Healing Hands

St. Luke’s Commemorative School of Nursing at Moravian, which the College runs with St. Luke’s Hospital, is just three years old, but already it’s getting worldwide, as well as statewide, attention.

Susan Scholtz, associate professor, was recognized for excellence in teaching by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association in September. She also was one of three finalists for the group’s Nightingale Award and was honored at a banquet in Hershey in October.

Three faculty members of the St. Luke’s program presented informational displays at the PSNA convention in Harrisburg in September: Pamela Adamshick, “Community-Based Practice in Support of Teens: The RICHES Program at Liberty High School”; Janet A. Sipple, chair of the program, “Nursing Practice in Advanced Foot Care for the Elderly”; and Michele August-Brady, “Global Nursing Education: An Opportunity in Croatia.”

August-Brady spent a week in May in Croatia, where she was invited to address an annual health congress. She spoke about nursing education in the United States, then went to a children’s hospital and a rehabilitation center to learn more about the Croatian health-care system. Despite the obvious differences between our country and this small Balkan nation still suffering the aftereffects of war, “I found we have many common issues,” August-Brady said. The greatest: lack of human resources. In Croatia, the government controls the number of professionals in the field and fixes their salaries. In the U.S., market forces accomplish much the same thing.

Finally, the School of Nursing has four students this semester from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. Their coursework includes an intensive clinical practicum at St. Luke’s Hospital. In exchange, four Moravian nursing students will travel to the Australian university in May.

Susan Scholtz at the PSNA awards banquet.