Newsletter

Accomplishments

• Dr. Anna Fowler

• Dr. Lucas Morgan

Mark your calendar

• Commencement
• Oakley graduation brunch
• Nursing recognition ceremony
• Nursing honor society induction ceremony

Programs

• DNP nurse anesthesia program accreditation visit

Staff spotlight

• Sherry Robinson

While you were away

• Exercise science students hold blood pressure clinic
• Halloween Mystery day
• Nutrition and nursing students assist in Murray State University wellness fair

Join with us as we congratulate Dr. Anna Fowler on her recent poster abstract acceptance. Her poster, “Teaching Time Management to Improve Study Skills,” has been approved for the NurseThink® for Nurse Educators - Next Gen Learning: Fundamentals, NCLEX®, and Beyond Conference.

Join with us as we welcome Dr. Lucas Morgan. Dr. Morgan recently joined the exercise science faculty at Murray State University. Before coming to Murray State, he practiced as an outpatient orthopedic physical therapist in western Kentucky. Dr. Morgan graduated from Murray State in 2015 with his bachelor’s degree in exercise science. In 2019 he obtained his doctoral degree in physical therapy from the University of Kentucky.

When asked about his favorite parts of teaching Dr. Morgan said, “This semester I have really enjoyed teaching theories of strength and conditioning, and am looking forward to teaching rehab techniques next semester. I really enjoy helping students to obtain knowledge and prepare to move into the next stage of life.”

His favorite area of practice is in outpatient orthopedic settings with sport related injuries. Dr. Morgan is happily married to his wife, Jackie, and recently welcomed his first child, Reed, into the world this past September. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family.

Murray State University is excited to announce tentative plans for our Fall 2021 Commencement ceremony. Currently Commencement is scheduled for Saturday Dec. 11 at 10 am at the CFSB Center. All Fall and Winter 2021 degree candidates are invited to participate. The ceremony will be streamed live the day of the event. For the most recent information on commencement visit murraystate.edu/commencement.

Pictured are spring 2021 graduates.

The Oakley graduation brunch will be held on Friday, Dec. 10 from 10-11:30 am in the Oakley dining room on the second floor of the Oakley Applied Science Building North. Participants are asked to RSVP by Dec. 6 by going here.

Pictured is the graduation brunch flyer.

Fall 2021 recognition, previously the pinning ceremony, for nursing students will take place on Friday, Dec. 10 at 6 pm in the Curris Center ballroom on the third floor. This semester’s ceremony honors recent BSN and RN to BSN nursing graduates. Please join with us as we celebrate their accomplishments.

The nursing recognition ceremony has been in existence for over 50 years. Every nursing program in the U.S. has a unique pin for their graduating students. The Murray State nursing pin is in the shape of the shield of Murray State. The colors on the pin are blue and gold, the colors of Murray State. In the center of the pin is a red cross signifying the health profession. On the pin are the words Hope, Endeavor and Achievement.

Pictured is a Murray State University nursing pin.

The Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma) induction ceremony will be held on Friday, Dec. 10 at 4:30 pm in the Mason Hall auditorium. Membership is by invitation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, and to nurse leaders who exhibit exceptional achievements in nursing.

Sigma Theta Tau International is an organization that fosters scholarship in nursing. It is dedicated to improving the health of people worldwide by increasing the scientific base of nursing practice. Please join us as we celebrate our new Sigma Theta Tau inductees.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Katy Garth, Dr. Darlena Jones and the DNP faculty on a successful accreditation self-study and visit. The visitors stated that the self-study was clear and concise. Dr. Garth and Dr. Jones worked very hard over the past several months to write the self-study and to prepare for this visit. The accreditation decision will be voted on by the Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) in April; however, the feedback shared was positive.

“We are extremely proud of this outcome,” said Dr. Dina Byers, dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions. “We will continue to work to provide students with an excellent educational experience and prepare them for clinical practice.”

Join us as we welcome Sherry Robinson as the new clinical simulation coordinator for nursing. In addition to working at Murray State University Robinson also works part time at Murray Calloway County Hospital. Before coming to Murray State, she worked in a critical COVID ICU in Paducah, Kentucky. She also has experience working in acute care bedside nursing. Her career has allowed her to work with a wide variety of patient populations. Robinson has also served as a preceptor for student practicums and new nurse orientation, and as an adjunct clinical instructor for both West Kentucky Community & Technical College (WKCTC) and Murray State University.

