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January 2021

Patsy Ruchala named dean of Orvis School of Nursing 150 150 Master Admin

Patsy Ruchala named dean of Orvis School of Nursing

Patsy L. Ruchala, DNSc, RN, has been named dean of the Orvis School of Nursing at the University of Nevada, Reno, following a decision by the Nevada System of Higher Education’s Board of Regents meeting earlier this month. The reorganization reinstates the Orvis School of Nursing as an independent school led by a dean after 24 years. The change is effective Oct. 1, 2016. Ruchala said the reinstatement is significant as it elevates the school and gives it “a seat at the table” alongside the nursing deans at other state schools throughout the nation.

“It increases our ability to recruit research-focused faculty and gives us our own voice in the community,” she said, adding that she expects additional positive impacts from friends and donors of the Orvis School of Nursing.

“The change also will allow us to further build and enhance our programs to meet the nursing needs of Nevada. And it gives us a national presence at a much higher level.” The change comes as the Orvis School prepares for its 60 anniversary in 2017.

“Patsy has been a tireless advocate for the Orvis School of Nursing for many years,” Kevin Carman, the University’s executive vice president and provost, said. “Her leadership, vision, and expertise will continue to enhance the school’s national reputation and build upon what is already a high-quality nursing program. Her new title of ‘dean’ is well deserved and mainstream with the structure of other schools of nursing.”

The Orvis School of Nursing was established at the University and authorized as a free standing school with a dean in 1955 by the Board of Regents and the Nevada Legislature. The doors opened in 1957 when the first class of 12 students began taking classes.

Due to administration and general operational issues, the dean position was replaced with a director in the early 1990s and the Orvis School was moved into the newly developed College of Human and Community Resources. Ruchala became director in 2004 and started navigating the road back to independent school status through several initiatives including a major undergraduate curriculum revision in 2006, increasing the master’s degree tracks, establishing a post-master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in collaboration with UNLV, initiating the University’s own Bachelor of Science in Nursing-to-DNP and post-master’s DNP programs, increasing the number of full-time faculty and staff positions from 23 to 33 and increasing student enrollment and program quality across all programs.

She has served as teaching faculty in all levels of nursing education and has held administrative positions in nursing education at Georgia State University and Saint Louis University before coming to Nevada in 2004.

UNLV Named National Center of Excellence for Nursing Education 1024 683 Master Admin

UNLV Named National Center of Excellence for Nursing Education

The university was recognized for sustained excellence in student learning and professional development in nursing and became the first institution in Nevada to earn this distinction.

“This is a testament to the teaching excellence, dedication, and innovation that our faculty demonstrate daily,” said Angela Amar, dean and professor of nursing at UNLV. “We’re committed to delivering innovative educational experiences that transform student learning and advance the health of Nevada’s citizens.”

The nursing profession is growing at a fast pace, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 15 percent growth in employment opportunities for registered nurses through 2026. Several factors are driving that growth, including the country’s aging population and the need to replace retiring health care workers.

And UNLV is on the front lines.

The UNLV School of Nursing is expanding its competitive undergraduate program. Starting this fall, a total of 216 students will be accepted annually over three cohorts — an increase of 50 percent since fall 2017. The rigorous year-round undergraduate curriculum can be completed in just 16 months and speeds the transition of bachelor’s-prepared (BSN) graduates into an in-demand nursing workforce.

A signature piece of the undergraduate curriculum occurs at the Clinical Simulation Center of Las Vegas, a 31,000-square-foot innovative educational facility where students learn and practice their skills through simulated scenarios with realistic mannequins, patient actors, and surgical labs.

“Centers of Excellence help raise the bar for all nursing programs by role modeling visionary leadership and environments of inclusive excellence,” said Beverly Malone, CEO of the National League for Nursing. “These programs will nurture the next generation of a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of the nation and the global community.”

Earlier this year, UNLV was awarded a $900,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to develop a series of certificates for nurses targeting areas of need in the state, including specialty care, clinical research, and teaching. The school currently offers the state’s only Ph.D. in nursing, and its online and overall graduate programs are ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report.

“This designation is public recognition and validation of our excellence in nursing education, and we look forward to continuing to find new and innovative ways to educate future nurse leaders who will serve Nevada and beyond,” said UNLV nursing professor Jessica Doolen.

