Thelma Sword, Ed.D., MSN, RN
Associate Professor of Nursing
Office Phone: 816-833-0524 ext. 4207
Email: tsword@graceland.edu
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 11:00 - 4:00pm p.m.
Education
- 2007 Ed D. University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
- 1996 MSN Drake University, Des Moines, IA
- 1991 BSN Graceland University, Lamoni, IA
- 1969 Diploma, Independence Sanitarium and Hospital, Independence, MO
Professional Experience
- 2008 - present Associate Professor of Nursing. Graceland University. Independence, MO
- 2002 - 2008 Assistant Professor of Nursing, Graceland University. Independence, MO
- 2002 - 2008 Online Nursing, University of Phoenix. Overland Park, KS
- 2002 - 2008 Private Consulting, Home Health & Hospice, Des Moines, and Leon, IA, and KC, MO
- 2000 - 2002 Presenter/Education Consultant, Cahaba GBA, Des Moines, IA
- 1996 - 2000 Director Home Health & Hospice, Liberty Hospital, Liberty, MO
- 1992 - 1995 Surveyor & Bureau Chief Missouri Dept. of Health, Jefferson City, MO
- 1989 - 1992 Health Department Administrator, Harrison County, MO
- 1985 - 1989 Home Health/Hospice Manager, Independence Regional Health, Independence, MO
- 1984 - 1985 Hospice Nurse, Kansas City Hospice, Kansas City, MO
- 1983 - 1984 Patient Care Coordinator, Community Hospice Care, St Louis, MO
- 1979 - 1983 Staff Nurse, VNA of Los Angeles, CA and St. Louis, MO
- 1969 - 1982 Other various nursing positions
Relevant Activities
- Online Teaching and Learning Coordinator working directly with School Nursing Faculty Associates (2008- present)
- Graceland University SON Technology/Educational Resources Committee (2008 to present)
- Member University Faculty Advisory Council committee (2008 to present)
- Member of Graceland Nursing Nurse Educator Task Force (2006-present)
- Task Force Member to implement eCollege new format.(2008- 2009)
- Volunteer Faculty reviewer for student scholarly project (August 6, 2008)
- Chairman Graceland University SON Technology/Educational Resources Committee (2007- 2008)
- Community Service: Volunteer Community Service League. Independence, MO; Extreme Make-over Independence Public Schools (July 26, 2008)
- Member Graceland University SON Curriculum Committee (2007-2008)
- Member Graceland University Distance UAPC (2002-2008)
- Member Graceland University Peace Committee (2003-2008)
- Member Graceland University Independence Campus Online Standards Task Force (2007-2008)
- Member Graceland Nursing Task Force for CCNE accreditation (2007-2009)
- Member Graceland University Nursing Curriculum Committee (2003-2005)
- Extensive revisions of community health, leadership, and senior practicum courses to move to online formats (2005-2007)
- Developed Nursing Leadership Challenge Exam (2004)
- Member of Task Force to Review Standardized Instruments for student evaluations of faculty (2003-2004)
- Member of Graceland Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award Committee (2003)
- Coordinated statewide activity for the development of the Missouri State Hospice Licensure laws and regulation. Drafted final document 1995, legislated into Missouri state law
National Presentations
- Regulator's and Intermediaries Panel (May, 2002) - Home Care Association of Colorado, Denver, CO
- Strategies for Smooth Sailing (April, 2002) Home Health Association of Utah, St. George, UT
- Other fiscal intermediary Medicare education workshop presentations in 15 states (2000-2002)
Local Presentations
- Qualitative Research. (March, 2009) Guest lecturer Graceland University Independence Campus Research Class
- Sword, T. (October, 2008). Transitioning to online teaching: Nursing faculty experiences and strategies for improvement. Poster presentation at 35th Annual National Conference on Professional Nursing Education and Development - InterContinental Hotel, Kansas City, MO.
- End of Life Concerns.( Oct. 2007 & Oct. 2008)Guest lecturer Graceland University Independence Campus Community Health Class.
- Blue Christmas:(Dec.2007)Coping with the Holidays. Leon, Iowa, Decatur County Ministerial Alliance guest speaker
- Acknowledging Transitions: (Nov.2005)From Curative Settings to Palliative Settings. Midwest Regional Conference on End of Life Care. Missouri Hospice and Palliative Care Conference, Kansas City, MO.
- Hospice Care Planning:(Nov.2005)An Interdisciplinary Road. Midwest Regional Conference on End of Life Care. Missouri Hospice and Palliative Care Conference, Kansas City, MO
- Is it Time? To Referring Patient/Clients to Hospice.(May, 2005)Missouri Alliance for Home Care Teleconference Presentation
- Honoring Hospice Volunteers. (Nov. 2001)Liberty Hospital Volunteer Recognition Banquet, Liberty, MO.
- The Art and Science of Hospice Care Planning. MO Hospice Organization, St. Louis, MO, (July 30, 1998); Kansas City, MO, (July 31, 1998) and Tennessee Hospice Organization, Nashville, TN, (April 7, 1999)
- Spiritual Caregiving by Hospice Workers,(Oct.1998) Missouri Hospice Organization, Tan Tara, MO,
Publications
- Sword, T. S. (2008, February). Abstract: Phenomenological exploration: Nursing faculty experiences transitioning from traditional classroom to online teaching format. University of Phoenix Online Dissertation Abstract Journal, School of Advanced Studies.
- Sword, T. S. (2008). Phenomenological exploration: Nursing faculty experiences transitioning from traditional classroom to online teaching format. ProQuest Digital Dissertations database.
- Cahill, R., & Sword, T. (2008). Family formation. In S. Orshan, Maternity, Newborn & Women’s Health Nursing. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Lovelady, B., & Sword, T. (2004, October/December). Hospice care planning: An interdisciplinary roadmap. Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, 6(4), 223-230.
- Coding Clues for Home Health Agencies. Medicare A Newsline, Des Moines, IA: series of articles over four months, September 2001-December 2001.
Licensure
- Registered Professional Nurse - State of Iowa
- Registered Professional Nurse - State of Missouri
Professional Organizations
- Community of Christ Health Ministries Association
- Missouri Hospice and Palliative Care Association -
Previous Board member, Treasurer and Secretary - Sigma Theta Tau-Pi Eta Chapter - Board Member
2008-2009 and Chapter VP - Sigma Theta Tau-Pi Eta Chapter - Board Member
2000-2001 and Chapter Secretary
Awards
Continuing Education
Thelma Sword, Ed.D., MSN, RN