“I have always had an interest and commitment to help new nurses thrive in their careers,” said Robinson. “I thoroughly enjoy it and I am so happy to be where I am today as the clinical simulation coordinator for Murray State. I look forward to seeing this area of nursing education enhance student learning. It has always been a passion of mine, to see students and new nurses grasp the skills needed to be successful in healthcare. Teaching the hands-on application of things learned is something I truly enjoy.”

Robinson earned her associate of applied science (AAS) and her associate degree in nursing (ADN) from West Kentucky Community and Technical College in 2007. She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing degree in 2014 at the University of Southern Indiana, and her Master of Science in nursing degree from Chamberlain College of Nursing in 2021.

In her free time Robinson and her husband, Mark, enjoy going to the lake, boating and visiting with friends. They have a summer home at the lake and enjoy spending weekends there. They have an absolutely spoiled miniature schnauzer, Gemma. Robinson also works with consignment on the side.

Students enrolled in EXS 353, exercise testing, hosted a blood pressure screening at the Susan E. Bauernfeind Wellness Center on Sept. 24 from 1:30-3:30 pm for Murray State University faculty and staff. The students measured, recorded and interpreted resting heart rate and blood pressure as well as provided health education on lifestyle changes to achieve or maintain a healthy blood pressure. The screening was a Racer Wellness sanctioned event.

The event was also scheduled to recognize World Heart Day, celebrated on Sept. 29. World Heart Day is a global campaign to encourage individuals to participate in activities to reduce risk factors and take charge of their heart health.

Pictured are exercise science students and faculty working with Murray State faculty and staff to test their blood pressure and heart rate.

On Oct. 28, occupational therapy students from Dr. Candace Alvey’s foundations and pathology classes participated in an annual Halloween Mystery day. This year’s Halloween Mystery day revolved around the Pumpkin Palooza Costume Party at Skull Manor in Spider City. It had been a daunting year of dissension and discord among the residents of Spider City. Rumors of blackmail, thievery and scandalous controversies had been circulated through the town’s grapevine. The town’s people had hoped everyone could put their differences aside and have a day of fun, but misfortune was about to happen.

During the event students dressed and played the part of various characters ranging from Orlando Depp, an Academy Award winning actor, to Harlequin, the local vigilante. During the Pumpkin Palooza a crime was committed and all characters were under suspicion. The students, staying in character, mingled amongst the cast of characters and used their interviewing skills learned in class to piece together information and determine who committed the crime. Once information was gathered and the clues revealed, clinical reasoning skills were incorporated to help determine whodunit.

The annual Halloween Mystery day is used as a way to help students understand how and why the multifaceted cognitive process of healthcare clinical reasoning are applied. Within this Halloween mystery students are required to frequently switch between the various types of reasoning in order to reach a conclusion.

“As an occupational therapist, the therapeutic use of self and interviewing skills from the onset of the evaluation are important skills required in order to help pinpoint areas of concern with clients treated,” said Dr. Candace Alvey. “The students not only used these skills to determine whodunit; through their assignments they also look at the sociocultural, socioeconomic and diversity factors involved with the characters.”

To go along with the Halloween season, students also researched the pathology of such diseases as werewolf syndrome, zombie disease, vampire disease and ghost sickness. Overall, it was a unique day of learning, but with a twist.

Pictured right is Dr. Candace Alvey and the Frankenstein monster. Pictured below are occupational therapy students and participants.

On Oct. 21 and Oct. 27, members of the Student Nutrition Association (SNA) conducted BMI screenings for Murray State University employees. SNA students performed assessments based on weight and, with the supervision of a registered dietitian (RD), provided counseling with regards to weight goals. A bioelectrical impedance analyzer (BIA) was used to assess body composition. Participants were further instructed on proper portion sizes for common food items in each food group. SNA students look forward to working with faculty and staff in the future to promote optimal health and wellness.

During the event community health nursing students also took blood pressures for Murray State faculty and staff health fair participants, while also discussing measures to improve cardiovascular health. Nursing students constructed an evidenced-based poster on COVID vaccines, stressing facts vs. myths for participants’ perusal as well.

The screenings were part of a larger health and wellness fair sponsored by human resources.

Pictured left to right are Haley Silva Mario, senior in dietetics, and Emily Spindler, junior in nutrition and foods, with a bioelectrical impedance analyzer (BIA) used for measuring BMI; and samples of food portion sizes.

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
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Twitter: @MsuSonhp