VOICES OF THE SON

Voices from Haiti
Three students traveled to Jeremie, Haiti over the winter break with Assistant Professor Beth Sloand.

• Kaitlin Haws, a student in the 17-month accelerated program, conducted a study on child mortality in Haiti as part of the Provost Undergraduate Research Awards program. 
  Read Kaitlin's story.
• Angela Wilkins, a nurse practitioner student, traveled to several rural sites and participated in community-based care.  Read Angela's story. 

Overheard at this year's Scholar-Donor Luncheon
"Tell your family that I am only here at Johns Hopkins because they cared about nursing and about me."  - Student to a representative of a donor family

Fighting TB in South Africa
Doctoral student Jason Farley is in South Africa, visiting clinics for patients with tuberculosis.  "The work is fascinating and I have given a considerable amount of thought about future research opportunities," says Farley.  "I think international infectious disease is where my career path may lie. This experience, albeit short, has already shown me a huge need and opportunity for nursing.

"I am considering applying for the International Research Scientist Development Award (K01) and will need to work on this application over the coming year. If this award is funded, my goal would be to seek a joint faculty position at the SON/SPH. I believe my time may be better spent actually doing my own research, as opposed to heading to the CDC at this time."

Marhaba from Singapore
Judy Chadderdon, a student in the 17-month accelerated program, traveled to Singapore for her final clinical rotation.  She wrote the following on April 13, 2006: 

"I am on night shift right now and all is quiet except for a man who is praying aloud in his room by singing the Qu’ran. It sounds haunting and foreign and beautiful. I have a moment and just wanted to say Thank You for this leadership opportunity. It's not over yet, but as I reflect back on the past few weeks, I am so amazed at what I have learned and so grateful for the opportunity to be here.

"We are receiving invaluable cultural competence training - both formal and informal - on a weekly basis. I have learned so many things that I could not have learned back in Baltimore. Plus, you could not have made a better match than Erin Fitzpatrick and me. We think alike, have the same travel philosophy, and basically are two peas in a happy Singaporean pod! We move through our days absorbing absolutely everything that we can.

"I had better sign off, but I just wanted to take a moment to say Marhaba and Shukran!"


"Thanks" for a Good Education
Kimberly Karli, a graduate of the accelerated class of 2003, writes "I feel compelled to tell you how much my education at Hopkins has helped me as I pursue a master's degree/Adult Health NP at the University of Pennsylvania. I graduated from JHUSON and then took at job at HUP, where I am still working part time and going to school full time.

"I feel as though I have a great advantage, however, because of my wonderful experiences during my BSN schooling. This is especially true for one of the most important classes, Nurs657, which is our primary care assessment class. While many of my classmates struggle, I feel as if the class is almost a refresher course from what I learned at Hopkins. I know I am not the only Hopkins alum who feels this way as there are a few others in my class that agree with me.

"Upon graduation, I will be moving back down to Baltimore to being my career as an NP and I look forward to seeing all of the great people who helped start my career in nursing. Knowing how much I love to learn, I have a strong feeling that I will be returning to Hopkins at some point to further my education. 

"Thanks for making Johns Hopkins School of Nursing an amazing place to become a nurse!"

What Does it Mean to be a Nurse?
An essay by Keira Wickliffe, MSN/MPH student

Everyone’s definition of a nurse is different depending on whom you speak with, nurses themselves are having trouble defining what they are.  Unbeknown to many, there is a statement that defines what values a nurse should practice under. This is the American Nursing Associations Code of Ethics that the majority of nurses do not seem to know exist, and if they know that the code exists, what it includes is a mystery.  Read Keira's Essay

New Voices at the SON
Incoming students post thoughts and questions to new online forum where new and current Hopkins nursing students can respond. 

Peace Corps Reps Enjoy Their Visit
Michele Titi, Peace Corps representative, wrote to Lori Edwards, instructor and director of the Peace Corps Fellows Program, after a visit to the school in April. 

"I am writing to thank you, your deans, and other colleagues, and your wonderful Fellows for meeting with Amy Horton, B.J. Helwig and me yesterday in our JHUSON Fellows/USA site visit. It was highly valuable and informative.

"We appreciate all of the time and energy you and others at the school put into arranging
our day, as well as the lovely Peace Corps 45th anniversary reception. It is just so gratifying to see how this important program is thriving! Thanks for all that you are doing, and all the cooperation that you have engaged from many sources, in support of the program."

Recruiters Give Hopkins Nursing Students Rave Reviews
These comments came from recruiters at a recent JHUSON career fair:

• Your students are always well-prepared and great to talk with. We look forward to attending each year!
• Great students, you should--and I am sure--are proud! (Stanford)
• This fair is number one in my book. (Franklin Square)
• I found the quality, interest, appearance of your students superior. Well dressed, good questions, excellent questions.
• Students well prepared with questions and resumes. Dressed professionally, which we don't see much of anymore--impressed!
• Students are fantastic--I would hire every one of them in a second.
• Great caliber of students.
• Your students are poised and professional. It is always a pleasure to recruit your students.
• Students were very impressive--prepared, friendly, interested, excellent questions. Hope we hire 20!!
• I was impressed by the quality of the applicants and the volume of interested students. They were thoughtful, interested in gathering information, and excited about their future as a nurse.