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S I T Y
S T U D E N T N U R S E S ’ A S S O C I A T I O N
The Scope is a newsletter/magazine produced by the Duquesne University Student Nurses Association that
displays unique perspectives from current students and faculty. You’ll find photographs of students collabo-
rating, writing pieces on life-changing nursing experiences, and messages from faculty aiming to inspire.
The Scope is the proud recipient of the 2013, 2014, and 2016 Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania
Excellent Newsletter Award. Past president Morgan Gruender and Vice President Emily Churchill have cre-
ated such an established piece of work.
As BSN students are incredibly busy with work and with saving lives, please consider writing and giving
your time to keep this newsletter going. Our goal is to make The Scope something that every Duquesne nurs-
ing student can look back on and be proud of.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this year’s newsletter. Please email all suggestions/comments/
inquiries to us at either [email protected] or [email protected]. All letters to the editors must include your
name, contact information, and major.
All views expressed in The Scope are from each individual that contributed their time and work. Views do
not represent the views of Duquesne University or Duquesne University School of Nursing. We look for-
ward to producing something inspiring, collaborative, and memorable and sharing stories from all of our
peers.
Best,
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Table of Contents
Welcome to Duquesne 4
Senior and DUSNA President Deanna Webb introduces new students to Duquesne.
Emerging as a Nurse 5
Junior and DUSNA Vice president Lauren Bliss describes her experiences adjusting to college and emerging into the profession of nursing.
Junior and DUSNA Publicity Chair Hadley Mueller showcases her on-campus involvement
Junior and DUSNA Secretary Julia Ciotti shares about her research experiences through the Nurse Honors Program
DUSNA Legislative Chair Ysabelle Katigbak shares her experiences with nursing conventions
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Welcome to Duquesne!
Deanna Webb, DUSNA President, Senior
Welcome to Preview Day! We are so glad that you chose to come to Duquesne to see what the School
of Nursing and the University itself has to offer. There are numerous student and faculty volunteers here that
are all so excited to talk with you about Duquesne Nursing and answer any of your questions!
My name is Deanna Webb and I am a senior nursing student. I am currently serving my third year on
the board of directors for the Duquesne University Student Nurses Association (DUSNA). I began serving as
the Legislative Coordinator. Now, I am three quarters through my term as President. It has been so rewarding
Being from the greater Pittsburgh area, I am highly familiar with the colleges and universities in the
area. In high school, there were times that the activities I was involved in would bring me to Duquesne’s cam-
pus. I fell in love with the atmosphere. Where else would one find such a friendly, park-like campus in the
middle of a bustling city with such diverse neighborhoods? Although I could have travelled far, I truly could
The School of Nursing and the University have so many wonderful organizations and opportunities to
get involved in. You can definitely find something that you’re familiar with or something new that you want to
try! The entire Duquesne community truly feels like a family; whether you are from this area, over a thousand
As you tour our School of Nursing and University today, I invite you to ask as many questions as you
can, and to really think about what it means to be a Duquesne nurse. Thank you for spending the day with us
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Emerging as a Nurse
Lauren Bliss, DUSNA Vice President and Editor of The Scope, Junior
In high school I spent a summer volunteering at a women’s hospital. There I cut the umbilical cord of a new-
born; I also held a 27 week-old stillborn. I experienced joy . . . and sorrow. I saw expectant parents experience the ela-
tion of bringing a life into this world, and I saw an abused mother express relief that her child had died, demanding that
I take “it” away. Ghandi once described humanity as an ocean, stating that “if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the
ocean does not become dirty.” I learned that the best of humanity overshadows the worst, and those experiencing both
are deserving of benevolence. Of grace. It was then that I knew I wanted to be a nurse.
After many sleepless nights I decided to ask Professor Karakachian for help. I
came prepared with a list of questions that she answered patiently, and I left with a dif-
ferent perspective. I needed to understand the concepts, not just memorize lists. She
also built up my confidence, saying these tests “do not define what kind of nurse you are
going to be.” Then I improved, incrementally—I scored an 81%.
Nursing school is NOT easy. At Duquesne it is hard. It has to be. It has to challenge students because when
they are working nurses, the stakes are high. Just because I want to be a nurse is not enough; I need to be an expert.
And I need to be apply to apply that expert knowledge quickly. Duquesne cannot make the program easy for us be-
cause we will not be good nurses if they did.
Marie Curie once said, “You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end
each of us must work for his own improvement and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity, our
particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.” She speaks to our role to benefit all of
humanity by first improving ourselves. Nurses contribute to others in meaningful ways. The humanity of the profes-
sion is the essence of the profession, and Duquesne will enable you to contribute in such a way.
