C. Horton Vita

• 2006 Ph.D. University of Missouri at Kansas City
  Dissertation: Predictors of Academic Success for Undergraduate Nursing Students and Graduates
• 1992 M.S.N. University of Missouri at Kansas City
  Thesis: Correlation of Nurse Retention Strategies and Turnover in Acute Care General Hospitals.
• 1986 B.S.N. Graceland College. Magna cum laude. Lamoni, IA
• 1981 A.D.N. Metropolitan Community Colleges. Kansas City, MO

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• 2008 - Present - Graceland University, Lamoni, IA/Independence, MO
  Dean, School of Nursing, Associate Dean, MSN Program
• 1994 - 2007 Graceland University, Lamoni, IA/Independence, MO
  Associate Dean, BSN-RN Program
  Associate Professor of Nursing (Tenured 2000)
  Assistant Director of Health Promotion Center (1994-1999)
  Chair Undergraduate Admissions and Progression Committee
  Chair BSN-RN Faculty Committee
  Academic Council Member
  School of Nursing Coordinating Council
  Independence Campus Council
  Teach Theory and Practice Courses: Senior Seminar, Nursing for the 21st Century, Senior Clinical Practicum.
  Major Contributions
  Developed Pi Eta Chapter Nursing Honor Society.
  Developed health Promotion Center as a curriculum concept.
  Co-authored and recieved two grants from The Independence Community Foundation.
• 1992-1994: Rockhurst/Research College of Nursing, Kansas City, Missouri
  Instructor. Theory and Practice Courses:
  Medical-Surgical Nursing, Fundamental Skills.
  Guest lecturer: Leadership, Pharmacology.
  Skills Lab Coordinator Learning Resource Center.
• 1992-1995: Staff Nurse, Research Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri
  Staff nurse (on call) Critical Care
• 1989-1992: Nurse Recruiter, Research Medical Center/Research Belton Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri. Chaired, Nurse Recruitment and Retention Committee.
• 1987-1989: Education Coordinator, Critical Care Nursing Services, Research Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri
  Oriented and inserviced staff nurses on 70-bed Intermediate Critical Care Units and on 32-bed Intensive Care Unit. Coordinated and instructed Critical Care Internship and Preceptor Program, and the Advanced Critical Care Education Program. Coordinated ACLS Programs and four- and eight- hour seminars on clinical and professional topics.
• 1986-1987: Staff Nurse, Research Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri
  Critical Care.
• 1981-1986: Staff Nurse, Independence Regional Health Center, Independence, Missouri
  Critical Care.
• 1980-1981: Licensed Practical Nurse, Lee's Summit Hospital, Lee's Summit, Missouri
  Worked "On Call" Critical Care.
• 1975-1980: Licensed Practical Nurse, Research Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri
  Medical Care Unit.

ADVANCED CLINICAL PREPARATION

• 1974-present Basic Cardiac Life Support Provider.
  
• 1982-1995 Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider.
  
• 1987-1993 CCRN, American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
  
• 1987-1991 Advanced Cardiac Life Support Instructor.

AWARDS

• Research Medical Center
  
  • Outstanding Employee of the Month, October 1990
    
  • Outstanding Employee of the Year, 1991
• Research College of Nursing
  • 1994 Outstanding Teacher, Accelerated Option Program.

HONOR SOCIETIES

• 2003-present Treasurer, Pi Eta Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nurses
• 1987-2006 Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing; member Beta Lambda Chapter.
  
• 2000-2003 Faculty Counselor: Pi Eta Chapter, STTI
  
• 1996-2000 Faculty Counselor; Graceland College Nursing Honor Society. Chair, Eligibility Committee
  
• 1995-1996 Chairperson, Steering Committee to establish an Honor Society/STTI chapter at Graceland College.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• 1986-present American Nurses Association member
• 1986-present Missouri Nurses Association member
• 1989-1990 Board of Directors MONA District II
• 1986-1995 American Association of Critical Care Nurses, local and national member.
• 1993-1994 Public Relations Committee, Chairperson (local).
• 1990-1991 Program committee member (local).
• 1988-1989 Membership Committee, Chairperson (local).
• 1992-1994 National Student Nurses Association, sustaining member and faculty advisor.
• 1987-1991Affiliate Faculty American Heart Association.
• 1989-1991 National Association of Health Care Recruiters member.
• 1990-1991 Second Vice President, Kansas City chapter.

