Student of the Year 2010: Linda J. Andreoli

LINDA J. ANDREOLI
NURSING STUDENT OF THE YEAR
NOMINATED BY:  Timothy M. Gaspar, Ph.D., RN,  Dean and Professor, tim.gaspar@utoledo.edu

What a privilege and honor for me to submit the name of Linda J. Andreoli for Student of the Year. She is in the second year of our MSN Clinical Nurse Leader Graduate Entry program that is for individuals who have a non-nursing bachelor degree and wish to become registered nurses.

Ms. Andreoli  was one of those students recognized from the beginning of her nursing education for her motivation, dedication, leadership, compassion and academic excellence. She has received scholarships for two years based on her academic performance (carries a 4.0 cumulative GPA) in a very rigorous and demanding program. In addition, she has been involved in the U.S. Navy Reserve for several years and was promoted to mass communication chief in the Navy Reserve this past September 2009. As chief in the Navy Reserve, her responsibilities include taking care of the sailors and keeping them motivated to grow personally and professionally.

She has also shown her commitment to nursing and the profession by participation in information sessions for prospective students. Her genuineness and love of nursing contributes to prospective students making UT College of Nursing their first choice for the CNL program.

Ms. Andreoli’s compassion  is reflected in her capstone project: “Homeless Men’s Perception of Quality Nursing Care and Their Lived Experience of Nursing Care.” She has also studied the perceptions of female military veterans on their treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Veterans Administration.

Ms. Andreoli was recently commended for outstanding performance while caring for homeless adults during the clinical portion of Community Health Nursing by the UT Graduate Student Admission, Progression and Retention Committee … a true reflection of remarkable work! Her clinical instructor wrote this about Linda, “Linda consistently performed in an outstanding manner in the clinical experience in Community Health Nursing for the fall term 2009. She was assigned to the nursing clinical at Cherry Street Mission, providing primary care to homeless adults. She went beyond the clinical requirements to care for homeless clients and was excellent in the provision of care and expanding resources for homeless veterans.”

CNL faculty member, Ms. Karen Hoblet, MSN, RN, says this about Ms. Andreoli: “Linda exemplifies the heart, hands and soul of nursing. Not only does she combine the art with the science of nursing to produce phenomenal outcomes, she continues to serve her country. Linda is technically adept and at the same time focuses on the person with her energy and caring touch.”

Kelly Phillips, Ph.D., RN, coordinator for the CNL program and interim associate dean for Graduate Nursing Programs, seconds Ms. Hoblet’s comments. In addition, Dr. Phillips recognizes Linda’s enthusiasm for learning and constant state of professionalism. “Linda is a role model for leadership and will be an incredible asset to the nursing profession.”

Ms. Kathleen Mitchell, MSN, RN, graduate nursing advisor, has been privileged to serve as Ms. Andreoli’s nursing advisor these past two years. She comments, “Linda embarked on a change in career path after working in the field of broadcasting for over 20 years. She embraces every experience as an opportunity to learn and grow. Linda exemplifies the qualities as a nursing student that are the key to excellence in the profession of nursing; she is self-directed, engaged in active learning and the pursuit of knowledge, demonstrates principles of leadership amongst her peers, works in a collaborative manner and has excellent communication skills.”

Ms. Andreoli’s leadership is displayed not only her service with the U.S. Navy Reserve but also in representing her fellow students on  the Council of Graduate Students and subsequent nomination for the Outstanding Student Leader Award, University of Toledo College of Nursing (peer nomination) in 2008.

I truly believe Ms Andreoli would be an excellent recipient of this prestigious award and represents one of the best and brightest among nursing students. It is a privilege for the College of Nursing to claim her as one of our own, and we look forward to following what promises to be an outstanding career in the nursing profession. Students like Linda are improving the human condition.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
BY Linda J. Andreoli

The University of Toledo College of Nursing has helped me to change the course of my life by opening up a new career for me.  Nursing is not just a change of employment, a different set of skills to enable me to get a job; it is a new mission, reframing the way I look at people and the way I look at the world.

I am currently in my last semester in the Clinical Nurse Leader program, and I have begun my 300 clinical hours with a registered nurse in a local critical care unit.  I made the right decision in my request for critical care.  The level of attention given to the patient and the degree of autonomy and collaboration with physicians and other members of the healthcare team are present in this environment.

It is important to have excellent clinical skills, and that will come through practical experience.  To that end, my future plans for employment will be geared to a hospital setting in a critical care unit.  I would like to begin there and in the fall of 2010 take the prerequisite class in Advanced Health Assessment.  After that, I will continue on in the family nurse practitioner certificate program.

I expect graduate study to push me further into the field of nursing through challenging clinical experiences and demanding academic standards.  I expect to develop a level of competence and confidence that will enable me to safely care for patients.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
CURRENTLY:
2009 – Present    Leading Chief Petty Officer, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Combat Camera Detachment, Norfolk, Virginia
2008 – 2009    Patient Care Technician, Flower Hospital, 5200 Harroun Road, Sylvania, Ohio 43560

ACADEMIC RESEARCH PROJECTS:
2010    N-522 field experience capstone project: “Homeless Men’s Perception of Quality Nursing Care and Their Lived Experience of Nursing Care.”  Study in progress.
2009    N-591 Nursing research class project: Research proposal to study the perceptions of female military veterans on their treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Veterans Administration. Literature review, study methods, data collection and analysis and budget considerations included.
2009    Literature review of healthcare workers’ perceptions of the homeless population, and the homeless population’s perceptions of health care workers. This aggregate paper served as partial fulfillment for N-544 Population Focused Care course, fall semester, and will serve as the basis for the 2010 study.

ACTIVE DUTY:
August 2008 – March 2009    JTF-Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Public Affairs

MILITARY AWARDS:
Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal (2) and the Global War in Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

ACADEMIC AWARDS:
2010    Recipient of the University of Toledo College of Nursing Tuition Waiver based on academic performance.
2009    Referred to the University of Toledo Graduate Student Admission, Progression, and Retention Committee for outstanding performance while caring for homeless adults during the clinical portion of Community Health Nursing. Referred by Martha Pituch, Ph.D., RN.
2009    Recipient of the Robert W. Nolan Scholarship of the Fleet Reserve Association.
2008    Recipient of a University of Toledo College of Nursing graduate scholarship based on academic performance.
2008    Nominated for the Outstanding Student Leader Award, University of Toledo College of Nursing.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY:
2009 – Present    Student Veterans of America chapter, University of Toledo
2006 – Present    Audio Engineer for worship services
2004 – Present    Lucas County Emergency Response Team
2007 – 2008    Nursing Student Representative to the Council of Graduate Students

ADDITIONAL TRAINING:
2007    Red Cross Introduction to Disaster Services and Fundamentals of Disaster Assessment
2007    Ethics in Perinatal and Pediatric Care, the Toledo Hospital
1980    Emergency Medical Technician Training