A student at the University of Colorado College of Nursing has been awarded a scholarship from the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) to study and eventually treat an epidemic of mental illness and suicide in Colorado. Julie Bremer was one of 30 student scholars chosen nationwide by APNA.

Deborah Sherman | July 22, 2021

It was a promise between a mom and son that would prove to be much harder to keep than either could ever imagine. In the fall of 2017, Emily Barr made a deal with her son Maren (who goes by Michael), that’d they’d graduate together in the spring of 2021 and celebrate with a party.

Deborah Sherman | July 09, 2021

The American Revolution. World War II. The War on Terror. While millions of soldiers have been killed over the years, most casualties happen off the battlefield years later, quietly, without recognition or ceremony. Injuries, sickness, suicides, and homicides kill military members at a higher rate than combat – taking four out of five lives, according to the Defense Manpower Data Center.

Guest Contributor | July 01, 2021

While on duty in Syria in 2017, insurgents routinely shot at U.S. Air Force nurse Damon Toczylowski and other military troops as they transported patients to safety in helicopters or fixed-wing airplanes. Now, years later as a first-year student at the University of Colorado College of Nursing, he remembers the chaos, the stress, the fear - and wants to help other military veterans.

Deborah Sherman | June 30, 2021

Across the country, more than 30,000 soldiers fight an internal battle against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that turns their cells into factories that seize other cells and weaken their immune systems. If the veterans aren’t treated quickly, it can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), for which there is no cure.

Deborah Sherman | June 28, 2021

For most college students, the summer between their junior and senior years is filled with part-time jobs and a break from school. But for three University of Colorado College of Nursing students — Dustin Bell, Jakob Nelsen, and Gabriel Toepel — their summer will be spent creating valuable working relationships, building a resume, and increasing clinical skills, clinical judgment, and critical thinking while caring for our nation’s veterans.

Dana Brandorff | June 22, 2021

AURORA, CO, 6/14/2021– The University of Colorado College of Nursing is proud to announce it has been awarded a new grant of $45,000 from Jonas Philanthropies, a leading national philanthropic funder of graduate nursing education. Matched by $45,000 of its own monies, the grant will fund the scholarship of three University of Colorado College of Nursing doctoral nursing students in 2021.

College of Nursing Marketing | June 15, 2021

AURORA, Colo. (June 14, 2021) – Even before patients overwhelmed emergency rooms with the novel coronavirus, nurses reported high levels of stress and depression, leading them to make more medical errors. In fact, a JAMA study reveals one-third of nurses who quit their jobs in 2018 cited burnout and a lack of good management and leadership as their reasons for leaving.

College of Nursing Marketing | June 14, 2021

Extraordinary and memorable are two words that come to mind to describe this past year. 2020 – 2021 will be remembered as unique. We know it’s been challenging, and you and your classmates have stepped up during these extraordinary times. Your resilience will serve you well in the years to come.

College of Nursing Marketing | May 20, 2021

When John was in the hospital last month getting ready to have open heart surgery, he felt exhausted. It wasn’t just from his damaged heart. John couldn’t get enough sleep. As soon as he dozed off in the evenings, at least three medical professionals woke him up to take blood, deliver medicine and ask questions. John wondered why they couldn’t all come at once and let him get some rest. As it turns out, he’s not alone in that idea.

Deborah Sherman | May 20, 2021

From a young age, Colleen Waggoner, RN, BSN, has been fascinated with the complexities of our bodies, as well as our mind’s influence on our physical being. “For me, nursing is about using compassion, health expertise, and advocacy to promote wellness.”

Dana Brandorff | May 17, 2021

When Omarah Macias was in middle school, kids made fun of the way she spoke. She had learned most of her English and Spanish from her father, who had moved from Ecuador to New York when he was 14 without knowing the language. So, her voice had a unique sound with a Spanish and Bronx, New York accent.

Deborah Sherman | May 15, 2021

Aurora, Colo. (May 13, 2021) -- While news headlines report a lack of oxygen worldwide is affecting our ability to help critically ill COVID-19 patients, historically respiratory disease is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States (CDC).

College of Nursing Marketing | May 14, 2021

Brandie Galicia’s love of nursing began at age 11 when her mother was diagnosed with a rare congenital disease in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal.

Dana Brandorff | May 14, 2021

Kerith Earlix spent more than 20 years as a music teacher and eventually owned her own music school. She took a few years off to raise her kids who are now 13, 14, 15 and 17. And then decided to do “something completely different.”

Dana Brandorff | May 13, 2021

AURORA, Colo. (May 12, 2021) – Researchers at the University of Colorado College of Nursing found that many of its graduate students suffered from increased stress after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dana Brandorff | May 12, 2021

A 10-year-old girl smiles for the camera as she holds her artwork — a picture of a dangerous-looking creature — in front of her chest. Plastic tubes poke out from behind the masterpiece, covering her lap. Peach fuzz tops the little girl’s head as she beams up from her hospital chair.

Debra Melani | May 12, 2021

Seiloni Sanft moved to Colorado with her family from Tonga fifteen years ago. The move from the Polynesian kingdom of more than 170 South Pacific islands was a bit of a culture shock for the seven-year-old.

