9:05 a.m., July 29, 2010----A faculty member and four alumni of the University of Delaware School of Nursing (SON) recently won five of seven Delaware Excellence in Nursing Practice Awards.

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Conferred by the Delaware Nurses Association in partnership with the Delaware Organization of Nurse Executives, the awards recognize those in the nursing field who consistently promote, excel, and bring a positive approach to their area of nursing practice.

Janice Selekman, professor, received the Nurse Educator Award. Recently named the School Nurse Educator of the Year by the National Association of School Nurses, Selekman has authored more than 100 papers and an award-winning textbook, School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text.

She is also credited with contributing to the establishment of a school nurse certificate program in Delaware. Several years ago, she helped to craft a curriculum that focuses on the skills needed to be a school nurse, including screening, counseling, and caring for special-needs students.

The following UD SON alumni were also honored:

• Tina Keane, who received a bachelor's degree in 2002, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children: Acute Care Nursing;
• Loretta Newsom, who received a master's degree in 1996 and was advised by Selekman as a graduate student, Appoquinimink School District: Community-Based Nursing;
• Dyane Bunnell, who received a bachelor's degree in 1982 and a master's in 2002, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children: Advanced Practice Nursing; and
• Penny Seiple, who received a master's degree in 1995, Christiana Care Health System: Nurse Leader/Manager

In addition, Erlinda Wheeler, associate professor, was a finalist for the Nurse Educator Award; Ronald Castaldo, who received a bachelor's degree in 1999, was a finalist for Advanced Practice Nursing; and Kim Ford, who received a bachelor's degree in 2003 and is a current master's degree student, was a finalist for Acute Care Nursing.

“These awards are a testament to the quality of our faculty and alumni,” says Kathy Schell, director of the School of Nursing. “It's especially gratifying to see that our alumni are excelling in so many different areas of clinical practice.”

The awards were conferred by current DNA president Norine Watson at a ceremony held at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover, Del., on July 15.  Watson is also an alumna of UD, having earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing in 1993 and 1997, respectively. She is currently the director of nursing excellence at Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children.

Article by Diane Kukich