A quote by Mahatma Gandhi. (2020). Retrieved February 14, 2020, from https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/37654-you-must-not-lose-faith-in-humanity-humanity-is-like
Marie Curie Quotes. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2020, from https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/marie_curie_753027
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Lessons in Loss: A Call to Caring
Lindsay Denny, Senior
Several weeks after receiving my acceptance letter to the Duquesne University School of Nursing
(DUSON), my father was placed on hospice care after a nine-year battle with cancer. I watched for months as the
Melanoma, which had metastasized to his brain, robbed him of strength until he passed away on June 22, 2017.
Exactly sixty days later, with the sting of his loss still sharp, I made my way to “The Bluff”, and into the front
row seats of my first nursing school lectures.
“I will endeavor to maintain and elevate the standard of nursing, both as a science, and as an art.”
Perhaps you recognize these words or uttered them during the School of Nursing White Coat Ceremony.
They are part of the greater Pledge of Professionalism, written by nursing’s most notable early figure, Florence
Nightingale. Like my peers would tell you, success in nursing school demands unwavering dedication. We hone
our skills in the Libermann Simulation Lab and spend hours hunched over textbooks in Gumberg Library.
However, it is in clinical rotations where we find ourselves simultaneously emboldened by our mastery of
nursing science and humbled by it as an artform.
I was surprised by the depth with which I felt the passing of my first patient, which came during my fifth
rotation. I was told during the bedside handoff report that my patient was actively dying and expected to pass by
the end of the shift. Drawing upon the compassionate examples set by my father’s hospice nurses, I provided
support to the family as they kept vigil until her passing. After completing post mortem care, my preceptor and I
cried briefly in a supply closet, steeling ourselves for the remainder of the shift and the patients who were still in
our charge. It was in that private moment I realized that in order to heal from my own loss, I had to walk another
family through theirs.
The road which led me to nursing was an undeniably winding one. I am grateful to the professors and
advisors, who have counseled me through grief, supported me through injury recovery (torn ACL & meniscus in
2018), and bolstered my self-confidence after a failed class. Let the latter be a reminder that the growth which
follows setbacks can be more valuable than immediate success.
While I will leave Duquesne assured of my clinical knowledge and technical skills, I believe there have
been far more important lessons gleaned in the last three years. I’ve learned that it’s alright to make mistakes. It’s
good to ask for help. And it’s okay to feel. As nurses, we are uniquely poised to heal and help others through
life’s most beautiful and distressing moments. It is a noble calling which did not come to me immediately, but
one which I now feel prepared and eager to answer.
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Get Involved: Enriching Your College Experience
Hadley Mueller, Editor of The Scope, DUSNA Publicity Chair, Junior
Getting involved in nursing organizations on campus was one of the best decisions that I have made
so far in my college career. During my freshman year, I didn’t join any nursing organizations in the fall, but
in the spring, I had the opportunity to join Alpha Tau Delta (ATD). Joining ATD was such a fun experience!
I enjoyed getting to have an initiation ceremony and getting my letters. ATD is a good way to get involved in
professional Greek life without all of the time commitments that come with social sororities and fraternities,
because let’s face it... nursing students have to spend a lot of time studying. In ATD, I got a big sister, Na-
talie. She has become the best friend and mentor that I could have ever wished for. Natalie and other mem-
bers of ATD have helped me to navigate nursing school over the past year. They are the reason I am enjoy-
ing nursing school so much.
I loved being a part of ATD so much that I decided to run for a board
position in the fall semester of my sophomore year. I served as the secretary
for a full calendar year. When I came to college, I never saw myself running
for a board position in any organization, but I am so glad that I stepped out of
my comfort zone. ATD also offers so many fun social events, study breaks,
and service opportunities. There is also a semi-formal dance in the spring.
It’s so nice to have an excuse to put away my scrubs and dress up for a
dance!
One of my friends, Lauren Bliss, asked me if I would join the organization and work on this magazine. I
jumped at the chance to be involved in a creative project and it was a wonderful choice. Lauren and I work
together to make a new edition of The Scope almost every month. We get to work with the faculty and staff
in the nursing department as well as other nursing students to create a well-rounded magazine. Lauren and I
love including different perspectives and content in The Scope. Being a co-editor of The Scope, I attend
DUSNA board meetings and get to network with some of the Duquesne nursing alumni.
Sometimes opportunities just appear right in front of you, don’t hesitate to take advantage of them!
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The Nursing Honors Program
Julia Ciotti, DUSNA Secretary, Junior
\
Duquesne University’s School of Nursing offers a very exciting academic opportunity for their attendees.