Dana Brandorff | May 11, 2021

Coming from a military family, it’s no surprise that Andre Pacho, MS, RN, AGCNS-BC, CEN, TCRN, joined up as soon as he graduated from high school. The surprise is that he chose the Army, while his father, uncles, and brother are career Navy men.

Dana Brandorff | May 10, 2021

Parents usually sit in the audience rooting on their sons and daughters as they walk the graduation stage and accept their diplomas. But this May, Julia Plotke will be right next to her daughter Abigael during the University of Colorado College of Nursing commencement ceremony and also graduate.

Deborah Sherman | May 09, 2021

For Iris Heidenfelder, nursing is in her blood. Her maternal grandmother, Katherine Peterson (now known as Katherine Enloe-Miller), was a diploma nurse and graduated from the Mercy Hospital Program in the 1960s.

Dana Brandorff | May 08, 2021

Danielle Perley decided to pursue nursing after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. “During her treatment, I got to know the nurses pretty well and appreciated the care she received.” Perley originally received a B.S. in Biology with a focus on genetics benchwork. “But after I got my degree, I couldn’t get a job due to the recession.” So, she pursued nursing and earned her second bachelor’s degree.

Dana Brandorff | May 05, 2021

AURORA, Colo. (April 19, 2021) – When COVID-19 swept across the world and wreaked havoc, students everywhere faced missing classes and graduation. But not in one program at the University of Colorado College of Nursing. Kim Paxton, DNP, APRN, developed a high-fidelity virtual simulation so nursing students could continue to learn reasoning skills, earn clinical hours, and attend their commencement ceremony.

College of Nursing Marketing | April 19, 2021

DENVER - A recent article by Susan Bonini, Ed.D., MSN, RN at the University of Colorado College of Nursing and published in the Journal of Professional Nursing, discusses the manifestations of whiteness and its effect on the profession of nursing.

Dana Brandorff | April 12, 2021

The first-ever Partnerships for Veteran & Military Health virtual conference is scheduled for April 23 – 24, 2021. With an emphasis on Inspiring a Community of Care and Connections, the conference includes nationally known speakers, panel discussions on topics ranging from PTSD to suicide awareness/prevention, and poster presentations.

Dana Brandorff | April 07, 2021

AURORA, Colo. (March 30, 2021 – Researchers at the University of Colorado College of Nursing have found that nearly one-quarter of graduate nursing students have reported elevated levels of stress, anxiety and depression, compounded in the past year by the COVID-19 pandemic.

College of Nursing Marketing | April 06, 2021

“The nursing student connected so well with my mother that I requested she continue working with her even though a new cohort of students was supposed to take over,” said Natascha Palmer whose mother and father-in-law are both enrolled in the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus program that matches health care students with seniors.

Dana Brandorff | March 30, 2021

MS Class of 1988 and FNP Class of 1997 alumna, Dixie Melton, learned leadership from CU Nursing professors, ultimately leading to operating her own practice.

Katelyn Nolan | March 30, 2021

When Joe went to the hospital with congestive heart failure, a nurse didn’t just ask him how he was. She also asked him who he was. Joe says that personal connection helped him cope with his mortality and terminal diagnosis.

Deborah Sherman | March 29, 2021

The CU College of Nursing Alumni Association is recognizing four incredible alumni for their extraordinary contributions to the profession and community of nursing. The recipients will be celebrated at the CU Nursing Alumni Association Awards on June 10, 2021 at 5pm MDT.

Katelyn Nolan | March 24, 2021

“COVID helped persuade me to take my mother out of a nursing facility and move her into our home with hospice,” said Debbie Mitchell, who transitioned her 96-year-old mother from Anthem Memory Care in Littleton, Colorado to a private home setting in March 2020, just as the pandemic was beginning to hit.

Dana Brandorff | March 17, 2021

When Sue Mower was cleaning out her cousin’s room at an assisted living facility where she lived prior to her death, she opened a kitchen cupboard and saw rows and rows of tiny disposable paper cups used to dispense medications. “I had to smile. It was a curious habit, but typical Evelyn,” said Mower.

Dana Brandorff | March 08, 2021

AURORA, Colo. (March 2, 2021) – Pregnant patients in Colorado may be told about parenting and adoption, but not abortion. This is according to a new study led by Kate Coleman-Minahan of the University of Colorado College of Nursing published in the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health.

College of Nursing Marketing | March 03, 2021

Four students in the University of Colorado College of Nursing Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist master’s program are getting a taste of academic life by presenting research addressing commonly encountered problems in critical care settings. The students will present during the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) annual conference March 9 – 11, 2021 that is being held virtually.

Dana Brandorff | February 23, 2021

Rhonda Whitten RN, CNM, APRN, has spent the majority of her career as a Midwife and a Women’s Health Practitioner. In March of 2020, Rhonda retired from the University of Cincinnati Hospital after caring for generations of women and their families.

Katelyn Nolan | February 17, 2021

Seventeen years before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired masses in Washington with his speech, “I Have a Dream,” a young Black woman nicknamed Zippy in Denver was already living her dream. In 1946, ‘Zippy’ Zipporah Parks Hammond became the first Black woman to graduate with a bachelor of science degree from the University of Colorado School of Nursing.

