Beta Sigma Chapter

With support from their campuses and Beta Sigma, Marianne Adam & Erin Kitt-Lewis attended the Sigma 33rd International Research Congress in Edinburgh Scotland in July. Drs. Adam and Kitt-Lewis presented “Systems Theory Approach: Reframing Substance/Opioid Use Disorder.”  This presentation was well attended and reported on using system theory to re-analyze data of two research studies examining stressors, reactions to stressors, and interventions utilized by families living with SUD/OUD and proposed opportunities to regain/maintain stability for the system. Beyond their presentation, attending this international conference provided an opportunity for this team to network with researchers interested in SUD/OUD and serve Sigma. Dr. Adam and Dr. Kitt-Lewis volunteered as room moderators. Both agreed that it was fun being on the other side of the podium. Drs Adam and Dr. Kitt-Lewis attended sessions focused on SUD/OUD research, research dissemination, and best-practices for improving academic success of undergraduate students. As a result of their participation in this Sigma conference, this team embarked on a new research project with Kat Philips, Nursing and Allied Health Librarian. This new project will use SUMARI software to create an evidence-based literature review. The conference was in the beautiful city of Edinburgh. The sun set at around 10:00 PM which left time in the evening to visit the Edinburgh Castle and ride a double decker tour bus.

Recognizing the incidence of food disparities among our Penn State students Beta Sigma Chapter partnered with the Student Nurses' Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP) Penn State chapters to hold a food drive prior to winter break from November 18 to Dec 10, Non-perishable items were collected. An example of the generosity of students, faculty, and students  were demonstrated with the Penn State Schuylkill Campus collecting over 178.4 pounds of food and over 168 items. The Penn State Scranton Campus under the leadership of Dr.Justina Ferguson collected 4 boxes of non-perishable items for the Beta Sigma food drive! Thank you to the Beta Sigma Chapter members and  SNAP members who participated in the food drive!

Beta Sigma  Virtual Research Day   Celebrating Nurses as They  Navigate Through Challenging Times March 18, 2022 * 12:00-2:00PM Call For Abstracts Submit Abstracts and Register at: https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eloaDoE6eFuiBE Deadline for Abstracts submission: 1/28/22 Keynote Speaker: Susan J. Loeb, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN  “Enhancing the Health & Health Care of People Living in Prisons: Navigating my Path as a Nurse Scientist”  Participants are eligible to earn 2.0 contact hours. Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing is approved with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association Approver Unit, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Our student spotlight for this month is Kaléi Harleigh Kowalchik, BSN, RN. Kaléi is a PhD student in the Penn State Nese College of Nursing. She is currently on an assistantship where she works under Dr. Liza Behrens, PhD, RN. and collaborates with Dr. Michael Evans, Ph.D., M.S.Ed., RN, ACNS, CMSRN, CNE. Kaléi lives outside of Scranton, PA and earned her BSN along with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies from PSU/Scranton. She is currently a student in her second-year of the BSN to PhD program and commutes to University Park for her classes. Presently, she is doing qualitative research working with Dr Evans looking at stories from nurses providing care during the current COVID 10 pandemic. Kaléi is also looking at risk perceptions of patients, caregivers and staff in nursing home with Dr. Liza Behrens. Her goals for the future involve giving back to where she came from through teaching and mentoring undergraduate nursing students. Her future research interests include educating undergraduate nursing students, community members, and healthcare providers on palliative care and end-of-life care as well as understanding how their perceptions impacts care delivery. Kaléi says she is grateful for the support of peers, faculty, community, and her advisors in pursuing her PhD goal. When asked what Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) has done for her, Kaléi said “STTI has supported me both as an undergraduate and graduate nursing student. It has provided me with many opportunities to give back to the community and also provided me with a good foundation of mentors and colleagues. I appreciate how supportive STTI is for future research or practice goals.” In her spare time, Kaléi practices clinically as a home health/hospice nurse; tutors undergraduate nursing students at Penn State; and enjoys walking her golden retriever, Arlo; baking; reading; and practicing yoga. We would like to congratulation Kaléi Harleigh Kowalchik as being the current Student Spotlight for the Beta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International.

Faculty Spotlight for Beta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Our faculty spotlight for November/December is Marianne Adam PhD, RN, FNP, CNE. Dr. Adam is an Associate Teaching Professor and Campus Coordinator of Nursing at Penn State Schuylkill. Penn State Schuylkill is celebrating the extension of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to the campus, with the anticipation of the first class of BSNs graduating in 2024. Dr. Adam has been a member of Sigma Theta Tau since the mid-1980s and holds an associate degree from SUNY Farmingdale, BS from SUNY Utica Rome, MS from Adelphi University of New York, FNP from Allentown College, and a PhD from Penn State. Her current research focus is student academic success, nursing education, substance/opioiduse disorder, and chronic illness. She has also accompanied students to Honduras several times,with the last trip being in 2019, they joined Healthy Niños on health brigades bringing services to remote communities. . Regarding her relationship with Sigma Theta Tau International, she stated “Sigma gives our students access to current research and evidence-based practice to guide their careers. It provides numerous networking opportunities and collegial relationships both in the United States and abroad. The international conferences for members provide opportunities to showcase scholarship and research.” Dr. Adam with colleague Dr. Kitt-Lewis presented research at the July 2021 Sigma Congress as well as the current November 2021 Sigma Convention.