• 2001- present Collegiate Nurse Educators of KC metropolitan area.
• 1995- 1999 Project G.R.O.W.T.H. Girls Reaching Out With Their Hopes Kansas City, MO
  

Presentations:

• 1992 Panel Member
  Career Crossroads Conference Kansas City Area Hospital Association
  “Nurse Retention Strategies in Missouri” Kansas City Chapter, Health Care Recruiters
• 1993 Keynote Speaker “Empowerment in Nursing” Induction Ceremony: Beta Lamda Chapter, STT Kansas City, MO.
  “Interviewing and Resume Writing Skills” Kansas Association of Student Nurses Topeka, KS.
  “Empowerment in Nursing” Research Medical Center
• 1994 “Empowerment in Nursing” Lee’s Summit Hospital
• 1995 “Experiential Learning in Jamaica”
  Participated in program in Jamaica to facilitate the organization of a community health clinic by a group of Jamaican women who, as a result, became Community Health Workers. Currently collecting data to evaluate the program based on the perspectives of those who participated (student nurses, faculty, and the community health workers) as well as the progress of the clinic.
  With Dr. Susan Hildebrand prepared a poster "Developing Values for Community-based Education: Student Focused Approach” which was presented at the following conferences:
  
  1. Community-Based Primary Care: Strategies for Nursing Intervention, National Conference at Grove Park Inn. Asheville, North Carolina, May 17-19, 1995.
  2. Nurse Educators Conference in the Rockies, Copper Mountain Resort, Colorado, August 10-12, 1995.
  3. Sixth Annual Nursing Research Exchange, sponsored by the University of Kansas School of Nursing, Kansas City, Missouri, October 13, 1995.

• Community Presentations
  
  “Advance Directives”
  Single Adult Fellowship
  Independence, MO.
  
  “The Many Faces of the Holidays (Stress)”
  Sermon Community Center; Senior Citizens and Mental Health Group.
  Independence, MO.

• 2004 Poster Presentation “Voter Registration in the South in the 1960s” ASHE Conference, Kansas City, MO
• 2005 Speaker “Facilitating Learning in the Clinical Environment” Clinical Faculty Academy Collegiate Nurse Educators and Missouri Hospital Association, Kansas City, MO
• 2006 The Complexity of Predicting Academic Success MLN Leadership Conference, Jefferson City, MO

SPECIAL PROJECTS

• 1994-present Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) Chaired the Steering Committee to develop a chartered chapter of STTI on the Graceland campus. Succeeded on rigorous time schedule to achieve charter status in March, 2000. Remain active as Faculty Counselor in the Pi Eta Chapter. Coordinate annual induction ceremony.
• 1996 Poster Presentation “Experiential Teaching and Learning in Jamaica” Second Nursing Academic International Congress, International Council of Nurses, Kansas City, MO
• 1996 Grant (proposal authored by Dr. Susan Hildebrand, Dr. Sharon Kirkpatrick, and C. Horton) received from Independence, Mo. Community Foundation to sponsor and expand current Graceland College program at Mother’s Refuge, a shelter for homeless pregnant adolescents in Independence.
  In the past 18 months Graceland student nurses (GSNs), through the Health Promotion Center, have provided teaching sessions on a variety of topics to the pregnant adolescents residing at Mother’s Refuge. We are in the process of expanding our committment to include two separate programs which will reinforce learning for both the student and the pregnant adolescent.
  Program I: GSNs from the Women’s Health rotation will be working one-on-one with Mother’s Refuge residents (MRR) with the goals of promoting a healthy pregnancy and overall healthy lifestyle for both MRR and baby. This program will eventually be expanded to include participation by the senior students in the Community Health rotation who are practicing home health. We plan to follow some of the clients for one year following the birth of their child via the AfterCare Program at Mother’s Refuge.
  Program II: With the money received through the grant, group programs will be increased in number and include an increase in the use of technological equipment. Senior students in the Community Health rotation will present the relevant topics to the adolescents either at Mother’s Refuge or on the Graceland campus in Independence.
• 2006 Project Leader Preceptor-Mentor Program Sponsored by the Workforce Innovation to Regional Economic Development Initiative. Co-direct workshops to educate registered nurses in the KC metropolitan area to mentor newly hired nurses.