Deborah Sherman | February 10, 2021

Committed to advancing the field of palliative care, CU College of Nursing assistant professor Heather Coats joins 61 other scholars working to ensure people with serious illness and their caregivers live well.

See full press release: Sojourn 2020 Scholars PR 2021

College of Nursing Marketing | January 28, 2021

Aurora, Colo. (January 26, 2021) – A major publisher has ranked the University of Colorado College of Nursing online Master’s in nursing and leadership programs as among the top 20 best in the nation.

College of Nursing Marketing | January 26, 2021

Like many nurses pursuing an advanced degree, Rafal Mirowski set his sights on attaining a nurse practitioner degree, specifically a DNP in adult-gerontology. After all, the NP degree is one of the most pursued advanced nursing degrees in America.

Dana Brandorff | January 25, 2021

AURORA, Colo. (Jan. 19, 2021) - Many patients with chronic disease may intend to follow their doctor’s orders to diet, take their medicine and exercise, but a new study finds that everyday life often gets in the way. When that happens, the study found patients can become stressed and overwhelmed and might lie about dosing or even create their own remedies.

College of Nursing Marketing | January 19, 2021

Carol Harvey, MS Class of 1983, has spent her life surrounded by “superwomen”. Her mother was a clinical nurse specialist who didn’t particularly want to see any of her four daughters go into nursing. Harvey watched her older sisters become an attorney, a civil engineer, and a chemical engineer.

Katelyn Nolan | December 30, 2020

Leo Tyler is a University of Colorado Accelerated Nursing (UCAN) student graduating December 2020 and was recently awarded the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students. Originally from Salt Lake City, Leo moved to Colorado with his husband five years ago.

Katelyn Nolan | December 23, 2020

Simply put, Kelly Prado is a bicultural and bilingual board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, but as one can guess, there was nothing simple about her journey to get there.

Katelyn Nolan | December 18, 2020

Three doctors, three different treatment plans. X-rays. MRIs. Referrals to new doctors and new examinations. Despite months of medical appointments, it will still be at least six more weeks until Alexis Koutlas knows the extent of her 83-year-old mom’s arthritis in her neck and how to treat it. And that, Alexis says, is not O.K.

Deborah Sherman | December 11, 2020

“My grandfather was a general surgeon, so I grew up around a medical mind and hearing his incredible stories,” said Renee Andrews. “I was probably two years old when Poppa Doc had me try his stethoscope for the first time. I was amazed when I could hear his heart beat so clearly.”

Dana Brandorff | December 10, 2020

For Antoanela Findlay, nursing was not her first career choice. “I was an accountant. I love numbers, but it is very impersonal, and there’s a lack of human connection that I craved.”

Dana Brandorff | December 10, 2020

Twenty-twenty will be remembered for many years to come as a unique time. We know it’s been challenging, but you have much to be proud of, and CU College of Nursing wants to celebrate with you. 

College of Nursing Marketing | December 10, 2020

Most college students spend their Friday nights socializing and winding down from a long week of studying, not in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) cuddling babies.

Dana Brandorff | December 09, 2020

While COVID-19 has hit many of us hard, Nurse Jeanne Burnkrant who works with people at the end of their lives, lost eight patients in April alone. She grieved. She missed them. But Jeanne never once questioned what she does or why she does it.

Deborah Sherman | December 08, 2020

Sometimes you have to find your own way. When Michael Morgan graduated high school, he knew he didn’t want to follow in his parents’ footsteps. His mom is a dental hygienist, and his dad has spent 30 years in a cardiac catheterization lab.

Deborah Sherman | December 04, 2020

Lauren Ledford’s interest in natural disaster response began with a five-week search and rescue-training course in Colorado, and a stint coordinating an international program with pre-med students to Nicaragua.

Dana Brandorff | December 02, 2020

Born in Georgia, E’Jaaz Abdulkabir moved to the Virgin Islands at the age of 9. “Living in St. Croix was like living in a small town – surrounded by water,” said Abdulkabir. Her father was a physician. In fact, he was the attending physician during her birth and delivered her at home. For Abdulkabir, nursing was familiar and comfortable; and home births normal.

Dana Brandorff | December 02, 2020

For Chris Griffin that is the question she posed during her PhD thesis presentation. A nurse at Children’s Colorado Hospital for the past 19 years, Griffin has had her share of intense heartache and joy. “We live these extremes every day. They aren’t fictional stories. They become a part of our consciousness and affect who we are,” said Griffin.

Dana Brandorff | December 01, 2020

Two CU Nursing faculty – Jessica Anderson and Brie Thumm – are members of the Colorado Maternal Mortality Review Committee, which was put into statute in May 2019 through the Maternal Mortality Prevention Act. The committee’s goals are to review causes of maternal deaths in Colorado and recommend ways to prevent such deaths in the future.

Dana Brandorff | November 30, 2020

Infection with HIV is a chronic condition, requiring daily medication to suppress viral replication. Maintaining and adhering to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is extremely important in obtaining the best outcomes for person’s living with HIV (PLWH). Today, those living with HIV who adhere to a daily medication regimen have close to a normal life expectancy.

Dana Brandorff | November 21, 2020

Mary McMahon received her Master's in Nursing from the CU College of Nursing in 1984 and spent the majority of her nursing career in women's and infants' health. She was a director of perinatal care for more than 12 years, most recently at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. McMahon then served as a consultant in transformation services for three years. She graduated with the College of Nursing's Healthcare Informatics certificate in 2011.

