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College Professor Turned Her Struggle with Dyslexia into a Passion for Teaching
Galen College of Nursing Associate Professor Ellen Fulmer had a much different upbringing than most people. She was raised in a home with a blind father and a legally blind mother. Her parents were unable to read traditionally to her, which caused her to struggle in school at an early age. Eventually, she was diagnosed with dyslexia and often transferred from school to school.
“I’ve been to Catholic school, private school, public school, and different kinds of independent schools. I’ve seen a lot of different educational environments even before graduating high school,” she said. “I know what it’s like to feel as if I’m beating my head against a wall and not understanding the content. I know what it’s like to check out in a classroom and not be fully engaged. I know what it’s like to have to push harder than most students in the class.”
Fortunately, The Academy for Individual Excellence helped Fulmer overcome her learning deficits, and she graduated with 16 students in her senior class. Both of her parents are attorneys, so it was expected that she would go to college.
Fulmer attended Bellarmine University. As she participated in study groups, her friends suggested that she become a teacher. She also enjoyed working as a peer tutor, so teaching was on the horizon. Halfway through her studies in the nursing program, she got engaged to her high school sweetheart. He asked her to transfer to Eastern Kentucky University where she completed her bachelor’s degree. She eventually earned her master’s degree from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Fulmer worked as a nurse in various areas such as University Hospital at the University of Louisville and Norton Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Providing precise instructions to her patients on how to care for themselves once they returned home also fueled her love of teaching.
In 2010, Fulmer landed a faculty position to work at Galen. One of the many things the “super proud” associate professor loves about the College is the support it provides to students.
“I love that my students talk to me all the time,” she said. “They know we’re always available to help them. I’m so proud of their hard work.”
And it’s clear that her students are just as proud of her. Fulmer’s photo was recently featured in a Facebook post celebrating National Wear Red Day, and the post received over 200 likes and more than 50 glowing comments from students. Ironically, Fulmer doesn’t use Facebook, so she wasn’t aware of the praise. However, she believes the secret to her success as a teacher is her ability to connect with people.
“My mom always said if you set me in front of a brick wall, I would talk to the brick wall. That is me. I love to get to know people; I like to care for them,” she said.
Fulmer uses different methods to help her students retain information. Some of them include clicker questions, which allow students to answer anonymously, while also testing themselves. Matching cards appeal to students who excel with hands-on instruction. The auditory learners record Fulmer’s lectures, and they frequently tell her she’s “very animated.”
“I’m very loud,” she said, laughing. “They’ve said, ‘I can hear you in my head’ while they are taking their exams.”
When Fulmer teaches her anatomy courses, she reserves the science lab to create different projects. “Sometimes I pull the playdough out, and we make atoms,” she said. “We do a lot of different hands-on activities versus just me being in front of the class reading from a slide.”
Fulmer enjoys teaching a variety of courses at Galen and plans to pursue her doctoral degree at the University of Southern Mississippi.
“I believe God has prepped me for this path,” she said. “My educational background is distorted and as crazy as it was, it prepared me to help our students, and that’s my passion. I love to help them have that ‘aha!’ moment.”
Fun facts:
Favorite candy: Kit Kat
Favorite sports team: University of Kentucky Wildcats, all the way. My entire family graduated from UK – my mom, dad, brother, sister, and grandparents all graduated from UK. I did not graduate from UK, so I was the odd man out. But UK is ingrained in my blood.
Favorite food: Ice cream, or any carb known to man! But, yes, I love ice cream.
Foods you hate: Anything pickled, like pickled beets.
Favorite hobby: I love to read and paint.
Favorite movie: Harry Potter, and my favorite books are the Harry Potter series. I also loved The Princess Bride, because it’s fantasy and it’s funny.
