Commander Sarah Jane Thompson Tallent promotion ceremony
Congratulations to Sarah Jane Thompson Tallent on her recent promotion from Lieutenant Commander to Commander. On Sept. 2 Tallent took her oath of promotion here in Mason Hall. Her husband, Commander Scott Hazelrigg, administered the oath. The ceremony was attended by family, friends and a small group of Murray State University faculty and can be viewed here.
In 2006 Tallent took her naval enlistment oath at Mason Hall shortly after graduating with her BSN degree from Murray State. She has served in the Navy for 16 years and has been stationed at the Naval Hospital in Beaufort, South Carolina; the Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan; and the Naval Hospital in Jackson, Florida. Tallent was also deployed to the Role III hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan. She is currently serving her third tour at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia where she serves as assistant department head.
Tallent is a third-generation Murray State alumna. Tallent’s mother, Angelia Thompson, graduated in 1989 with a degree in nursing. Her father, Stan Thompson, graduated in 1974 with a degree in education. Her grandmother, Sarah Christine Brown, also graduated from Murray State with a degree in education. Tallent graduated from Murray State in 2006 along with her twin sister, Sandra Ashford.
Pictured right is Commander Sarah Jane Thompson Tallent and her husband, Commander Scott Hazelrigg.
Pictured top row is Commander Sarah Jane Thompson Tallent taking her oath.
Pictured bottom left is Cayden Tallent (son) attaching Tallent’s rank insignia.
Pictured bottom middle, left to right are: Crystal Bars (sister); Stan Thompson (father); Commander Sarah Tallent; Angelia Thompson (mother); and Sandra Thompson (sister).
Pictured bottom right is Cable Hazelrigg (son) attaching Tallent’s rank insignia.
Additional photos of the ceremony can be viewed here.
Dr. Lauren Roberson
Congratulations to Dr. Lauren Roberson on her recent poster presentation acceptance. Her poster, “Action Alert: Strategies for Addressing Malnutrition Among Older Adults in Appalachia” was accepted at the Malnutrition in Clinical Settings: Research Gaps and Opportunities virtual workshop on Sept. 12-14.
Pictured right is Dr. Lauren Roberson. Pictured below is her poster.
Calla Murdock
Join us as we welcome Calla Murdock to the nursing faculty in the School of Nursing and Health Professions. This fall Murdock joins us as the new simulation lab coordinator. Before coming to Murray State, Murdock worked as a NUR 307 adjunct at Baptist Health Paducah, where she has 13 years of experience as a bedside nurse. Her experience includes medical-surgical, vascular, urology and bariatric surgeries.
“As simulation lab coordinator, I’m looking forward to guiding students and staff in simulations that help with communication, assessment and skills,” said Calla Murdock. “I will always have a soft spot for med-surg. My favorite aspect of teaching is helping students tie all the information together, as well as seeing the whole patient.”
Murdock graduated from Murray State University with her bachelor of science in nursing in 2009 with an honors diploma. Her senior honors thesis was, “Stress Level and Management Skills of Admitted Baccalaureate Nursing Students,” with Dr. Jessica Naber and Dr. Michael Perlow as mentors. She was also named Outstanding Nursing Student. Murdock is currently working on her masters of science in nursing education at Walden University and expects to graduate spring 2023.
When asked about her favorite areas of research she replied, “My favorite areas of research involve improving interventions for medical-surgical nursing and nursing students.”
Murdock is a Murray, Kentucky native and has lived here her whole life. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking and baking sweets that her boys, Gabriel (6) and Jace (5), won’t eat.
Karli Swor
Join with us as we welcome Karli Swor to the nursing faculty in the School of Nursing and Health Professions. This semester she will teach fundamentals of nursing as well as assist with adult health clinicals. Swor previously taught stroke assessment using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale in a hospital setting.
Swor began her nursing career at Baptist Health Paducah and Murray-Calloway County Hospital as a nurse in the emergency department. While at Baptist Health Paducah she served as the stroke coordinator from Nov. 2021 to May 2022. Swor plans to continue working as a PRN at Murray-Calloway County Hospital while teaching.
When asked about her favorite aspects of teaching, Swor replied, “I have had the opportunity to precept new nurses in the emergency department and love watching nurses grow out of intimidation into confident nurses with their own unique styles. I am excited to bring real-world experiences to nursing education and look forward to sharing the excitement of patient care with my students in the clinical setting.”
Swor earned her bachelors of science degree in nursing in 2017 from Murray State University and her masters of science in nursing education from Walden University in 2022. She became a Certified Emergency Nurse in 2018, a Trauma Certified Registered Nurse in 2019, and received her Emergency Neurological Life Support certification in 2021. In 2018 she received the Honored Caregiver Award by Baptist Health Paducah for her quick assessment and reaction during an emergency situation.
Her favorite areas of research include examining how bedside report can improve the care of stroke patients, as well as the utilization of community resources for stroke patients at discharge to prevent readmission.
Swor was born and raised in Murray, Kentucky. Together she and her husband, Logan, have a one-and-a-half-year-old son, Jackson. In their free time they enjoy camping at Kentucky Lake and spending time outdoors. Swor also enjoys running and recently ran her first half-marathon.
International Talk Like a Pirate day
International Talk Like a Pirate Day is celebrated annually around the world on Sept. 19, often as a way to raise funds for charitable organizations. This year Dr. Candace Alvey and her occupational therapy students celebrated their own version of International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Participants dressed like pirates, donned eye patches and hooks, and navigated through a variety of obstacles, challenges and games.
Activities like these help students understand the complexities of disabilities and empathize with what future patients may be experiencing. It also gives them a chance to understand how various activities can be used in therapy to work on problem areas.
This year students were joined by Noah Steele, a recent graduate and practicing occupational therapist. Steele brought his friend, Travis, who has Down Syndrome to participate in the activities and give students a chance to interact with him and to see and experience this population.
Pictured right is Travis and occupational therapy student Trevor Hawk.
Pictured top row are occupational therapy students navigating through obstacles, challenges and games.
Pictured bottom are the occupational therapy students along with Dr. Candace Alvey and their guests.
School of Nursing & Health Professions
Our school offers many different health careers that offer you the opportunity to influence the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
Website: http://www.murraystate.edu/sonhp
Location: 120 Mason Hall, Murray, KY 42071
Phone: 270-809-2193
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msusonhp/
Twitter: @sonhpmsu