Changing Role of Nursing is Focus of WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing Visiting Scholar Event

SPOKANE, Wash. — Nationally known nursing scholar and former U.S. Army Col. Carol Reineck will be the featured speaker at the 2004 Cleveland Visiting Scholar events hosted by the Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing Sept. 23 in Spokane.

The annual event is intended to offer national perspective and expertise on issues related to nursing education, practice and professional development.

A 1972 graduate of the Intercollegiate College of Nursing and Whitworth College, Reinick is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Acute Nursing Care at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, and an associate scientist for nursing research at the Center for Health Economics and Policy, San Antonio.

She will lead two separate presentations designed to engage students, faculty, health care professionals and the general public in a discussion of landmark studies related to the profession of registered nurse.

“With increasingly sophisticated technology, the registered nurse is needed now more than ever for critical thinking and interpretation of large amounts of patient care information,” Reineck said. “Whether in research, caring for soldiers, as a clinician or at the side of a patient, the incredibly personal touch a nurse brings to bear on outcomes is an essential factor in today’s health care environment.”

Reinick will speak to students, faculty and health care professionals on “C.A.R.E.: A Registered Nurse’s Military and Civilian Career Journey through Clinical, Administration, Research and Education Pathways,” from 1-2:30 p.m. and “The Registered Nurse: A National Treasure,” from 5:30-7 p.m. Both presentations will be held at the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing campus located at 2917 W. Fort George Wright Drive. The latter presentation is open to the public. A reception will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the campus.

Both presentations will be broadcast via WHETS to sites throughout the state including Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Walla Walla and Yakima.

This is the seventh year for the annual Cleveland Visiting Scholar program, which began in 1998 to honor WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing Dean Emeritus Dr. Thelma Cleveland. The Cleveland Visiting Scholar event is sponsored by the Intercollegiate College of Nursing and is made possible through the gifts and financial contributions of a network of community and individual donors committed to quality health care and higher education.

Established in 1968, the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing is the nation’s first, oldest and most comprehensive nursing education consortium. Celebrating 35 years of world-class nursing education, the College of Nursing offers baccalaureate, graduate and professional development course work to nursing students enrolled through its four consortium partners: Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, WSU and Whitworth College. Each year the college educates more than 700 graduate and upper-division undergraduate students and prepares more entry-level nurses than any other state educational institution. For more information, visit www.nursing.wsu.edu.

Editor’s Note: Reporters are welcome to attend the two lectures and pre-event reception at the College of Nursing, Sept. 23. Complete information about the Cleveland Visiting Scholar events, presentations and photos are available online at http://nursing.wsu.edu/cleveland.