Galen College of Nursing’s Nancy Maebius Recognized as ‘Visionary Leader’ at UT Health School of Nursing
Community Relations Liaison and Education Consultant Nancy Maebius, Ph.D., MSN, BSN, R.N., who has 50 years of experience in medical-surgical nursing, maternal child nursing, education, and clinical research, is among the visionary leaders who were celebrated at the UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing’s 50th-anniversary luncheon. The St. Louis native was one of four founding faculty members in 1969 and served on the faculty until 1977.
Maebius was among the 50 honorees who were presented with a crystal award. The winners also were featured in a video and toast at the end of the celebration.
“This award has great meaning. It’s one of the greatest honors that I’ve received,” she said. “Reflecting back on my 50 years in nursing education and research, I appreciate the significance of nursing education’s historic past, our current successes and look forward to the future.”
According to the luncheon’s booklet, Celebrating Our Legacy, Dean of the School of Nursing Dr. Eileen Breslin stated, “What a joy it is to celebrate the UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing’s 50 anniversary! The school was founded in 1969 under the leadership of Dr. Margretta Styles and four faculty members. Because of their vision and dedication to the School of Nursing, we now celebrate a half-century of excellence in education, discovery, and care.”
Dr. Breslin continued: “UT Health is celebrating 50 visionary leaders who have made significant contributions supporting the UT Health School of Nursing and advancing health and health care systems in Texas and beyond. The Visionary Leaders represent our alumni, faculty, staff, community leaders, and friends of the school. Their contributions to nursing have propelled the profession and enhanced nursing care.”
UT Health School of Nursing displayed a photo of Maebius from 50 years ago as a faculty member, which is also featured on the university’s website. There’s also a large portrait of her along with four founding faculty members and the dean in the hallway of the school.
“Mainly it’s the idea of nurses honoring nurses who are visionary leaders,” she said. “It was an all-around lovely luncheon with champagne and confetti that was shot up into the air at one point.”
In 1964, the University of Michigan alumna began her illustrious career at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C. Three years later, she and her husband moved to Austin, Texas, where they both worked on their master’s degrees. She was among only four graduates in the inaugural Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Texas in Austin. She then permanently moved to San Antonio.
Maebius said that she loves all things nursing. Even when she took two years off after one of her sons was born, she volunteered as a nurse in the emergency room at Robert B. Green Hospital.
In 1985, she worked at Humana Women’s Hospital in staff development. Maebius, who was then recruited to work at Galen, said some of her greatest work was developing an innovative curriculum and teaching in the Humana Health Institute vocational nursing program. In 1991, her first day at Galen was the graduation of the inaugural class of vocational nursing students.
In addition to her current roles at Galen, Maebius tirelessly serves on the UT Health Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics Advisory Council and is a member of the Advisory Committee on Education for the Texas Board of Nursing.
Galen has opened many opportunities for her, she said. Maebius has written six editions of a medical-surgical nursing guide and authored two nursing textbooks. The Student Success Center and Library was named in her honor in 2012. She also has held “a variety of roles” including teaching pharmacology and anatomy and physiology for 12 years.
“The curriculum at Galen has always been strong. It includes integrity, diversity, and excellence. We’ve adapted to the needs of the community,” she said. “We’re really advancing healthcare because of the growth of our diverse student population and the emphasis on curriculum development and quality improvement.”
Dean Tara Dailey And Other Local Leaders Engage in ‘A Conversation About Nursing in San Antonio’
March 7, 2019 – SAN ANTONIO – One of the solutions to the nursing shortage is educating new nurses. But, unfortunately, there is a lack of qualified faculty and clinical opportunities for students nationwide, said Galen College of Nursing’s Dean Tara Dailey MSN, RN, who was one of four local experts who participated in “A Conversation About Nursing in San Antonio” on February 27 hosted by The Health Cell.
The panel included Catalina Schultze-Kraft, MSN, RN, Methodist Health Care Ministries of South Texas; Lisa Schmidt, RN, WellMed Medical Management, and Jing Wang, Ph.D., MPH, RN, FAAN, UT Health, San Antonio.
