Bahe: Growth and expansion for the College of Nursing

In preparing to write this column, I couldn’t decide which statement was the best fit for the topic, which is growth and expansion. So, why not use all three? 

“Don’t let the fear of striking out hold you back.” 

Baseball season is in full swing (pun intended), so let’s start with the quote attributed to Babe Ruth. After his retirement in 1935, he was hailed as the Home Run King of baseball. The Babe knocked a pitch out of the park 714 times during his career. Did you know he also struck out 1,330 times? That means he averaged nearly two strikeouts for every home run; he was not afraid to swing the bat in order to connect on a big hit. 

Stenvig closes a 53-year nursing career

After 53 years as a nurse and more than 30 as a nurse educator, Tom Stenvig is ready to retire and nurse nothing more than the vegetables in his garden — at least for now. 

Stenvig, who has been a well-known persona and leader  in  South Dakota nursing since 1979, retired May 21 from the College of Nursing at South Dakota State University as associate professor and Ph.D. program director.

Voss honored by students as College of Nursing Teacher of the Year

Jo Voss, an associate professor at the South Dakota State University College of Nursing’s site in Rapid City, wanted to be a teacher when she grew up. 

Conversations with her family, however, led her to pursue a career in the nursing profession. After all, her mother was also a nurse. 

Her passion and interest in education put her on the path to being named the 2024 Teacher of the Year for the college. 

Garren-Grubbs honored for inspiring students

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators celebrates nursing educators who inspire their students. The 2023-24 recipient of that award from South Dakota State University certainly fits that description. 

Theresa Garren-Grubbs was honored at the College of Nursing’s retirement and awards reception May 8 at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center. 

Garren-Grubbs, a faculty member since 2016, was cited for her inspiration by colleagues and students.

Nursing student completes ROTC internship in Germany

One student’s involvement in two demanding programs at South Dakota State University took him to another continent for the internship opportunity of a lifetime.

Luke Morris, a Harrisburg native who graduated May 4 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, completed a month-long Army internship last summer at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. The training was a good fit for someone who wants to become an emergency room Army nurse.

Engineering students design IV practice sleeve for nursing students

A four-man team of South Dakota State University mechanical engineering students has designed a wearable sleeve that will allow aspiring nurses to practice intravenous (IV) injections. 

"SDSU's College of Nursing currently has quality IV practice arms for their students to practice IV injections," explained Jonah Coffel, an engineering student on the team. "These arms, however, have many drawbacks: they are too large to fit well with the manikin for bedside training, they can be very expensive, and replacing the 'skin' and 'veins' can be challenging." 

Coffel's senior design team, which also includes Nathan Lawrence, Dalton Anderson and Connor Gress, is working to create an improved practice sleeve that addresses these issues. 

Groves delivers Dean’s Distinguished Lecture on hospital safety communication

Listening to patients’ concerns and taking them seriously are key factors for nurses to gain patients’ trust and increase their sense of security. That, in turn, will prevent harm and reduce risks in hospitals. 

Patricia Groves, an associate professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Iowa, offered that message in her lecture “Hospital Safety Communication: Working Together to Create Patient Safety and Sense of Security” in the University Student Union’s Volstorff Ballroom. Grove presented this year’s Helen K. Grace and Nursing Deans’ Distinguished Lecture on April 18 for the South Dakota State University College of Nursing, preceding its 2024 Sigma Theta Tau induction ceremony. 

Elverson ends nearly three-decade career at State

With the lamp of learning as her guide, it’s not surprising Cindy Elverson followed the path of academia as she advanced in her nursing career. 

The Missouri native began practicing nursing in 1979 after graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Through seven years as a staff nurse, 10 years as a neonatal nurse practitioner and 28 years as an educator, some of that overlapping, a desire to grow her knowledge has guided her career path. 

Voss finishes 29-year with top teaching honor

For a nurse who loved teaching, being named the college’s teacher of the year in her final year of teaching is truly the cherry on top. 

“As I leave, this was a wonderful gift to give to me, to just verify that I've made a difference,” said Jo Voss, who retired from the South Dakota State University College of Nursing May 21 after a 29-year career at State. 

Leahy chosen for Professional Staff Award for Excellence

A passion for South Dakota State University motivates Susie Leahy in her role as a professional academic advisor and recruiter for the College of Nursing in Rapid City. 

Leahy’s efforts in working with nursing students in Rapid City and traveling the western United States to recruit future students has earned her the 2024 College of Nursing Professional Staff Award for Excellence. 

Groves delivers Dean’s Distinguished Lecture on hospital safety communication