Adopt-A-Nurse Program Launched at Alfred State

Written By Debbie Clark

ALFRED, NY, February 2003-It's all about giving back. Or believing that what goes around comes around. Or that a small measure of kindness can create a big difference. Alfred State College Assistant Professor of Nursing Linda Panter found herself thinking about all these things, particularly after viewing the popular, family-values movie, "Pay It Forward," which showcases the capacity of one person's goodness to affect a large number of people. In fact, there is a national Pay It Forward Foundation which espouses the "Pay It Forward" ideals.

If it could work in the movie, why not at Alfred State College?

Panter knew that there was much to be gained by nursing students learning from nurses already in the field, and she was also looking for a way to reinforce the nursing career path for male students. Combining the concept of "Pay It Forward" with a mentoring program led her to found "Adopt-A-Nurse."

The 2002-03 academic year marks the inauguration of the program, designed to facilitate the transition of the male student into the role of registered nurse, as well as to educate all ASC nursing students about the profession. Panter also wanted the male nursing students in particular, by working with mentors who also have other interests, to know that they can combine an active nursing career while still pursuing hobbies/avocations outside the job. Under the auspices of a federal Perkins Grant, which requires programming to foster retention, recruitment, and placement, four male registered nurses were recruited to participate in the new program. Each mentor is asked to spend at least four hours a month during the academic year with his nursing student. Panter notes that each mentor has already far surpassed the minimum amount of time to be spent with his assigned student. Each senior nursing student in the program will participate for 45 hours and receive an academic credit.

Also, each participant - mentor and student - is required to submit monthly anecdotes detailing his/her experiences. Participants will also be asked to attend a nursing organization meeting sometime during each semester.

Charter participants are Registered Nurses Rhett Butler, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), St. James Mercy Hospital, Hornell, who is paired with ASC student David Lapierre from Hornell; Gary Jones, ASC Class of '99, Operating Room, Jones Memorial Hospital, Wellsville, mentoring Shawn O'Brien, Hornell; Scott Swift, '97, ICU, Jones Memorial, matched with Brandy Gavitt, Wellsville; and Mark Wisniewski, ED/Flight Nurse, Nicholas Noyes Memorial Hospital, Dansville, paired with Carrie Wilkins, Hornell.

The first meeting of the group included viewing the movie "Pay It Forward," followed by a ceremonial signing of "adoption" papers.

At the end of the fall semester, the group adopted new members - freshmen Liz and Jeremy Lewis (husband and wife), Martin Lister, and Cory Orosz into their cohort; later in the spring semester, they will adopt a pre-nursing, senior high school student. The team of RN Jones and student O'Brien adopted Liz Lewis. Her first activity was presenting moms-to-be with an information session on C-sections at Jones Memorial Hospital. Butler and Lapierre adopted Jeremy Lewis. He worked on making mailboxes for the senior and freshman labs. Lister was paired with Wisniewski and Wilkins and joined them for a medical dinner meeting. Orosz is working with Swift and Gavitt on nursing recruitment in a school setting.

Panter noted: "Men in the health care arena, specifically nursing, encounter career obstacles similar to those experienced by women in other male-dominated career choices. Interacting with male nurses motivates males to consider nursing a career.... To enhance the comfort zone of novice male nursing students, professional male role models can support and encourage males into their new and exciting role and help facilitate their full potential as professional nurses."

Panter also notes, from literature review, that male nurses tend to limit themselves and apply for positions in intensive care units and emergency departments where their interactions with patients are usually during a crisis, eliminating the need to explain their role. Through supportive coaching, an increase in confidence, social acceptance, and comfort with their knowledge and skills, the novice male nurse will have other opportunities. "Many males have considered nursing as a career but were afraid to take the risk due to the stigma male nurses have in society. But strong relationships can be powerful factors in changing thoughts and behaviors. Groups that can create environments of teamwork and creativity have the ability to be strong, collaborative models," she maintained. The program has already scored positives with the students.