Dailey addressed the nursing shortage and cited a study from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which created a model that projected the demand for nurses and health care services through 2030. On a state level, the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce’s data shows even more of a disparity between the supply and demand for nurses in 2030 than the national model, she said.
“It is difficult to find qualified faculty to fill vacant positions and there are many programs competing for limited clinical experiences. Therefore, enrollment capacity is limited,” Dailey said. “According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, schools of nursing turned away over 59,000 qualified student nurse applicants for the 2017 academic year. Considering the trends in healthcare, programs of nursing need to look to alternative experiences for students as nursing care happens in many different environments.”
The panel also discussed the social determinants of health. Schultze-Kraft, who is a parish nurse, detailed how her group cares for patients in the home or community versus in a hospital setting. Similarly, Dailey shared how Galen students learn how a patient’s environment might affect their health.
“A diabetic person, struggling with disease management, may not have access to healthy foods. Understanding the cycle of poverty and how patients manage their care and daily lives at home will better equip future nurses in their planning and providing of care,” she said.
Dr. Wang, who is the vice dean for research at UT Health San Antonio, concluded the panel’s discussion by describing the technological approach her university is using within the community. Nurses are becoming innovators, Wang said. She explained that diabetic patients can monitor their condition with a phone app. These technological trends enhance nurses’ skills for patient care.
Each leader brought a different set of experiences and perspectives, but they all recognized a common theme of the discussion: ‘community first.’
“What sets San Antonio apart from a lot of bigger cities is the idea of ‘community first.’ Leaders and community members are working on transportation, which will help people access better health care. They are working on educational initiatives such as connecting seniors in high school to colleges,” Dailey said. “The leaders of the city, from the mayor to business and community leaders are coming together to do what is best for the community. … And nursing is a critical part of the team.”
She wants to take what she has learned from the discussion and implement more technological trends into Galen’s curriculum and foster additional community partnerships.
‘Branching Out’ recognizes past and present nurses
“Branching Out” honors past and present African-American nurses during Black History Month. Student Resource Coordinator and 504/Title IX Coordinator LaKecia Dudley-Jenkins, Clinical Learning Lab Coordinator Dashanda Stanton, Clinical Learning Lab Tech Sandra Cole and Galen alumna Britney Polluck played key roles in the design of the exhibit, which stands tall in the Student Success Center at the Louisville campus.
Polluck and Cole brought the tree to life last year with a 3-D design concept. Other student volunteers provided background information about the various trailblazers.
The exhibit’s roots feature photos of the pioneers who have paved the way for African Americans to enter in the field of nursing. These historical figures include Mary Eliza Mahoney Mary E. Merritt, Adah Belle Samuel Thoms, Harriet Tubman, and Sojourner Truth.
The photos featured in the trunk, branches, and leaves include Kentucky leaders, notable figures and some Galen faculty in the nursing field. They include Hazel Johnson Brown, Betty Smith Williams, Dr. Beverly Malone, Dr. Vicki Hines-Martin, Dr. Eric J. Williams. Galen faculty: Gregory Frodge, Dashanda Stanton, Sandra Cole, Dakeisha Cook, Jacqueline Wilson, Tonya Newton, and Karla Hopkins.
The soil represents the herbal remedies and collaborative practices by Native-Americans used in slavery. Words such as motivation, tradition, survival, spirituality, sacrifice, determination, faith and necessity cascade down to the roots are symbolic to help the tree’s growth.
Local Church Helps Ensure Education Continues at Galen College of Nursing During Flooding
February 14, 2019 – Louisville, KY – Galen College of Nursing educates over 1,400 nursing students at its Zorn and River Road campuses. When the Ohio River hits 27 feet, however, its geography, along with rising waters, affect campus access.
So, what do they do to keep students from missing crucial class time? They rely on the kindness of the community and the amazing faculty, staff, and students willing to pick up and move operations to make sure that learning continues.
