilmore ’17 was named the 2023 Nurse of the Year at Baptist Health Floyd in New Albany, Indiana. She has worked in the hospital's intensive care unit for six years.

Kristy Denton '12, MHA '15 has a new title to add to her resume: Mrs. Southern Indiana! The USI graduate, wife, mother, long-term care administrator and adjunct instructor for Romain College of Business is a native of Newburgh, Indiana, and has been with American Senior Communities since 2014. She currently is the administrator at Willowdale Village in Dale, Indiana.

The worlds of healthcare and art intersected recently at USI during Dr. Zach Ward’s Competitive Strategies and Marketing in Healthcare class (HA 496). Aaron Kizer, a native of Owensboro who is renowned for his striking portraits of celebrities and pop culture icons, recently spoke to Ward’s students about his work and artistic portfolio that ranges from hip-hop artists’ album covers to Fortune 500 companies.

USI Nursing's newest faculty member puts best foot forward with mission to provide new shoes for Mount Vernon elementary school students.

Jessica R. Riley, MSN, RN, APRN, AGACNP-BC, has been named Congestive Heart Failure Coordinator at Cape Cardiology Group, located in the Heart Hospital at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She received her Post-Master’s Certificate as an Acute Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner from University of Southern Indiana in July 2022.

Two students in the Family Nurse Practitioner program completed a pilot continuing education program that focused on reducing health disparities in the United States.

Sarah Fruit was named the USI Student Volunteer of the Year award at the Volunteer USI Dinner in August and is also the 2022 recipient of a University-wide scholarship. She says opportunities within the Food and Nutrition Program at USI have prepared her for her future career.

Prior to the USI Nursing White Coat Ceremony on September 11, 2022, Hailey Reas’ mother loaned her something special to wear to remember her family’s legacy of nursing service.

A junior majoring in Health Administration is the first student-athlete in USI school history to claim a NCAA Division I conference title. Read more about Lauren Greiwe and her accomplishments on the USI Women's Cross Country team.

Ann White, RN, PhD, MBA, NE-BC, Dean Emerita of the USI College of Nursing and Health Professions, received the 2022 Pillar of Leadership Award from the Indiana State Nurses Association (ISNA).

Two students from USI's Radiologic and Imaging Sciences program, Hortensia Almanza '23 and Eva Chung Loo '23, placed third in the state quiz bowl during the Indiana Society of Radiologic Technologists (ISRT) meeting in Indianapolis on September 30. The program's newest faculty member, Ryan Williams '14, M'22, was also installed as the Vice President for the 2022-2023 ISRT Board of Directors.