It鈥檚 an interesting time in health care with an emphasis on quality, safety and efficiency, Curley said. 鈥淵et to be true to the legacy of Florence Nightingale, contemporary measurement in nursing should also call upon nursing-care processes that contribute to optimal patient outcomes.鈥�

Curley discussed the importance of linking what nurses do to improve patient outcomes, how nursing is typically measured within health care organizations, and how the Nightingale Metrics process works to engage bedside nurses in the identification and measurement of unit-specific, patient-centered outcomes.

Curley鈥檚 presentation 鈥� Nightingale 2012: Knowing, Describing and Measuring How Nurses Make a Difference 鈥� was part of the annual Orlando Health Nursing Lecture series, established through a $250,000 gift to the UCF College of Nursing.

Jean D鈥橫eza Leuner, dean of the UCF College of Nursing, is grateful for the vibrant and longstanding academic-practice partnership with Orlando Health. 鈥淲e are working together to heighten awareness of nursing research and how it directly relates to improving patient outcomes,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hanks to Orlando Health鈥檚 generous gift, we are able to bring in world-renowned nurse scientists to share their expertise and enrich the entire nursing community through education and research.鈥�

Curley is the Ellen and Robert Kapito Professor in Nursing Science at the 海角直播 of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in Philadelphia. She holds a joint appointment in anesthesia and critical care medicine at the 海角直播 of Pennsylvania and is a nurse scientist in the cardiovascular and critical care nursing program at Children鈥檚 Hospital Boston.

Curley earned a Ph.D. from Boston College, a master鈥檚 degree in acute care pediatric nursing from Yale 海角直播, a bachelor of science from the 海角直播 of Massachusetts-Amherst, and a diploma in nursing from Springfield (Mass.) Hospital School of Nursing.

The free lecture, hosted by the UCF College of Nursing, was open to the public and attendees earned one contact hour of continuing education credit. This was the second annual lecture in the Orlando Health Nursing Lecture series. In 2010, Barbara Balik, a nationally renowned speaker and author, was brought in to lecture on 鈥淢aximizing Your Nursing Power: When Good Isn鈥檛 Good Enough.鈥�

Established in 2009, the Orlando Health Nursing Endowed Fund supports three imperatives at the UCF College of Nursing: an annual lecture with topics addressing nursing trends; scholarships for students enrolled in the research focused Honors in the Major program; and the Orlando Health Distinguished Professor in Nursing, held by UCF professor Mary Lou Sole, who is an internationally recognized acute and critical care researcher and a fellow in both the American Academy of Nursing and the American College of Critical Care Medicine.

Comprised of the nation鈥檚 top nurse researchers, policy makers, scholars, executives, educators, and practitioners, the academy鈥檚 2012 inductees include 176 nurse leaders. The academy鈥檚 mission is to serve the public and nursing profession by advancing health policy and practice through the development and dissemination of nursing knowledge.

鈥淪election for membership in the academy is one of the most prestigious honors in the field of nursing,鈥� said academy president Joanne Disch. 聽

Karen Aroian, a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and director of nursing research for the UCF College of Nursing, sponsored Leuner in her application to the academy.

鈥淒r. Leuner has shaped health initiatives, nursing education and practice models that improve nursing workforce capacity and population health by developing cutting-edge models and implementing them through her strategic leadership in national, regional, and local boards and task forces,鈥� Aroian said. 鈥淪he began actualizing recommendations from the Institute of Medicine鈥檚 report on the Future of Nursing well before the report was published, and has the knowledge, skills and passion to contribute significantly to the academy鈥檚 mission.鈥�

Leuner said she was honored to be selected as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

鈥淚 look forward to working alongside our nation鈥檚 top nurse leaders, many of whom I have admired throughout my own career, to further advance the nursing profession and address the issues affecting our current health care environment.鈥�

During her tenure, Leuner has made substantial contributions to the field of nursing through her strategic vision and longstanding leadership to improve population health and well-being, and prepare a well-educated nursing workforce. She has served as the sole nurse on three strategically selected national and regional boards to shape health policy and advance the stature of nursing. As an invited member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, she led efforts to advance women鈥檚 health and family care.

Leuner served on the board for the Heart of Florida United Way and sits on the board of trustees for the Winter Park Health Foundation. She also chaired the Older Adult Work Group at the Winter Park Health Foundation, where she reviewed and allocated grant funding for innovative, evidence-based community projects. Her leadership and community engagement were honored in 2010 by the Orlando Business Journal鈥檚 鈥淲omen Who Mean Business.鈥�

Leuner served as co-leader for the Florida statewide Future of Nursing Robert Wood Johnson Foundation initiative and chair for the Florida Association of Colleges of Nursing. She has implemented an innovative education model in Florida with seamless articulation and concurrent enrollment in associate and baccalaureate nursing programs. With three locations and expanding, this innovative model accelerates the route to earn a baccalaureate degree and provides regional access to the nursing baccalaureate. She has raised more than $6 million in endowments for nursing education and established four endowed chairs in one decade.