Katelyn Nolan | November 20, 2020

Not long before his accidental death in an airplane crash, Karen Padrick’s husband (Kevin) came to her and asked if she wanted to give a significant donation to the University of Colorado School of Nursing. It took Padrick by surprise. “I didn’t have to think long, but it hadn’t really occurred to me,” she said.

Dana Brandorff | November 17, 2020

Given all the work that deans do, it is unusual for one to take it upon himself to provide clinical oversight and precept a student. The University of Colorado College of Nursing Dean Elias Provencio-Vasquez tends to do the unexpected. “We were thrilled when Dean Eli offered to precept a student during our flu clinic,” said Director of the Campus Health Center Emily Cheshire, DNP.

Dana Brandorff | October 30, 2020

As a child, Ashley Chacon Percival became her family’s interpreter; helping her Spanish speaking parents navigate the health care system. At 8 years old, she was accompanying them to medical appointments, interpreting and translating for them, and when her father suffered a stroke she attended his specialty appointments with him.

Dana Brandorff | October 26, 2020

AURORA,Colo. (Oct. 9, 2020) – The University of Colorado College of Nursing faculty, in celebration of the Year of the Nurse-Midwife and National Midwifery Week, recently established the CU Nursing Midwifery Diversity Scholarship, specifically to provide support to diverse students who are from geographic areas and socioeconomic backgrounds that are historically underrepresented.

Dana Brandorff | October 14, 2020

Alumnus author of "The America that I Didn't Know Existed: Immigrant Experience in American Education."

Katelyn Nolan | October 13, 2020

“I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floatin’ around accidental-like on a breeze. But I, I think maybe it’s both.” -- Forrest Gump, 1994

At 10 years old, Crystal (Constantine) Masterson was described as determined. A child of the ‘70s and ‘80s, she was influenced by the Cold War. Suffering from recurring nightmares about nuclear war since the age of five, Masterson begged her mother to let her walk across the U.S. in 1986 in the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament (GPM).

Dana Brandorff | October 09, 2020

Jessica Cumley’s journey to midwifery began 12 years ago with the birth of her son. “It was the most empowering experience I have ever had. I loved my care so much that I wanted to become a midwife and share that with others,” she said. Now enrolled in the University of Colorado College of Nursing Midwifery program and 32 weeks pregnant, Cumley wonders why it took her so long.

Dana Brandorff | October 07, 2020

“I love being pregnant. When I say that to most women, they look at me as if I’m crazy,” said expectant mother Abby Zamora. For Zamora who is on her fifth pregnancy, having babies is the “most wonderful experience.” And that’s why she decided to become a surrogate. “I wanted to do this for another family,” said Zamora.

Dana Brandorff | October 02, 2020

AURORA, Colo. (Sept. 17, 2020) – Knowing where to turn for help is challenging for anyone. For military veterans it can be even more difficult than for the general public. A new resource guide compiled with the help of the Veteran and Military Healthcare Area of Excellence at the University of Colorado College of Nursing will help.

Dana Brandorff | September 17, 2020

Katie was born in Chelsea, Alabama July 8, 1933, and graduated from Vincent High School Class of 1953. She was loved throughout life for her goodwill and kindness toward others and was always willing to help friends and neighbors alike. To her three brothers and two sisters, Katie was the sister that went out from the family farm and made things happen.

Katelyn Nolan | September 15, 2020

AURORA, Colo. (Sept. 9, 2020) – Researchers at the University of Colorado College of Nursing at the Anschutz Medical Campus found that a unique set of factors of the emergency department (ED) makes standard Clinical Decision Support (CDS) systems not as effective in helping to reduce antibiotic overprescribing in that environment.

Dana Brandorff | September 09, 2020

AURORA, Colo. (Sept. 2, 2020) – The University of Colorado College of Nursing and its nurse practitioner-led clinic at Belleview Point will be offering drive-up flu clinics Sept. 23 and Oct. 7.

Dana Brandorff | September 04, 2020

This is an Op-Ed about Proposition 115. Kate Coleman-Minahan, an assistant professor and adolescent family planning nurse practitioner at the University of Colorado College of Nursing at the Anschutz Medical Campus, breaks down some of the reasons it could be harmful. The views expressed here are her own and not those of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Colorado Newsline | August 28, 2020

“In May and June I felt my whole world tumbling,” said CU Nursing master’s student and nurse manager Stephanie Lee. An iLEAD (Innovation in Leadership and Administration in Nursing Health Care Systems) master’s student, Lee was entering her final course in the specialized track, when coronavirus hit.

Dana Brandorff | August 18, 2020

CU Nursing alumna Ruby Martinez, PhD, RN, was recently awarded the 2020 Latino Legacy Award from the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN). Each year at the national conference, NAHN recognizes one member who has contributed to the nursing profession with commitment to advancing the health in Hispanic communities and to lead, promote and advocate the educational, professional, and leadership opportunities for Hispanic nurses. Like many national conferences, this year’s NAHN conference was held virtually in July due to coronavirus.