Each year since 2004, the National League for Nursing has recognized nursing schools nationwide that demonstrate excellence in faculty development, nursing education research, student learning and professional development. UNLV joins a cadre of top national programs, including Duke University, Johns Hopkins, and Vanderbilt as 2019 honorees.

The university was recognized for sustained excellence in student learning and professional development in nursing and became the first institution in Nevada to earn this distinction.

“This is a testament to the teaching excellence, dedication, and innovation that our faculty demonstrate daily,” said Angela Amar, dean and professor of nursing at UNLV. “We’re committed to delivering innovative educational experiences that transform student learning and advance the health of Nevada’s citizens.”

The nursing profession is growing at a fast pace, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 15 percent growth in employment opportunities for registered nurses through 2026. Several factors are driving that growth, including the country’s aging population and the need to replace retiring health care workers.

And UNLV is on the front lines.

The UNLV School of Nursing is expanding its competitive undergraduate program. Starting this fall, a total of 216 students will be accepted annually over three cohorts — an increase of 50 percent since fall 2017. The rigorous year-round undergraduate curriculum can be completed in just 16 months and speeds the transition of bachelor’s-prepared (BSN) graduates into an in-demand nursing workforce.

A signature piece of the undergraduate curriculum occurs at the Clinical Simulation Center of Las Vegas, a 31,000-square-foot innovative educational facility where students learn and practice their skills through simulated scenarios with realistic mannequins, patient actors, and surgical labs.

“Centers of Excellence help raise the bar for all nursing programs by role modeling visionary leadership and environments of inclusive excellence,” said Beverly Malone, CEO of the National League for Nursing. “These programs will nurture the next generation of a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of the nation and the global community.”

Earlier this year, UNLV was awarded a $900,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to develop a series of certificates for nurses targeting areas of need in the state, including specialty care, clinical research, and teaching. The school currently offers the state’s only Ph.D. in nursing, and its online and overall graduate programs are ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report.

“This designation is public recognition and validation of our excellence in nursing education, and we look forward to continuing to find new and innovative ways to educate future nurse leaders who will serve Nevada and beyond,” said UNLV nursing professor Jessica Doolen.

Each year since 2004, the National League for Nursing has recognized nursing schools nationwide that demonstrate excellence in faculty development, nursing education research, student learning and professional development. UNLV joins a cadre of top national programs, including Duke University, Johns Hopkins, and Vanderbilt as 2019 honorees.

Dr. Fildes, NAC Recommendation Champion, Inducted to the American Academy of Nursing 150 150 Master Admin

Dr. Fildes, NAC Recommendation Champion, Inducted to the American Academy of Nursing

Dr. Fildes is a leader who demonstrates passion and sustained commitment to improving health outcomes of persons in the US and Philippines who suffer from tobacco use and addiction in all its forms. Her unique approach has included mobilizing nurses to provide education and therapeutic interventions to improve population health in direct support of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control established to combat the global tobacco epidemic.

Her progressive track record spanning almost three decades of addressing tobacco use prevention and cessation as a clinical nurse specialist, educator, researcher, and international collaborator, reflects successful ventures to seed ideas to healthcare, public health, and policy stakeholders, secure significant funding, and bring cutting edge programs to fruition through partnerships and empowerment of nurses.

She has implemented programs that have had an impact at the individual, community, and country level. Using lessons learned from establishing the Nevada Tobacco Users Helpline, she parleyed her policy experience into more rapid implementation of similar programs in the Philippines. With faculty and student engagement to augment public health interventions, she applied solutions cross culturally to make significant impact in clinical services and educational curricula in two countries. She also extended her influence fighting addictions by facilitating Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment hospital policy development and training from 2012 to present.

Dr. Fildes’ success is not surprising to those familiar with her critical thinking abilities. She initiates generative discourse on complex topics, and encourages colleagues to bring forward ideas about what is not known rather than repeat the obvious. I had the pleasure of her service on the ANA board of directors where her input was invaluable. She exemplifies the scholarly thinking and production expected of Academy fellows. Her continued clinical, scholarly, and policy efforts will accelerate achieving a tobacco free world.

She is married to Dean Fildes.