Leuner serves on the board of directors for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and is the immediate past president of Sigma Theta Tau鈥檚 Theta Epsilon chapter. She received her B.S.N. from Seton Hall 海角直播 in New Jersey and her M.S.N. and Ph.D. from Boston College.

With Leuner鈥檚 induction into the academy, she joins four other UCF College of Nursing faculty members who also hold this nursing honor: Karen Aroian, Angeline Bushy, Anne Norris and Mary Lou Sole.

The academy is made up of more than 1,850 nursing leaders. Leadership positions held by academy fellows include university presidents, chancellors, and deans; state and federal political appointees; hospital chief executives and vice presidents for nursing; researchers and entrepreneurs; and practicing nurses.

Selection criteria include evidence of significant contributions to nursing and health care and sponsorship by two current academy fellows. Applicants are reviewed by a panel comprised of elected and appointed fellows, and selection is based, in part, on the extent to which nominees鈥� nursing careers influence health policies and the health and well-being of all.

The scholarships will support students in the inaugural class of UCF鈥檚 concurrent Associate of Science in Nursing to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, which will begin in August at Lake-Sumter State College in Leesburg. Each scholarship will help offset the tuition, fees and other costs associated with the B.S.N. courses.

The innovative concurrent program enables students to complete coursework toward a B.S.N. degree from UCF while enrolled in the A.S.N. program at a partner institution. After completing the A.S.N. degree, students can complete their B.S.N. degree with just two additional semesters of coursework, thereby shortening the time it takes to earn the B.S.N. degree. Students must meet the admission requirements of both programs.

Because of the rigorous academic schedule and clinical placements for the concurrent-degree program, students are typically unable to work at outside jobs.

鈥淪cholarship support is a critical component of providing high quality education for this community鈥檚 future nurse leaders,鈥� said Jean D鈥橫eza Leuner, dean of the UCF College of Nursing. 鈥淭hese scholarships will not only help alleviate the financial costs of their higher education, but more importantly, they will enable the nursing students to focus on their academic successes.鈥�

The B.S.N. has become the standard level of education expected in the nursing field. The Institute of Medicine鈥檚 publication, The Future of Nursing, provides recommendations on how to improve nursing education and practice to meet the growing demands and complexities of the nation鈥檚 health-care system. The report states that higher levels of education and training are necessary for nurses to deliver safe and effective health care in this continuously evolving industry.

By partnering with LSSC, the UCF College of Nursing is expanding the availability of the B.S.N. degree to students of Lake and Sumter counties. Launched in 2006, UCF鈥檚 concurrent program has been successful at two other partner institutions, Valencia College鈥檚 West Campus and Seminole State College鈥檚 Altamonte Springs campus. More than 300 nursing students are enrolled in the concurrent programs at these two campuses. Graduates of the program often return to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing.

Teresa Borcheck, board member and president of The Hans & Cay Jacobsen Charitable Foundation, said the board is pleased to continue the legacy Cay聽 Jacobsen established for nurses at LSSC by funding UCF鈥檚 inaugural class of B.S.N. students at LSSC.

鈥淢rs. Jacobsen was a nurse and during her lifetime encouraged many young nurses to advance their education,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are excited to know this program will produce highly skilled nurses to serve the residents of Lake and Sumter counties,鈥� she added.

Until now, students in Lake and Sumter counties interested in obtaining a B.S.N. degree would need to first complete their A.S.N. degree at LSSC and then enroll in UCF鈥檚 online R.N. to B.S.N. program 鈥� which takes 30 credit hours to complete 鈥� or travel to one of UCF鈥檚 campuses where the B.S.N. program is offered.

With 368 students enrolled, the basic B.S.N. program on UCF鈥檚 main campus in Orlando is consistently at capacity. To increase the number of nurses with a B.S.N. degree, the UCF College of Nursing partnered with five state colleges in Brevard, Orange, Seminole, Volusia, and now Lake-Sumter.

鈥淭he Hans & Cay Jacobsen Charitable Foundation award presents an opportunity to achieve the IOM鈥檚 goal of 80 percent B.S.N. nurses by 2020,鈥� said Maggie Wacker, director of the nursing program at LSSC. 鈥淭his is a win-win solution for nursing students and the profession at large.鈥�

The foundation is dedicated to helping disadvantaged, underprivileged and at-risk children and young adults receive greater access to education, health care, recreational and cultural programs in Lake and Sumter counties. Created by Cay Jacobsen, the foundation supports programs and organizations that promote the passion and vision the Jacobsens had for their community.

If you would like to support nursing scholarships at UCF through a tax-deductible donation, contact Katie Korkosz at 407-823-1600 or katiek@ucf.edu.