Dana Brandorff | August 13, 2020

Volunteering is in Carrie Brouillette’s nature. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the nursing student has marshaled her neighbors to donate fabric and created a mini assembly line to make cloth masks. “My mother is an incredible seamstress. So I measured and cut, and she sewed,” said Brouillette. The two churned out about 600 cloth masks in their makeshift in-home manufacturing facility! And that’s not all. Brouillette also volunteered at a homeless shelter with the intent of learning how to be a better nurse.

Dana Brandorff | August 10, 2020

After graduating from CU Nursing with a BS in 2012, Cat Golden worked at Children’s Hospital Colorado and then Children’s Hospital of Michigan. “I was on the peds path and worked nights,” said Golden.

Dana Brandorff | July 30, 2020

AURORA, Colo. (July 29, 2020) – The University of Colorado College of Nursing Dean Elias Provencio-Vasquez was recently appointed to a four-year term to the National Advisory Council on Nursing Research, a federal advisory council to the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Provencio-Vasquez is one of 15 members on the Council to advise, assist, and consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

College of Nursing Marketing | July 29, 2020

CU Nursing’s July Grand Rounds presentation was a joint effort between Drs. Figaro Loresto and Scott Harpin and highlighted different ways the two harnessed their backgrounds and skills to make a difference during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, Loresto and Harpin asked themselves what they could do to help in the pandemic – one from a research perspective and the other from a “bedside” and public health perspective. Their unique skill sets have helped and continue to help fight the epidemic in myriad ways.

Dana Brandorff | July 20, 2020

In 2015, Josh Simpson’s world stopped. Soon after the birth of his youngest daughter, his 33-year-old wife received an earth-shattering diagnosis -- breast cancer. Originally misdiagnosed as clogged milk ducts, the diagnosis came after she switched doctors, and a subsequent biopsy. “I can’t tell you how many times people have said that you don’t typically get breast cancer while breastfeeding. One thing I discovered is that there is no normal with breast cancer,” said Simpson.

Dana Brandorff | July 16, 2020

AURORA, Colo. June 18, 2020) Children's Hospital - In the past few months, the COVID-19 pandemic sent shockwaves throughout the nation's healthcare facilities. Like many other hospital systems, Children's Hospital Colorado was left grappling with a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. Because COVID-19 initially impacted adult populations and organizations caring for adults, pediatric hospitals have been left out of the broader conversation. Lindsey Tarasenko, PhD, RN, Magnet Program Director & Nurse Scientist, wants to change that.

College of Nursing Marketing | July 06, 2020

Kerry Peterson (PhD, DNP, MSN, BSN) was appointed to CU Nursing’s Psychiatric Mental Health Endowed Professorship. Previously held by Dr. Mary Weber, the appointment was reviewed by a group of faculty who made the recommendation and approved by Dean Provencio-Vasquez.

Dana Brandorff | July 02, 2020

Since George Floyd’s killing at the hands of police on May 25, and the senseless deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor and others, the country has been struggling with how to support the Black community while demanding change. One thing is clear – something seems different than all the other protests and events that have preceded it. The protests are larger, more vocal, more frequent, diverse, and persistent.

Dana Brandorff | June 25, 2020

Many academic institutions – especially those in the healthcare field – were caught off guard during the coronavirus pandemic. The challenge for the University of Colorado College of Nursing wasn’t just a matter of social distancing and moving classes to remote learning. It was ensuring our students also obtained the clinical hours required by the State Board of Nursing to graduate.

Dana Brandorff | June 22, 2020

We ask 3 Questions with CU College of Nursing MSN Alumna, December 2018 Kelly Fisher, RN, BSN, MSN, WHNP.

Katelyn Nolan | June 18, 2020

As Liz Phelps opened her book bundle from CU College of Nursing, she began to cry. An unexpected gift from the College and the Alumni Association was included with her books – a stethoscope. “When I opened the stethoscope and saw the note I, to be honest, immediately started to cry. The fact that nurses who once stood in my shoes would be willing to lend a hand to their future colleagues made me proud of this profession that I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to enter into,” said Phelps.

Dana Brandorff | June 17, 2020

Two students in the University of Colorado College of Nursing Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist master’s program, Cailly Haning and Cassie Lang, recently published articles about their experiences addressing commonly encountered problems in critical care settings –  from oral hygiene with stroke patients to controlling postoperative pain. Haning, MSN, RN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN, and a critical care nurse at Swedish Hospital analyzed hospital-acquired infections due to poor oral hygiene after a stroke. Lang, MSN, CNS, ACCNS-AG, CCRN, a critical care clinical nurse specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center looked at harnessing a variety of pain management therapies after surgery (acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cold and music therapy) to reduce overall opioid consumption.

Dana Brandorff | June 11, 2020

AURORA, Colo. (May 29, 2020) – Researchers at the University of Colorado College of Nursing and the School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology at the Anschutz Medical Campus found that the use of nitrous oxide (N2O) as a pain relief option for individuals in labor is safe for newborn children and laboring individual, and converting to a different form of pain relief such as an epidural or opioid is influenced by a woman’s prior birth history and other factors.

College of Nursing Marketing | June 01, 2020

The impact of coronavirus on our students has been far reaching. Clinics and inpatient facilities where our students typically complete their clinical hours shifted their focus to caring for coronavirus patients and suspended training.

