UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 14, Page 11
December 8, 1994
Nursing adviser; Pam Beeman responds to a variety of issues

     Pam Beeman said she went from a faculty member who primarily
teaches to a faculty member who primarily does advising.
     A member of the College of Nursing since 1986, Beeman, an
associate professor who teaches maternal-child health, became
associate dean of student services in 1992.
     "I can't believe how naive I was regarding advising when I was a
faculty member," Beeman said. "I didn't realize how important it was."
      In her current position, Beeman said, she sees a large number of
students, primarily because advising in the College of Nursing is a
little different from that provided in other colleges.
     Since students and faculty spend two days a week in off-campus
clinical programs, faculty are not always available to respond to
other students' needs. These students turn to Beeman, who has earned a
reputation for being accessible and responsive to their needs.
     Beeman, who received one of the University's two excellence-in-
advising awards for 1994, said nursing programs are relatively
straightforward, with little need for advisement on course selection
and substitutions. Therefore, advisement issues more often deal with
personal problems associated with concerns over roommates,
homesickness, time management, a family crisis and even personal
decisions associated with morality, ethics and values.
     For seniors, immediate concerns revolve around getting a job and
making graduate school decisions.
     "Emergencies and crises happen all the time," Beeman said, "and
they often are very real."
     Resolving a student's family-related or personal problem without
jeopardizing his or her academic standing is one of Beeman's important
goals.
      The College of Nursing prides itself on intensive advising,
Beeman said. Significant time also is spent with students from other
disciplines who are considering a transfer into nursing. In addition,
Beeman has counseled registered nurses who seek a baccalaureate
degree, as well as students with previous bachelor's degrees who want
to participate in the accelerated college program that leads to a BSN
degree.
     "An adviser's job is to guide students through the educational
process, and that can be a huge responsibility," Beeman said. "We find
there are a number of students who are misplaced in a major, in a
college or in the University. They really need to talk to someone to
get back on track.
     "I think I see a lot more of students because of the social
climate, the times we live in. Students come in to touch base with
faculty members to get grounded from time to time in what is an
extremely confusing time in their lives."
     Returning adult students, Beeman said, present different needs
that must be addressed. These include support and validation, since
many are concerned that by going back to school they are neglecting
their spouses or children and that their decision will dramatically
change their lifestyle.
     Two recent instances offered new challenges: Beeman's office
received requests from a physician from Lithuania and an engineer from
Moscow who both wanted to be nurses. Working with various campus
departments-ranging from admissions to the dean of students offices,
Beeman was able to determine which courses were transferable and what
each student needed to take to complete their degrees.
     "We were able to do something for the good of the students, the
University and the profession," Beeman said, "and what can be better
than that?"
     Despite the unusual questions, the unable-to-be-anticipated
crises, the constant need for research and coordination with other
administrative and academic units and the days with not enough hours,
Beeman said she enjoys her work.
     "Truly," she said, "the contact with the students is most
satisfying, especially when a student is in need and I am able to
help. What I like best is feeling that I can enlighten someone and
erase their concern. It's nice to be helpful."
                                                         -Ed Okonowicz

This story is one of a series of articles featuring the 1994
recipients of the University's excellence-in-teaching and excellence-
in-advising awards.