Nursing Names Three Doctoral Students as Jonas Scholars

As part of its efforts to address the nursing faculty shortage and prepare future nurses, the School of Nursing has named three of its doctoral students as Jonas Scholars, providing each with financial assistance through a Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare grant with matching funds from the University.

The nursing school, which received a $30,000 grant from the Jonas Center, will allocate the funding to the students over a two-year period. The program has formalized leadership development and mentorship from school of nursing faculty for all three students during their time as scholars. They also will attend the Jonas Center/AACN Leadership Development conference in Washington, D.C., in the fall of 2015, with expenses covered by the nursing school.

Emerson Ea, a clinical assistant professor and senior fellow at the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University’s College of Nursing, is a student in the online Ph.D. program and has been named a Jonas Nurse Leader Scholar. He will receive $20,000 in scholarship support, which includes $10,000 from the Jonas Center and $10,000 in matching funds from the University.

Salena Wright-Brown, associate director of patient care services at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, is enrolled in the online Ph.D. program and has been named a Jonas Veterans Healthcare Scholar. Sara B. Jennings, clinical care leader of the Bon Secours Richmond Forensic Nursing Services program, is a student in the online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. She also has been named a Jonas Veterans Healthcare Scholar. Wright-Brown and Jennings will each receive $10,000 in scholarship support from the Jonas Center grant.

“Nurses are a crucial part of the workforce as our healthcare system continues to evolve, facing challenges such as an aging population, providing culturally competent care and an increasing burden of chronic disease,” said Dr. Alison Colbert, assistant professor and chair of graduate nursing programs. “The veterans award is specifically geared to address veteran-specific healthcare needs such as the effects of violence and poly-trauma.”

The Jonas scholars were selected based on eligibility; endorsement of responsibilities and obligations of the program; potential as a scholar; priority of clinical practice/research area; and potential for success as a faculty member or leader in primary care/clinical faculty. Students who applied for the veterans-related awards also had to propose a project involving veterans’ healthcare needs.

Colbert and Dr. Melissa Kalarchian, associate professor and associate dean for research, collaborated on the application for the Jonas grant and are coordinating the program in the nursing school.

“The School of Nursing is committed to improving both healthcare and education for veterans who have served our country,” said Kalarchian. “An online degree from Duquesne’s School of Nursing is considered to be among the best in the nation for veterans according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2014 Best Online Programs for Veterans.

“We are honored to join this prestigious group of schools supported by Jonas Center programs at the national level and to assume a high-visibility role in training future leaders in nursing,” Kalarchian added.