Dana Brandorff | May 28, 2020

Searching for stability, Pat Hess found the nursing profession at a time when “women didn’t have much choice”. For Hess and many other women in the 1950s and 1960s, nursing offered a rare opportunity: choice. “Nursing opened up a lot of avenues – there are so many ways to be a nurse.” During Hess’s career, she was able to practice, teach, research, and innovate new programs.
Hess (left) during her time teaching in Japan

Katelyn Nolan | May 26, 2020

Seventeen years ago, Eaba Dechasa arrived in America from Ethiopia with his family. His father was a geologist. His mother a teacher. The Dechasas came to America through the Diversity Immigrant Visa program (also known as the visa lottery), which provides up to 50,000 immigrant visas each year. Drawn from random selection among all entries, the visas are awarded to individuals who are from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Distributed among six geographic regions, no single country can receive more than 7% of the available DVs in any one year.

Dana Brandorff | May 18, 2020

Born into a service-oriented family with strong roots in pediatric cardiology, China Opland knew from a young age that her path would focus on giving. Her maternal grandmother Francine Leca, the first female cardiac surgeon in France, founded Mécénat Chirurgerie Cardiaque in 1996 –  an organization well known throughout the world for providing free heart surgery to children in need.

Dana Brandorff | May 15, 2020

Sara Schwartz had a bumpy start to her nursing degree. Notified 14 days prior to the start of orientation that she was accepted into CU Nursing, she drove to Colorado from California. “I was homeless for a week and planned to live in my car,” she said. Fortunately, she met a girl during orientation whose family allowed her to live in their basement. 

Dana Brandorff | May 13, 2020

All he wanted was a plastic toy car. At 4 years old, that was what Josh Harrington wanted and he was going to get it.

Dana Brandorff | May 13, 2020

For 15 years, Bill Martchenke was a high school and middle school teacher. A devoted teacher, he regularly worked 12-14 hour days. When his wife became pregnant with their first son, he couldn’t justify it any longer and got a job working for Kaiser Permanente in their electronic medical record (EMR) department training nurses on the system. After supporting the hospital for five months, “I recognized nurses had the greatest job in the world and why wasn’t I doing this?”

Dana Brandorff | May 12, 2020

Eleven years ago, Erika Vaske was on a two-year waitlist to get into a nursing program. “A lot of my inspiration came from my mom, who has been a nurse’s aid for over 35 years,” she said. For Vaske, the wait was “interminable.” So she chose another path -- changed majors and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Dana Brandorff | May 12, 2020

Originally trained as a physical therapist in her homeland of Germany, Sabs Sheppard chose nursing after moving to the U.S. 12 years ago. After working with nurses for years, she realized that the profession more closely aligned with her goals and ambitions to work in critical care. 

Dana Brandorff | May 12, 2020

Pam:  So, uh, Greg. How’s your job?
Greg:  Um, good, Pam. Thanks for asking. I recently got transferred to triage.
Dina: Oh, is that better than a nurse?
Pam: No, Mom, triage is a unit of the E.R. It’s where all the top nurses work.
Greg:  Well—
Pam:  No, they do.
Jack: Not many men in your profession, though, are there, Greg?
Greg:  No, Jack, not traditionally.
Jack:  Mm-hmm.

Dana Brandorff | May 12, 2020

Arriving in the U.S. at age 4 from Colombia, South America, Kay Maldonado knew when she graduated from high school that challenges would lie ahead.

Dana Brandorff | May 12, 2020

Struggling with depression as a teenager, Rachel Johnson came to a pivotal moment in her young life.

Dana Brandorff | May 11, 2020

The second installment of CU Nursing’s Virtual Film Festival showcased a giant in nursing – Loretta Ford, (EdD ’61, MS ’51, BSN ’49) – with the documentary titled Loretta Ford: A Disruptive Innovator. Soon to be 100 years old, Dr. Ford proves that age is just a number. 

Dana Brandorff | April 23, 2020

AURORA, Colo. (April 22, 2020) – Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found that interest in abortion care among advance practice clinicians (APCs) in Colorado is substantial, though barriers must be addressed in order to increase access with APCs (nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physician’s assistants).

College of Nursing Marketing | April 22, 2020

When Captain Taylor Allen, BSN, RN, arrived in Denver in March for an internship with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) before entering CU Nursing’s Master’s program, she never thought her army experience would be in demand. Boy was she wrong.

Dana Brandorff | April 20, 2020

Our College of Nursing Faculty has been helping local news departments with information regarding the Covid-19 virus. From graduation requirements to cloth masks to federal funding of our nurse-led clinics -- here’s a wrap up of recent news coverage.

College of Nursing Marketing | April 17, 2020

With the help of University of Colorado leadership, CU Nursing faculty, lobbyists, and State Representatives and Senators, Governor Jared Polis signed Executive Order D 2020 038 on April 15, 2020 to temporarily suspend State Board of Nursing statutes in order to expand the health care workforce. The Order temporarily suspends some State Board of Nursing rules for nursing programs. This allows our students to complete their programs in a timely fashion to help fight the Covid-19 outbreak, and also addresses the current nursing workforce needs in the state of Colorado.

College of Nursing Marketing | April 16, 2020

Combining my passion for nursing with the unreal setting of Nepal -- a place that I have wanted to visit for so many years -- was a dream come true!