For the second year in a row, Galen has been forced to pack up its classes and operations, and relocate. “We planned for this,” said Kathy Dwyer, Senior Director of College Operations at Galen. “We went through this last year and had gone through similar events in the past, so we were familiar with watching the river gauges and knowing at exactly what stage to initiate contingency plans.”
Galen students arrived at the Northeast Christian Church, starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, February 13, and were directed by staff and faculty to their temporary classrooms at the church. Twenty-six classrooms have been set up in the church. Staff have also been set up so that operations continue as normal. “Our admissions teams are still meeting with prospective students wishing to get started in our next term; financial aid and registrars are still working with enrolling students. Even employees who don’t work directly with students are here wanting to help, just to support their co-workers and our students. It’s pretty amazing to see,” said Dwyer.
According to the National Weather Service, the Ohio River was nearing 28 feet as of noon Wednesday. But, Galen faculty and staff knew exactly what to do, said Dr. Connie Cooper, Dean of Louisville and Hazard, Kentucky, campuses.
“The second time around is easier, and this church and its members are so welcoming,” Cooper said. “We couldn’t have done this without Northeast, and we can’t thank them enough. The students have been very complimentary, and we provide lunches, snacks, and drinks every day. It has been very smooth.”
Northeast’s receptionist Beverly Gillespie might be considered a life preserver for Galen. After she was contacted by a Galen employee and fellow church member who needed her assistance during last year’s flooding, she has continued to be instrumental in working with the operations team and church leadership to accommodate Galen’s staff, faculty, and students. Over the years, Northeast also has been the site for several of the school’s graduations. Gillespie said the church officials were more than happy to open its doors to be Galen’s temporary home again.
“We have a really good team here. Our motto here at Northeast Christian Church is ‘Love the Ville’ and this is our opportunity,” she said. “God has blessed us with a nice campus, and it’s our desire to share it with the community.”
Galen students said their studies have not missed a beat, and the school has helped them to make a smooth transition despite the flooding. LPN student Liz Wolz was among the students who were in the building last year when they had to vacate and was pleased with the communication efforts to direct students to the “quiet and laid-back” church.
“They have been very thorough with communication,” she said. “I think I got two phone calls, three text messages, and an email. If you got here at the wrong time, it’s your fault,” she said laughing. “They have communicated with us very well.”
Clinical Learning Lab Coordinator Dashanda Stanton said the temporary setting has been good for Galen’s students. “In nursing, not every day is going to be textbook,” she said. “As a nurse, you have to be prepared for different scenarios whether it’s who you are working with or your environment. It’s good for them to see the bigger picture.”
Founded 30 years ago, Galen College of Nursing is one of the largest private nursing schools in the United States. With a focus solely on nursing education, the College offers practical/vocational nursing (PN/VN), associate and baccalaureate degree nursing programs to over 5,000 students on its campuses in Louisville and Hazard, Ky., San Antonio, Texas, Tampa Bay, Fla., Cincinnati, Ohio, and Online. Galen is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. For more information about Galen College of Nursing, visit galencollege.edu.
Recognizing African-American Nurses Who Led the Way
The persistence, sacrifices, and success of pioneering African-American nurses did more than blaze a trail for the generations of those who followed them. They lifted the stature and professionalism of every nurse who followed in their paths.
During February’s celebration of Black History Month, Galen College of Nursing is highlighting the contributions of notable African-American figures in nursing. Knowing the obstacles they overcame, and the advancements they made, serves as an inspiration to all of us.
Sojourner Truth: More Than an Abolitionist
Isabella Baumfree – better known as her self-given name Sojourner Truth – was born into slavery in Ulster County, New York, in 1797. Although Truth is widely known as an impassioned abolitionist who escaped slavery and advocated for the rights of women and African Americans, she originally served as a nurse to the Dumont family.
In her later years, Truth became a member of the National Freedman’s Relief Association, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of African Americans. Truth often spoke eloquently before Congress, promoting nursing education and training programs.
