d'mensions D'Youville college Journal august 2o11

SCHOOL OF NURSINGDYC Nursing workforce Diversity Program Recognizedby Congressional Advisory CouncilElyce Fears ’11 and Susan G. McLanahan ’11enjoying the annual donor appreciation dinner.scholarship recipientsand donors unite atannual dinnerEach year Sister Denise A. Roche invitesalumni and friends who have establishedscholarships to join her at the Collegefor a reception and dinner. The studentscholarship recipients are also invited,providing them with the opportunity tomeet the donors and personally thank themfor their generosity that makes attendingD’Youville possible.Following the sumptuous dinner, SisterDenise invited the students to identifythemselves, mention their program of studyand touch on their future plans.The donors are always most interested inchatting with the students to learn a littleabout them personally and to learn of theirfuture plans as well. Warm connectionsbetween donors and recipients are readilyestablished as students express theirgratitude to the benefactors and conveytheir excitement about their future lives.D’Youville’s Nursing Workforce DiversityProgram has been selected as an “ExemplaryBest Practice Model in Nursing WorkforceDiversity” by the National AdvisoryCouncil on Nurse Education and Practice(NACNEP).Karen Kwandrans, director of D’Youville’sprogram, addressed the council membersduring their advisory committee webinarmeeting, in April 2011. “D’Youville’sinnovative strategies for increasing thediversity of the nursing workforce andcreating a diverse, inclusive environmentfor nursing practice and education were avaluable contribution to the meeting,” saidJulie Sochalski, PhD, council chair.“I enthusiastically shared information aboutthe nursing workforce diversity programat D’Youville College with the advisorycouncil. I had a great deal of informationabout specific programming and outcomesas well as recommendations for futurefunding,” Kwandrans said.In 2007, D’Youville received an $877,000grant from the Department of Health andHuman Services to prepare academicallyand/or economically disadvantaged studentsfor post-secondary nursing education andgraduation from a professional nursingprogram. “We develop the skills andprovide support necessary for success for25 disadvantaged high school studentsand 25 undergraduate nursing studentsannually,” Kwandrans explained.Last year, Kwandrans successfully appliedfor a second Nursing Workforce DiversityGrant and was awarded more than $993,000from the Department of Health and HumanServices. “We had such a successful firstprogram,” Kwandrans said. “I was verypleased to receive a second grant to continueto provide opportunities for students.”The NACNEP advises Congress and theSecretary of the Department of Health andHuman Services on policy issues relatedto the Title VIII programs administeredby the Health Resources and ServicesAdministration. Title VIII programs addressthe nursing workforce supply, educationand practice issues in the United States.D’Youville established the area’s firstfour-year nursing program in 1942 andhas evolved into an international leader inhealthcare education offering a full array ofprograms.Kwandrans is a graduate of the Universityat Buffalo and earned her master’s degree atState University College at Buffalo.alumni.dyouville.edu 17