Guest Contributor | April 16, 2020

AURORA Colo. (April 9, 2020) – Sheridan Health Services, a University of Colorado College of Nursing nurse-led clinic in the Denver metro area, recently received $584,045 from the federal government as part of its Health Center Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Funds, administered by the Health Resources & Service Administration (HRSA).

Dana Brandorff | April 15, 2020

The nationwide novel Coronavirus pandemic was the impetus for CU Nursing’s Virtual Film Festival and “Fireside chat”. Consisting of four documentaries/videos over five weeks, the Festival was the brainchild of alumna and former faculty member Sue Hagedorn (PhD ‘95).

Dana Brandorff | April 14, 2020

When CU Nursing PhD student Brittni Goodwin, MSN, RN, realized there weren’t enough N95 masks for her colleagues at area hospitals, she went to work to get the needed supplies. Like many health care professionals, Goodwin felt the need to help co-workers who were being stretched so intensely during the Covid-19 outbreak. “It’s a bit like survivor’s guilt. I felt I wasn’t doing enough,” said Goodwin.

Dana Brandorff | April 13, 2020

For Oriana Cruz, CU Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner alumna (FNP ’18), she is one of those rare breeds who run toward danger. And run she did --- all the way to ground zero in New York City. “When I heard about the need in New York, I signed up with Krucial Staffing, a traveling nurse company based out of Kansas,” said Cruz. She was deployed almost immediately to Elmhurst Hospital.

Dana Brandorff | April 10, 2020

4/10/20 - CU Anschutz Student Parking Refund

Dear CU Anschutz Students,

As the Chancellor’s communication outlined yesterday, the Parking Department will be refunding all students on the Anschutz Medical Campus for any parking permit fees that were paid in advance from March 16, 2020 forward. This process will begin immediately, but will take time to complete as we must review each student account individually to determine the refund amount that is due. All refunds will be mailed to students in the form of a check to the current address on file. In order to ensure the most timely and accurate return of funds, we ask you to review your parking account online and provide the most current mailing address. We know that this pandemic has caused a great deal of change in your world and we are committed to returning funds as quickly as we can.  Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding. It is our goal to have all refunds issued by the end of April. If you have an questions regarding this communique and your specific situation, please contact the parking office at (303)724-2555 or by email to CUParking@cuanschutz.edu.

College of Nursing Marketing | April 10, 2020

Shannon Vogel Perry has dedicated her life to serving, whether through scholarship, in the classroom, or abroad. She graduated with her master's from the University of Colorado College of Nursing in 1971.

Katelyn Nolan | April 09, 2020

An addiction recovery pilot program sees an increase of patients during Covid-19 outbreak. The Mountain Medical Road to Recovery clinic is funded through Senate Bill 19-001, which is a pilot program to deliver medication-assisted treatment to victims of the opioid epidemic. In the program, CU Nursing faculty train local nurse practitioners and physician assistants to deliver treatment at three clinical sites in Pueblo and Routt counties. The treatment is an effective approach to treating opioid addiction, combining medication with long-term behavioral therapy.

College of Nursing Marketing | April 08, 2020

Please join us for a virtual film festival, presented by CU Nursing and Seedworks Films.

Similar to a book club, participants are encouraged to watch one of the following documentaries and then join us via Zoom Sundays at 3 p.m. (MST) for a lively chat hosted by Sue Hagedorn, PhD, RN, FAANP, FAAN. These "fireside" chats will include special guests Drs. Loretta Ford, Ginny Pepper, Jean Watson, Ms. Karen Zink and Dixie Melton, and Daniel Weinschenker. You're not going to want to miss it!

Dana Brandorff | April 03, 2020

We asked our current student workers at CU Nursing how they are handling the new normal. See how a few of our students are making their new normal work for them.

College of Nursing Marketing | March 31, 2020

“I’ve been in nursing for 37 years and this was by far the best thing I’ve ever done,” said Debbie Roditski, NP, about earning her Palliative Care Certificate from CU Nursing in 2017. 

Dana Brandorff | March 25, 2020

Aurora, Colo. (March 19, 2020) -- The University of Colorado College of Nursing has received a #8 placement for its Nurse-Midwifery program, and a top 10% ranking for its Master’s in Nursing program, according to U.S. News & World Report. The Master’s program was ranked against 578 programs, while the Nurse-Midwifery program was compared 36 programs throughout the country. In addition, the Doctor of Nurse Practitioner program ranked #48 out of 319 programs, placing it in the top 15% of DNP programs. The 2021 rankings were released on March 18.

Dana Brandorff | March 19, 2020

Nancy Niles Frost’s career has been driven by her nursing inspiration and her passion for providing exemplary care.

Frost’s journey with the nursing profession started long before she stepped into the classroom. From a young age, she was inspired by her aunt, Mary Margaret Miller, who practiced nursing in many different settings. Remembering her aunt, Frost recounts the various stories she heard growing up. Mary Margaret served as a nurse in World War II, provided care on a Native American Reservation, and was an OR nurse – all while traveling with her husband who was a Marine. Later she became the nursing director at St. Anthony Hospital. Frost notes that three of her first cousins including Mary Margaret’s own daughter, Marilyn Miller (BSN, Class of 67) became nurses, following in the family footsteps.