Junior level students who have earned a minimum of a 3.7 GPA in nursing courses and a cumulative GPA of
at least 3.3 are invited to apply to this program. It is geared towards ambitious individuals who will collabo-
rate with a faculty mentor to develop a project in an area of interest significant to the professional goals.
Through this partnership, students are able to gain hands-on experience with the process of nursing research
and the implementation of evidence-based practice in the clinical setting. In addition, participants will stand
out from their graduating class when their transcript indicates “Nursing Honors”.
Upon receiving this program’s application, students are asked to submit a brief essay regarding their nurs-
ing interests and what they aspire to gain from this experience. Based on their submissions, individuals are
paired with a faculty mentor who possesses corresponding values and passions. Through these unique part-
nerships, students are given the opportunity to assist in conducting and analyzing prestigious research pro-
jects that directly affect clinical nursing practice today. Over three semesters; spring of junior year and both
fall and spring of senior year; mentees work alongside their assigned faculty to analyze the current literature,
hypothesize possible interventions, conduct research studies, interpret
the data, and implement clinical improvements.
I was privileged to join the Nursing Honors Program this spring and
was paired with an incredible mentor, Dr. Baumgartel. Her expertise
in genetic research in regards to maternal breast milk parallels my pas-
sions for obstetric and neonatal health. I believe that this experience
will deepen my knowledge of nursing research and play an integral
role in my success as a future nurse.
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Meet the Advisors!
Dr. DeLuca, Dr. Snyder, Karen Bova, Alena Harteis, and Emily Lottes
Dr. Kate DeLuca EdB, MBA, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in the School
of Nursing
My name is Dr. Kate DeLuca and I am the Associate Dean of Student Affairs in the
School of Nursing. One of my goals is to help students transition to college, but more
specifically, to help them transition into the School of Nursing. I have always be-
lieved that the best things about Duquesne are the people and the relationships that
students, faculty and staff build. I work to build and strengthen relationships with stu-
dents, faculty, and staff in the School of Nursing and around campus to better serve
our students through programming, support services, and scholarship management. I
encourage all students to reach out and connect with our office, or stop by for candy!
Dr. Torrie Snyder PhD, RN, Clinical Assistant Professor and Chair of Under-
graduate Program
My name is Dr. Torrie Snyder and I am the Undergraduate Programs Chair. I have
been an adult medical-surgical nurse for 20 years and an educator for 10 years. My
goal as the Undergraduate Program Chair is to monitor courses in the program for
quality and consistency. I also ensure that our curriculum aligns with the Duquesne
School of Nursing mission and vision, as well as those of our accrediting bodies. I
also address students’ academic concerns and provide them with academic resources
and support. I am always happy to speak with nursing students, so please feel free to
stop by my office at any time!
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Nursing Organizations on Campus
DUSNA
Looking for a professional organization with lots of leadership opportunities? DUSNA is the place to be.! With eve-
rything from politics to creative writing, DUSNA is the organization that creates the nursing-themed apparel (which
is not available in the bookstore) and travels to conventions in exciting places like Phoenix, Arizona and even Dis-
neyworld. DUSNA is a great way to get involved in the profession of
nursing and make career connections! It’s also fun! Social activities
such as holiday parties and classes at the gym make DUSNA a very well
-rounded organization. There are also plenty of service activities such as
Relay for Life and St. Vincent de Paul. DUSNA is the perfect way to
navigate the School of Nursing during your freshman year and in the
years beyond.
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Nursing Organizations on Campus
Student Representation
Students also have the opportunity to represent their class as Class Representatives and as Student Ambassadors plan-
ning projects and fundraising within the School of Nursing. The School of Nursing also have several Student Govern-
ment Association positions where students can represent the School of Nursing to the whole university. These are just
a few ways that students can get involved and be successful while developing professionally!
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Why Do We Love Clinical?
During this clinical, it is likely that you will give your first medi- This class and clinical involve the
cation pass and learn the basics of taking vitals, giving bed care of women and reproductive
baths, and charting. Other things you might get experience in health. During this clinical, you will
are injections and inserting catheters. be able to have the opportunity to
see a birth in the labor and deliv-
Adult Health and Illness Pediatrics ery unit and take care of the mom
(Sophomore): (Junior): and baby in the post-partum unit.
