From the Desk of the Dean
Hello MRJCON friends, colleagues, and alums,
Winter is a season of contrasts in Montana. The brightness of the snow contrasted with shortened days. The warmth of many holidays celebrated in the coldest season of the year. For our students, winter is a season of studying hard while looking forward to educational milestones such as starting their nursing coursework, finishing the ‘halfway’ mark, or preparing for graduation.
Our college also is embracing contrasts and contradictions. We are busy planning (and dreaming about!) our new educational buildings that will be constructed on our five campuses located in Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, Kalispell and Missoula. In this newsletter, you will find information on the groundbreakings. Please join us if you are able!
Life is rarely without challenges, even when the overall arc is positive. Nurse theorist Dr. Kristen Swanson’s theory of caring outlines five caring processes that nurses use to help patients cope with and recover from illness: knowing, being with, doing for, enabling, and maintaining belief. During this busy, exciting but also stressful time for the college, the MRJCON faculty, staff, and students are maintaining their belief in health, in Montana, and in Bobcat nursing. Put simply, they do what needs to be done and continue to work towards a better future for all Montanans.
Hope your 2024 is on a promising trajectory!
Counteracting Structural Barriers to Increase Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Among Unhoused Montanans
In recognizing the power of community engaged research, the National Institutes of Health has funded a first-of-its-kind community-led research program to study ways to address the underlying structural factors within communities that affect health. The mechanism, titled Community Partnerships to Advance Science for Society (ComPASS), aims to enable research into sustainable solutions that promote health equity to create lasting change in communities across the nation.
Open Aid Alliance, a harm reduction agency in Missoula, in partnership with Dr. Lindsay Benes, was one of 26 community-based organizations across the US to receive funding, which will total $6 million over five years. The project titled “Counteracting Structural Barriers to Increase Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Among Unhoused Montanans”, aims to increase access to substance use treatment among those who are living unhoused in Montana.
The intersection of two epidemics – housing insecurity and opioid overdose, has led to people living unhoused experiencing an overdose death rate 20 times higher than the general population. This reality is compounded in Montana where the number of Montanans with opioid use disorder outweigh treatment capacity by 10-fold. The project will draw upon an evidence-based method of increasing treatment access to socially and medically marginalized populations – embedding treatment in syringe service programs (SSPs). Syringe service programs represent a critical, safe space for people who use drugs with multiple studies showing that SSP participants are more likely to enter treatment. There are five SSPs across Montana – in Missoula, Polson, Kalispell, Butte and Billings, all of which will participate in the project.
Syringe service programs (SSP) represent a critical, safe space for people who use drugs with multiple studies showing that SSP participants are more likely to enter treatment.
The first two years of the project will focus on engaging these communities to understand community-specific structural barriers preventing unhoused persons from accessing care along with the structural interventions best matched to their community needs. Importantly, the project will also engage a Health Equity Community Advisory Board to ensure project leaders are speaking to and hearing from diverse entities impacted by the unequal treatment of our socially and medically marginalized populations. It is our hope that by engaging diverse communities and partners across Montana, we can further promote health equity in our state.
Funding for this project comes from the NIH Common Fund, award # 1OT2OD035589-01.
Dr. Sally Moyce was chosen as a Fellow for MSU's Inaugural Public Engagement Fellowship Program
CONGRATULATIONS DR. SALLY MOYCE!
The MSU Office of Research Development launched the MSU Public Engagement Fellowship Program this year. This program is an opportunity for five to seven faculty to participate in training and planning for publicly engaged scholarship projects. Dr. Sally Moyce was chosen as a Fellow for this inaugural program. As a Fellows she will receive training, connections within and beyond MSU, and the opportunity to develop a publicly engaged project.
Enhancing the Power of Simulation-Based Education
The Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing (MRJCON) was recently awarded a three-year, $1.5 million training grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. The Nurse Education, Practice Quality, and Retention-Simulation Education Training grant will be used to expand and enhance MRJCON's simulation program and strengthen partnerships with clinical organizations, tribal communities, and community agencies.
The grant's objectives are to educate and graduate baccalaureate nurses with the capacity to be responsive in improving health outcomes of the state's rural, frontier, and medically underserved populations. Over the three years, the grant will support:
- bridging the educational skills gaps related to serving persons with behavioral and mental health needs, maternal and child health needs, and age-related chronic illnesses;
- enhancing the quality and effectiveness of established simulation-based learning by integrating standardized patients and embedded simulated persons;
- a learning space for students to refine communication and teamwork skills in cross-cultural, medical, and behavioral nurse-patient situations;
- learning advanced lifesaving skills across the lifespan;
- exploring cultural respect related to the unique circumstances of Montana's Indigenous population and the growing Hispanic and Latino population.
"Simulations provide an immersive, lived experience, which creates long-lasting reflective learning." Joe Poole, grant project coordinator and Simulation Lead Bozeman Campus
The grant will enable the simulation program to enhance the established simulation program with trained actors, known as "standardized patients and embedded simulated persons." These actors enhance the students’ verbal and non-verbal skills and augment high-fidelity manikin interactions. Additional enhancements include development of a simulated electronic health record to practice written communications and patient care documentation.