The Groundbreaking National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses
While the Civil War ended slavery, discrimination against African Americans continued for several decades. Mary Elizabeth Mahoney was no stranger to the indignities of racial strife. Mahoney was the first African-American woman to work as a professionally trained nurse in the United States. She was also one of the first African-American members of the Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States, which later evolved into the American Nurses Association (ANA).
Frustrated by the Nurses Associated’s unequal treatment of its African-American members, Mahoney, Adah B. Thoms and Martha Franklin, RN, founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN) in 1908. Franklin became NACGN’s first president. The organization became a passionate crusader for integration and better opportunities for African-American nurses. As a result of the NACGN’s efforts, the number of African-American nurses doubled between 1910 and 1930. After years of its trailblazing efforts, the NACGN finally merged with the ANA in 1951.
There are many more African Americans who have made significant contributions to nursing. We need to remember and honor these pioneering figures. Check Galen College of Nursing’s Facebook page throughout the month of February to learn about some of the most notable contributors.
Sources:
https://www.workingnurse.com/articles/African-American-Nurses-Who-Changed-A-Nation
https://nurse.org/articles/black-history-month-nursing-leaders/
San Antonio Campus Will Host A Spring Career Fair
Galen College of Nursing will hold a Spring Career Fair from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20 in the Student Resource Center, 8th floor, 7411 John Smith Drive.
Current students and alumni are encouraged to network and interview with the medical providers and vendors in the San Antonio area.
For more information, contact Student Resource Center Coordinator Ana Ibarra, 210-485-2240 or aibarra@galencollege.dev
Galen College of Nursing to Offer Master of Science in Nursing Degree Program
February 1, 2019 – Louisville, KY – Galen College of Nursing announced today that it will offer a Master of Science in Nursing, with a specialization in nursing education, in the fall of 2019. With the recent approval of its accrediting body to offer degrees at the master’s level, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the College is proud to support the ever-increasing need for advanced degree nurse educators, critical to the future of nursing.
The program will prepare graduates to teach in academic settings, as well as to lead and support staff development and continuing education within clinical facilities. “As a single-purpose nursing college, we believe this program offering serves as a strategy to help decrease the growing faculty shortage, which contributes to fewer students who can enroll in nursing programs,” said Tracy Ortelli, Ph.D., RN, CNE, ANEF, Galen’s Executive Vice President, Postlicensure Nursing. “Additional options we are considering include an Executive Nurse Leader track, a Nurse Practitioner track, Post Master’s Certificate programs, and dual credit course offerings for our baccalaureate students. These types of programs will help prepare nurses to thrive in a diverse and ever-changing healthcare environment.”
The online MSN Nurse Educator track will be 36 semester credits with courses offered over 8-week terms. Students will also be immersed in the full scope of the educator role through practicum experiences in an educational or healthcare setting. The curriculum is based on the National League for Nursing (NLN) Core Competencies of Nurse Educators and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing and prepares graduates to educate those who wish to enter or advance in the nursing profession.
The demand for nurses is growing steadily as the general population ages and an increasing number of nurses approach retirement age. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that job opportunities for nurses will grow by 15% by the year 2026, which is more than double the average rate for all occupations. This high level of growth in the field will make the role of nurse educators even more crucial well into the foreseeable future.
Said Dr. Joan Frey, Academic President, “Galen is excited to introduce a program that supports the growing need for continuing education and professional development within the country’s largest healthcare employee segment. Nurses prepared not only to teach in an academic setting but to lead clinical education and help shape health policy are essential to the provision of quality care in our country.”
Founded 30 years ago, Galen College of Nursing is one of the largest private nursing schools in the United States. With a focus solely on nursing education, the College offers practical/vocational nursing (PN/VN), associate and baccalaureate degree nursing programs to over 5,000 students on its campuses in Louisville and Hazard, Ky., San Antonio, Texas, Tampa Bay, Fla., Cincinnati, Ohio, and Online. Galen is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. For more information about Galen College of Nursing, visit galencollege.edu.