Clinical sites include McGee
Both the class and clinical primarily You will learn about Women’s Hospital and West Penn
involve medical-surgical nursing. It is various health prob- Hospital.
a vital area of nursing to have experi- lems and their treat-
ence in and you will learn a vast ments specifically Community Health (Junior):
number of skills. Some clinical sites geared towards chil-
This clinical focuses on the health
are UPMC Mercy, UPMC Shadyside, dren. This clinical will
of the community. You will find
Allegheny, and UPMC Passavant. draw on a lot of
yourself at various clinical sites
Growth and Develop-
throughout Pittsburgh such as
ment processes. A
Gerontological Nursing Prac- PAAR in Southside, soup kitch-
common clinical site
tice (Junior): ens, nursing homes, wastewater
is The Children’s
treatment plants, and outpatient
Hospital.
Your spring semester will bring you clinics.
back to Medical-Surgical nursing and
caring for the older adult. You will be
Behavioral Health
Critically Ill Adult (Senior):
introduced to illnesses and health (Junior):
problems specific to the older adult In this class and clinical, you will
During this class and
population and gain experience car- learn about caring for patients who
clinical component,
ing for chest tubes, trach tubes, giv- are seriously ill in acute settings.
you will learn about
ing oxygen and suctioning. Some During this clinical, you will learn
the various psychiat-
clinical sites are UPMC Mercy, about ventilators and how to re-
ric illnesses and how
UPMC East, and Allegheny General spond to a code, among many oth-
to promote mental
Hospital. er acute-care needs. You will most
health in patients. A
likely be placed in an intensive care
common clinical site
unit (ICU) or a step-down unit.
is Western Psychiat-
ric Institute and Clinic
and the VA Medical
Center.
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DUSNA’s Presence in State and National Conventions
Ysabelle Katigbak, DUSNA Legislative Chair, Sophomore
The Duquesne University Student Nurses Association (DUSNA) has been attending the annual Student Nurses Associa-
tion of Pennsylvania (SNAP) and the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) conventions for many years. These conventions
bring student nurses and leaders across the state and nation together to network, and enhance their academic and clinical skills be-
yond the classroom. General seminars, workshops, poster presentations, and exhibition halls are available for students to engage in
and make lifelong friends from all over the state and country.
Seminars and workshops promote professional development. They can aid a student in deciding what path in nursing that
they want to take. For example, one can learn about the role of a military flight nurse, a nurse’s role as a coroner, or a nurse’s role
in emergency and disaster preparedness. Sometimes, there are duplicate sessions at different times. If more than one session piques
your interest, you would be able to attend both! Students who are able to participate are encouraged to share what they learned dur-
In the exhibit hall, numerous recruiters from potential employers and graduate schools, as well as NCLEX study prepa-
ration companies, are available to speak with attendees. This is a good time to start asking questions and putting yourself out there
to form connections with potential employers. In addition to valuable information about opportunities, they usually have some
goodies to take home too! There is also a space for poster presentations, in which students are able to showcase and present their
Our participation as attendees goes beyond networking and socializing. Duquesne University has a high presence in the
House of Delegates, which meets each day of the convention. At the beginning of the convention, the House reviews the Board of
Directors actions as well as the financial report from the previous year. Each school’s legislative coordinator and legislative com-
mittee present a resolution that they feel strongly affects the nursing profession and the care of its patients. DUSNA’s resolution
this year focuses on the care of military families with members suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Since being
an advocate is a huge part of being a nurse, it is good to be educated on improvements that we can make in patient care. The House
votes to reject or adopt the resolutions into SNAP or NSNA policy. Our votes go a long way as it impacts our profession and our
nursing curricula for future generations to come. The House also votes for the upcoming board of directors; delegates must attend
sessions to meet the candidates and listen to prepared speeches. Voting for who will represent the entire membership is a big re-
sponsibility.
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Scrub Top Cookie Recipe
Sara Andrews, DUSNA Treasurer, Junior
In a large bowl or mixer, beat the butter until soft and fluffy, 1-2 min
1 ½ sticks of unsalted butter, softened Add the soften cream cheese and continue to beat for 1 min, until well
incorporated
4oz of cream cheese, softened
Add the sugar and beat until fluffy
1 ½ cups of granulated sugar
Add the egg, vanilla and almond extract. Beat well, scrape the sides and
1 egg bottom of the bowl with a spatula
1tsp. of vanilla Add salt and flour, beat until just barely combined
1 ¾ tsp. of almond extract Scrape the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap, cover and wrap tightly,
place in fridge for at least 3 hours or over night
1 tsp. salt
When the dough is chilled preheat oven to 350 degrees and roll dough out
3 cups of four
Use a shirt shaped cookie cutter and make your cookies
Royal Icing:
Bake the cookies at 350 degrees F for about 9-12 min, watching to see
1 ½ cups of confectioners (powdered)
them turn a slight golden brown
sugar
1 ½ tbs water
Icing instruction:
@sweets_bysara
Combine all ingredients into a mixer and mix until smooth
Add more water for thinner consistency and more sugar for thicker consistency
Decorating Tips:
Use a piping bag with no tip, start off my cutting the tip small and work bigger if necessary!