"The use of trained actors creates a higher level of realism and opportunities for students to practice communication skills, problem-solving, and teamwork during simulation-based learning experiences.” Dr. Carrie Miller, Associate Professor, Billings Campus and Project Director
This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award (1 T48HP52025‐01‐00) totaling $1,499,432 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
A Passion for Helping Students Succeed
When Jordan Teller and Mary Pankratz, Billings Campus, decided to apply for a mini-grant to reduce student attrition in 2020, they knew connecting students to other students and faculty mentors would be part of the plan. They also knew it would involve food. They didn't know that their quest would lead to a passion for helping students improve their NCLEX pass rates.
These days, Mary and Jordan can be found mentoring senior nursing students, mapping out a successful individual study plan, and serving pancakes while students complete a 2-day review course prior to graduation. The Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing has recent NCLEX pass rates above 97% and Jordan and Mary couldn't be more proud!
Meet MRJCON's Advising Team
As student success manager, I collaborate with faculty and staff to support currently enrolled Bobcats and represent The Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing when communicating with prospective students considering enrollment at Montana State University. The primary perk about my role is connecting students to faculty who produce high-quality research that positively impacts the health of Montanans and the global community. Through a simple classroom or volunteer experience, students can visualize the change they want to make in the world with an education from Montana State University! - Riley Finch, Student Success Manager
Advising is about helping students find their paths to successful careers! My favorite part of my job is hyping up my students and hearing about their successes. - Anna Ewen, Academic Advisor
Nursing students are so inspiring, and I feel lucky in being able to support them on their academic journeys. My favorite parts of advising are hearing why each student is committed to a career in nursing and supporting them as they become more empowered to overcome whatever challenges they face. - Melissa Nootz, Academic Advisor
Meet MRJCON's newest nurse scientist, Dr. Ruth Tretter
Dr. Tretter's research is focused on investigating the nomad lifestyle and how it can affect access to health care.
Recently Dr. Tretter was awarded the Excellence in Advancing Nursing Science Award. This is national recognition for having the most outstanding dissertation for the year. Congratulations Ruth!
Founders Day Awards
Dr. Lindsay Benes received a MSU Founders Day Faculty Award for Excellence in Outreach, Spring 2024
Dr. Benes has demonstrated excellence in outreach in her work with Open Aid Alliance, an organization specializing in harm reduction, to support people with substance use disorders and those living unhoused. - Tracey Koch, Missoula Campus Director
Student Awardees from the Mark & Robyn Jones College of Nursing
Janelle Borgen; Major: Nursing - Kalispell; Hometown: Columbia Falls, MT; Mentor: Angele Romero
Nicole Ford; Major: Nursing – Bozeman; Hometown: Whitefish, MT; Mentor: Nita Wade
Christina Reza; Major: Nursing - Great Falls; Hometown: Bloomfield, NM; Mentor: Susan Luparell
A day in the life of a nursing student in Impalamwa, Tanzania
Everyone woke up bright and early and started their mornings either getting ready with their roommates or meeting in the courtyard to prepare for the day. We gathered in the learning center for breakfast and everyone chatted excited about the upcoming day. We put on our nametags and started heading out for our daily assignment which expanded over many communities. Half of us rotated through the Ipalamwa General Clinic spending time in the pharmacy, reception/triage, and laboratory, and working with the staff midwives and physician. Some of the main takeaways from their experiences is gaining communication skills with locals, practicing critical thinking, and using nursing skills. Unique learning experiences included the opportunity to work hands on with patients and giving vaccines and blood draws.
Other students spent time in a local village doing growth monitoring for 80+ mothers and babies as a part of a comprehensive program to prevent childhood stunting. Families also received Rise Against Hunger Meals to supplement their nutrition.
Many students were assigned home visits with caregivers in Ipawalama and the surrounding villages. The home visits focused on education to mothers and the families about alcohol abuse, mental health, nutrition, developmental milestones, and contraceptives. All of the mothers were receptive and grateful for the education from our students and gifted some people with fruits and vegetables.
After everyone completed their assignments we all met again at Global Volunteers where people began journaling, reading, and playing with local kids. The nursing students met up before dinner to debrief their day in a group discussion. After dinner, we had a lesson in Swahili where we all learned how to greet, count, and other common phrases to help us communicate with locals. After the lesson everyone left the learning center and headed to their rooms to get rest before another busy day aiding the community.
This journal entry describes a day in the life of a nursing student in Impalamwa, Tanzania. In November 2023, 21 students and 3 faculty traveled from Bozeman, Billings, Kalispell, and Great Falls to Ipalamwa to volunteer with Global Volunteers’ Reaching Children’s Potential Program (RCP). RCP is a child-focused, parent-driven, family-centered, and community-led comprehensive effort that begins with pregnancy, and extends to the 18th birthday of children to reduce childhood stunting. Students had the unique experience of working at the individual, family, and community level to promote health and well-being.
Montana State breaks ground on Great Falls nursing building
Blue and gold shovels dug into soil here Tuesday afternoon during the groundbreaking for a new Montana State University nursing building, a ceremony which marked a step toward improving health care for all Montanans.
The new building, made possible by a series of donations and investments by MSU and its partners, will improve facilities for students and faculty while allowing the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing to increase enrollment at its Great Falls campus by 50% to help offset the shortage of health care professionals in the Great Falls area and throughout the state, according to MSU officials.
Construction of the new building, which will be located near the intersection of 29th Street South and 18th Avenue South, is expected to begin in spring 2024 and be completed by the start of the 2026 fall semester. Benefis Health System donated 2 acres of land for the approximately 22,000-square foot, two-story building. (story By Greg Cappis, MSU News Service)