Ursuline College nurse educator receives first ATI Touch Award

Staff report

Pepper pike, ohio

Kathy Rogers of Youngstown, nurse educator for the Breen School of Nursing at Ursuline College, has received ATI Nursing Education’s first Nurse’s Touch Award.

Nominated by a peer nurse educator at Ursuline, she was specifically selected for her leadership and interpersonal skills as well as her efforts to educate students on stress-reduction activities.

“We are honored to recognize Kathy for her commitment to developing communications, professionalism and similar ‘soft skills’ in future nurses,” said Sheryl Sommer, director of nursing education and curriculum at ATI Nursing Education. “Nursing programs have limited time and resources, which means these skills are rarely a top priority in the classroom. Under her guidance, nursing students at Ursuline College are receiving exposure to abilities that will help them function as leaders of the health-care team and be a patient advocate.”

Christine A. Wynd, dean at the nursing school, said Rogers deserves the award.

“She is truly engaged as a member of the nursing faculty and is totally student-focused. She readily and willingly contributes to student education as demonstrated by this award,” Wynd said. “As dean, in just five short years, I’ve observed Ms. Rogers grow from a brand-new instructor to a professional devoted to the current evidence and research that keeps our students moving forward to enjoy the excellent reputation of an Ursuline College nursing education.”

Rogers initially started her career with a different degree in health care and then became a licensed practical nurse in 1989. Accomplishing other degrees along the way, she earned a master’s in nursing by 2005. She still practices while teaching.

A lifelong learner, Rogers eventually pursued her master’s degree and has been a nurse educator at Ursuline since 2006. For more than 20 years, she has specialized in hemodialysis, which involves caring for patients with kidney disease.

“I advise my students to understand the patient in order to be successful,” Rogers said. “That doesn’t call on book knowledge in most cases. Instead, it’s taking the clues and pieces of information and using soft skills to help meet the needs of the patient. I am honored to be selected for this recognition and appreciate ATI Nursing Education raising the awareness of nurse educators and the need for increased focus on soft skills.”

Highlights from the nomination included the following:

ATI Nursing Education is the leading provider of online learning programs that are instrumental in improving faculty effectiveness and student and program outcomes in nursing schools across the country.

The company works with more than 20,000 nurse educators, approximately 2,100 colleges and universities nationwide, and over 225,000 students. ATI Nursing Education has played a role in helping more than 1 million students pass the U.S. nursing licensing exam.

ATI Nursing Education is part of Ascend Learning. Founded in 2010, Ascend Learning provides technology-based educational, curriculum and assessment solutions for healthcare and other professional industries.

Ursuline, the first women’s college in Ohio, is recognized for distinguished programs in nursing, fashion, social work and education.

Ursuline College offers more than 30 undergraduate and 11 graduate liberal-arts degrees in four schools including arts and sciences, nursing, professional and graduate studies.