Outline the cookie and preform a flood method, of pouring thinner consistency icing within the border,.
Give the icing 30 min to start hardening and go back and pipe on top of the original icing to create layers!
Trace the outline of the shirt and go back in with small details like pockets and neckline.
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Coffee Shop Tour of PGH
Olivia Sayers & Katrina Taliani, Freshmen
After a long week stuck in Gumberg Library, glued to your computer studying, the most needed medicine is coffee. You
could just walk to Starbucks and spend $5 in flex, or you could get a change of scenery and check out a local Pittsburgh coffee
shop. We went into the heart of downtown Pittsburgh and to the Strip District in search of the perfect cup of coffee with the best
study environment.
Redhawk Coffee
536 Smithfield St
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Coffee Shop Tour– Continued
Nicholas Coffee
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Interested in writing for The Scope?
FOLLOW US ON
DUSNA BOARD OF
Instagram DIRECTORS (2019-2020)
• President– Deanna Webb
• Vice President– Lauren Bliss
• Secretary– Julia Ciotti
• Treasurer– Sara Andrews
• Social– Amanda Rosgony & Maria Kerstetter
• Service– Katie Anne Kocsis
: • Fundraising– Ally Dongarra and Nina Sarcone
• Legislative Coordinator:- Ysabelle Katigbak
• Recruitment– Alli Sherbondy
• Publicity– Hadley Mueller
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Living on Campus: An Inside Look
Brianna Gavin, BSN Class of 2019
St. Ann’s is one of the freshman living learning centers and it is a very fun first dorm! You enter the building on the sec-
ond floor; here there is a nice lounge with couches and tables and as well as one or
two vending machines and a bathroom. After you swipe your I.D. at the desk, the
doors are unlocked for you; the left side is girls side and the right side is the boys
side. There are 6 floors total. This dorm has free laundry machines (just like every
other dorm) and study rooms! Each floor has a large common room that is a great
place to hang with friends and study together. The bathrooms are located in the
center of the hallway and on either side there are 3 bathroom stalls and three sinks.
Along the back there are 6 private showers, each with their own drain and cur-
tained area where you can dry off and get changed. St. Ann’s is a really calm dorm and it makes for a great first home
St. Martin’s
St. Martin’s is one of the freshman living learning centers and it has a lot of exciting perks. As you enter the building on
the ground floor there is a printing room located to your left. You swipe your card and then use the elevators or take the
stairs if you need to get those steps in. There are three elevators and a total of 14 floors, however the 14 th floor does not
have elevator access so you get off at 13 and walk the last flight. Located on the 1st
floor is a common lounge with some couches, a TV, a pool table, some vending ma-
chines, and a small gym. All of your friends in other dorms will become jealous in the
winter when you only have to take an elevator to the gym while they have to walk
through the blizzard to get to the Power Center! Usually the floors are separated by
gender. On each floor is a nice lounge with a TV and couches, a laundry room on each
floor with one washer and dryer, and a nice study room in the back. The building is the
square one with all the dorm rooms on the outside and the bathrooms in the center. The bathroom has lockers on both
sides, 8 bathroom stalls, 6 sinks and 6 large showers in the back. St. Martin’s is a really fun dorm and you will have fun
Assumption Hall
Assumption Hall is set up in an L shape. Each side of the dorm has its own RA and
there are elevators located in the center. On the ground floor there is a laundry room
for the whole building. Assumption is the honors college and generally there are main-
ly freshman living here with the occasional upper classmen. Guys and girls are located
on alternating floors. There are lounges on each floor where you can hang out with
your friends. A great perk of living here is that each room is actually bigger than the
Towers
Towers is the biggest of the living learning centers. It is also where Hogan Dining Cen-
ter and The Campus Market are located. This is a great perk when it is cold outside and
you do not have to leave the dorm for food. In addition to just food, in Towers there is
also the mail center, the swimming pool, and a computer lab for printing. There are 3
wings total in towers A, B, C. On each wing there are multiple bathrooms and a small
kitchen that has a sink, some cabinets, a table and a refrigerator. Each wing has a small
lounge with tables and chairs where you are able to do homework, study and hang with
friends. Washer and dryer units are also located on each wing. In addition to these units, there is also a room on the 17th
floor that has about 6 washer and dryer units. Towers is a great living learning center that has everything you could need
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Pictured: The Scope Editors, Lauren Bliss and Hadley Mueller