|
 Millikin University Instructors of Nursing Gina Canny
MSN '12 and Julie Kennedy were among 19 distinguished educators
selected for their commitment to quality and innovative teaching in
the field of nursing. The fellows were recognized at a virtual
ceremony on June 17, 2020, hosted by the Illinois Nursing Workforce
Center Advisory Board.
"The projects, research and plans for additional degrees and
certifications that this group of nursing faculty is pursuing is
beyond impressive and will allow them to improve their teaching and
skills to support the next generation of the nursing workforce,"
said Ginger Ostro, executive director of IBHE. "We are proud of each
one of this year's nurse educator fellows and we appreciate Gov. JB
Pritzker's and the Illinois General Assembly's commitment to this
program."
Gina Canny
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Professor Gina Canny joined the Millikin University School of
Nursing faculty in 2014. A certified trauma nurse specialist as well
as a certified nurse educator, Canny has over 25 years of clinical
nursing experience in acute renal dialysis, surgical and medical
intermediate care unit, emergency department and as a staff
educator.
"I was honored to be chosen as a fellow for this award from a
distinct group of nurse educators," Canny said. "As a recipient of
the Nurse Educator Fellowship Award, these funds will enable me to
retain my current faculty position, complete my doctoral
dissertation and attend education conferences."
At Millikin, Professor Canny teaches Foundations of Professional
Nursing and Adult Health I. Her research interests include
first-year undergraduate student motivation for learning, safe
medication administration, patient safety, student academic and
NCLEX success, and civility in nursing education. Professor Canny
obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. John's College,
and in 2012, she obtained a Master of Science in Nursing Education
from Millikin University.
"I have a love for teaching and developing, and molding the next
generation of nurses," Canny said. "The methods of delivery for
nursing education are continuously evolving as noted by our present
day. In order to be an effective, competent nurse educator, one must
remain current and actively participate in research to not only
identify barriers for faculty and students but also to support our
respective schools of nursing. Millikin's School of Nursing is
synonymous with Performance Learning. As faculty, we value
developing safe, competent nurses through the various clinical
experiences."
Julie Kennedy
Julie Kennedy has nearly 22 years of experience in
the health care profession. She began her career shortly after high
school as a nursing assistant at a long-term care facility. Kennedy
advanced her education to attain licensure as a practical nurse and
then as a registered professional nurse where she practiced in the
acute care setting of a rehabilitation unit and then a
medical-oncology unit.
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Kennedy also made home visits as a hospice nurse and
then returned to acute care to work on a medical-surgical unit as a
clinical nurse.
"I was very excited for the opportunity to expand my skills and
knowledge. This funding will help me grow as an educator and initiate a salient
program of research," Kennedy said.
Currently at Millikin, Kennedy's areas of instruction include end-of-life care,
oncology, research and health policy for graduate students. Her research
interests are primarily in the practice environment in the acute care setting
that focus on the question: How can we ensure that we have health care
organizations that promote high quality nursing care?
Professor Kennedy earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Illinois State
University and earned a Master of Science in Nursing from Loyola University-New
Orleans. She was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the Academy of
Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) and previously served as the legislative
coordinator. She has also assisted in writing the certification exam for
medical-surgical nurses (CMSRN).
"I chose to teach nursing because I love interacting with the students. They
keep me 'fresh' with their questions and curiosity," Kennedy said. "Millikin
University's School of Nursing provides so many opportunities for students to
apply themselves in the clinical setting when practicing in diverse settings
with diverse patient populations. Students get to evaluate current evidence in
nursing science and use it in their own practice. I am confident that we are
preparing lifelong learners."
Nurse Educator Fellowship Program
The purpose of the Nurse Educator Fellowship Program is to ensure the retention
of well-qualified nursing faculty at institutions of higher learning that award
degrees in nursing.
Participation in the program is open to Illinois institutions of higher learning
with a nursing program approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and
Professional Regulation and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education (CCNE) or the Association Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Millikin School of Nursing
The nursing programs at Millikin University foster the development of women and
men in a community of lifelong learners who are able to envision and shape the
future of health care and compose a personal life of meaning and value. The
framework for the nursing curricula at Millikin incorporates the School of
Nursing mission, goals and outcomes under the core concepts of person, nursing,
environment and health. For more information about the Millikin School of
Nursing, visit millikin.edu/nursing.
[Millikin University Director of
Media Relations and Publications Dane Lisser] |