Wilkins, one of the student participants, had failing test grades. She spent a few hours with her mentor Wisniewski and received an 83 percent on the next exam. "This would not have happened if the two of them had not had a close rapport," said Panter.

The students are also enthused with the way the program is working.

"The concept of helping other people and expecting nothing in return, other than to help someone else, is very appropriate for the nursing field," said Gavitt, who remembers being impressed with Alfred State's science lab as a high school student participating in the college's WINS (Women in Non-traditional Studies) program.

"As current and future nurses our group should already have a tendency to help others," said Gavitt. "Our 'helping' will just focus on community awareness and promotion of men into the nursing program...By working together, we should be able to 'make a difference.'"

"I was surprised by the numerous and varied backgrounds of each individual," said fellow student Shawn O'Brien.

Classmate David Lapierre agreed.

"I was pretty amazed at the diverse group of male RNs in this program, especially Scott (Swift), the Harley motorcycle man!" exclaimed Lapierre. "Seeing him made some of the male nurse stigma that I was brought up to believe disappear...The movie was very touching and really struck a chord with me personally. I feel the need to give back no matter how big or small."

Lapierre, whose mother is a nurse, had originally applied to a nursing program out of high school, but changed his mind. Now, at age 34 and laid off from Corning, Inc., he'll graduate in the spring. He says he would like to work locally, but his ultimate goal is to work in an emergency room or trauma unit at a big hospital.

"...I view this program as an opportunity not only to contribute to enhancing the image and participation of males in the nursing profession, but as a means of personal growth and development," said St. James ICU Nurse Butler. "The responsibilities that I accepted when I agreed to become a participant are now challenges for me to think outside my usual parameters and to develop organizational skills that I always considered myself as sorely lacking."

"So low-key, so small, yet the idea is huge," said Jones Memorial Operating Room Nurse Jones. "Invest time and energy in someone, some idea, some profession .... Not just any idea, but one that is beyond any one of us in the group - an attitude and commitment that has the potential to affect many."

Following the first meeting of the charter group, Wisniewski found himself fired up about various ways to involve his student in aspects of the nursing career, including networking with multidisciplinary members of the patient care team, and introductions to the patient care environment. Among his ideas were attending a Pediatric Advanced Life Support Class at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, and observing surgery in an operating room. And word of the program is already spreading within the state. The Adopt-A-Nurse group has been asked to present a poster session at the Seventh Annual Faculty Development Conference sponsored by the NYS Associate Degree Nursing Council, April 11, in Albany Panter is encouraged by the response the program has generated thus far and anticipates spreading the concept to other campuses. In other words, "Paying It Forward." For more information, contact Panter by e-mail at Panterlk@alfredstate.edu.

ALFRED, NY, February 2003-Charter members of the Adopt-A-Nurse program at Alfred State College are (front row, from left) students Brandy Gavitt of Wellsville; Shawn O'Brien, Hornell; and Carrie Wilkins, Hornell; and (back row, from left) Scott Swift, RN, ASC Class of '97, from Cuba, who works in the Intensive Care Unit at Jones Memorial Hospital, Wellsville; Mark Wisniewski, RN, ED/Flight Nurse, Nicholas Noyes Memorial Hospital, Dansville; Linda Panter, assistant nursing professor at Alfred State and Adopt-A-Nurse founder and coordinator; Rhett Butler, RN, ICU, St. James Mercy Hospital, Hornell; and student David Lapierre, Hornell. Missing from photo is Gary Jones, RN, ASC class of '99, operating room nurse, Jones Memorial.

	ALFRED, NY, February 2003- Alfred State College Senior Nursing Student David Lapierre of Hornell (left) gets some on-the-job training from his Adopt-A-Nurse mentor, Rhett Butler, RN, who works in the Intensive Care Unit at St. James Mercy Hospital, Hornell.

(Alfred State College Photo by Donald Manktelow)