WSU College of Nursing received three federal HRSA grants totaling $1.1M aimed at reducing health disparities in Washington, increasing access to qualified healthcare providers in rural and medically underserved and expanding our ability to prepare nurse educators. New funding for each grant builds upon previously documented successes.

The Nursing Pathways: Community Alliance for Health Workforce Diversity project aims to increase the retention, graduation, and NCLEX pass rates of 115 underserved, diverse BSN and RN-BSN students living in rural areas. The Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship Program (AENT) aims to support 26 Family Nurse Practitioners including … » More …

Originally published on June 21, 2016 by Alyssa Patrick, WSU Office of Economic Development

In September, nearly 600 police executives, managers, trainers, and officers will observe the launch of Counter Bias Training Simulation developed at WSU, thanks in part to the Commercialization Gap Fund.

“Without the gap fund, we would not be able to get our interactive training into the hands of the police officers who will benefit,” said Lois James, the researcher who developed the training.

James is one of seven WSU researchers who received support from the second round of the Commercialization Gap Fund, support that helps … » More …

Strong economic evidence supports use of methadone maintenance therapy

This brief was originally published on the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics website on May 25, 2016

Sean Murphy, Daniel Polsky, Zachary Meisel, Julia Mitchell

This brief summarizes a new systematic review of economic evaluations of treatments for substance use disorders. The review reveals strong evidence that methadone maintenance therapy is an economically advantageous form of treatment; the economic evidence for buprenorphine and naltrexone treatments is more limited.

… » More …

By Brenda Alling, WSU Vancouver

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Of all infectious diseases that endanger young children’s lives, pneumonia remains the world’s biggest threat. Yet some simple, low-cost measures could go a long way toward reducing the problem.

That was the surprising discovery Sarah Holman made in researching a paper for a senior-level nursing class at Washington State University Vancouver.

For her paper, “Grand Challenge: Childhood Pneumonia Mortality in Nigeria,” Holman received the 2016 WSU Vancouver Library Research Excellence Award. Designed … » More …

By Sarah Schaub

Sitting on the dirt floor of the family’s home, Dr. Anita Hunter, WSU Vancouver College of Nursing Clinical Professor, graciously accepted the refreshments that were offered to her, though hesitant. Eyeing the sediment that had collected on the bottom of the glass, she knew the water used to make the fruit beverage was likely contaminated with heavy metals and other toxins from their local water source. She knew the porridge that was offered to her was likely made … » More …

Congratulations to all of our faculty, staff and students who were presented one of our Spring 2016 College of Nursing Excellence Awards.

Faculty Awards

Faculty Excellence in Research Award – Dr. Janessa Graves, Spokane

This award recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates excellence in research. Dr. Graves has developed and implemented a line of inquiry in research, has received extramural funding for her research, has communicated and disseminated her own research findings, and continues to promote and facilitate research in less experienced faculty.

“Dr. Graves completely revised the PhD Grant Writing course (NURS534) and works … » More …

(This story appears in the latest edition of the WSU Spokane Magazine)

By Alli Benjamin

The new dean of the College of Nursing arrived in April with more than 25 years of experience in academic nursing.

Dean Joyce P. Griffin-Sobel, Ph.D., R.N., is the college’s seventh dean and succeeds Patricia Butterfield, Ph.D., who returned to the faculty and her research.

“I am so honored to be joining WSU as dean of the College of Nursing,” Griffin-Sobel said. “I am deeply committed to interprofessional education and practice, as it is the foundation … » More …

It was an eventful week across all of our WSU campus sites. Congratulations to all of our graduates. Check out all of the event photos from convocation and commencement.

WSU Spokane Commencement
WSU Spokane Commencement – Nursing & HPA Grads
WSU Spokane Convocation
WSU Tri-Cities Commencement
WSU Tri-Cities Convocation
WSU Vancouver Commencement

Assistant Professor Sean Murphy in the Health Policy and Administrative Department at WSU College of Nursing has jointly authored a paper that was published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine. The article, “Opioid Relapse Rates Fall with Long-Term Use of Medication for Adults in Criminal Justice System,” was published online on March 31, 2016 and is based on research and analysis conducted in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania, NYU Langone Medical Center, Brown University, … » More …

Simulation is used primarily in the BSN program. Providing students with realistic patient care scenarios in a safe environment, students are prepared for a variety of healthcare scenarios before working in clinical sites and caring for patients. Simulation is a critical component of nursing education as clinical placements become increasingly difficult to secure and not all scenarios can be practiced on live patients.