Katelyn Nolan | March 16, 2020

From typhoid to smallpox to the Spanish Flu, we’ve had no shortage of epidemics in the US in the last 100 years and no shortage of nurses to help care for the ill. Now, it’s the coronavirus. Precautions were simple 100 years ago – isolation, bloodletting, inhaling steam and ice baths. But not very effective. In some ways, we’ve come a lot farther and in others, we are resorting to the same tried and true methods of containment. Digging deep into the CU Nursing archives at the Anschutz Medical Campus uncovered a real-life account of a nurse who helped battle the Spanish Flu of 1918 and survived one of the most devastating pandemics in history.

Dana Brandorff | March 11, 2020

“As an oncology nurse who grew up to be a palliative care nurse provider,” Heather Coats had her feet firmly planted in two worlds – oncology and hospice. Flitting back and forth between the two for years, “Nothing truly fit until I discovered palliative care,” said CU Nursing’s Assistant Professor Coats, PhD, MS, APRN-BC.

Dana Brandorff | March 06, 2020

Kristen Wessel (BSN, ’19) was 4 years old when her grandmother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. She couldn’t spell the word, let alone understand the gravity of the disease.

Debra Melani | March 03, 2020

AUSTIN, Texas—(January 16, 2020) New research shows that pregnant teens who seek a judicial bypass for parental consent for abortion demonstrate reason and thoughtful decision-making and involve others, all while managing abortion stigma. This study, based on in-depth interviews of 20 teens who had sought judicial bypass in Texas between 2015 and 2016, was recently published in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. The lead authors, from the University of Colorado, conducted the research as part of Texas Policy Evaluation Project (TxPEP).

College of Nursing Marketing | March 02, 2020

Jillian Williams graduated from the UCAN Accelerated BSN Program in 2015 from the University of Colorado College of Nursing. Jillian is a pediatric relief charge nurse and outpatient infusion nurse at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado as well as a home care nurse for Tender Care Pediatric Services in Loveland, Colorado.

Katelyn Nolan | February 25, 2020

With one of the largest academic nurse-midwifery practices in the U.S., CU Nursing’s midwifery enterprise leads the nation in midwifery education, patient care, and research. From a 100% first-time AMCB licensing pass rate of our latest cohort of students to helping birth more than 1,500 babies annually, the program has many achievements to be proud of in its 40-plus year history. 

Dana Brandorff | February 21, 2020

AURORA, Colo. (Februrary 19, 2020) – Many teens lost access to confidential family planning services in Texas due to family planning budget cuts and loss of Title X funds, says a new study led by the University of Colorado College of Nursing just published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Lack of clarity around parental consent laws, confusion among staff, and funding uncertainty made it more difficult for organizations to provide confidential, low-cost, and quality services to teens. This research suggests that contraception access for teens throughout the nation could worsen as new changes to Title X are implemented.

College of Nursing Marketing | February 19, 2020

“At 13, I dropped out of school to take care of my siblings because my mother was extremely ill and my father left us,” said Yolande Ngounou, BSN ’19. A native of Cameroon (a Central African country), Ngounou recalled her childhood. “It was my job to help my family. I loved school so much, but I had to give it up.”  

Dana Brandorff | February 13, 2020

LONGMONT, Colo. (Feb. 10, 2020) – The University of Colorado College of Nursing’s Center for Midwifery – Longmont (CFM-Longmont) practice is partnering with Mother’s Milk Bank (MMB) as one of the milk bank’s newest human milk donation locations in the Denver metro area, and the first in the city of Longmont. To celebrate, CFM-Longmont will be hosting a kick-off reception at 10 a.m. on Feb. 14 at 2030 Mountain View Avenue, Suite 400, which is open to the public. “This new site allows families in the Longmont and surrounding communities to donate human milk at a convenient location,” said Jessica Anderson, director of midwifery services with CU Nursing.

College of Nursing Marketing | February 10, 2020

Note: A kickoff reception for the new donation site will be held at 10 a.m. on Feb. 14 at the Center for Midwifery Longmont, 2030 Mountain View Ave., Suite 400, Longmont. Press Release 2/10/2020 

Debra Melani | February 10, 2020

Like most of her classmates, Emma Bielfeldt struggled to finish her thought as she answered her fellow student’s question. She faltered, tried again and finally gave up, laughing at her inability to speak coherently. It’s hard to think straight when someone is whispering orders in your ear.

Debra Melani | January 31, 2020

When a child is dealt too many ACEs, it is not a winning hand. Not for the child. Not for society. Not for the healthcare system.

Debra Melani | January 28, 2020

Many abortion-seeking minors braving judicial bypass of parental consent face concrete roadblocks: The judges say no. Read more about the findings of an 18-year study co-written by CU Nursing’s Kate Coleman-Minahan and just published in the American Journal of Public Health.

College of Nursing Marketing | January 16, 2020

She hails from Denver, not Atlantica. She swims in an encased pool, not an ocean. And although she maybe thinks he is, her dad is not a king.

Debra Melani | January 15, 2020

Growing up in a rough Denver neighborhood, Crystal Santos chose forensics as her future profession early on. She wanted to help people find closure after losing loved ones, especially to violence.

Debra Melani | January 15, 2020