Vicki Hensley, PhD, APRN-CPNP, and Morgan Chojnacki, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, are proud of their roles as nurse leaders in the field and in the classroom. 

“The nursing profession is changing, and more and more nurses recognize that they need to be part of the decision-making process, for themselves, their teams, and their patients,” says Dr. Chojnacki.

"Nurses are more empowered in the workplace, and a big part of this is because of their education, which makes them more confident. I push my students in the classroom because I want them to be confident; I want them to lead.”
 

Ben Hughes, BSN, RN, is one of a handful of UK HealthCare professionals who manages a full-time job and family responsibilities while also pursuing his DNP Executive Leadership degree at the UK College of Nursing.

He has been able to excel at his job and schoolwork in a year when the COVID-19 pandemic put extreme pressure on those in the medical field—and especially those in care environments with a high volume of coronavirus patients.

Earlier this month, in honor of Veterans Day, the College recognized a student who’s not only served in the Air Force, but whose goal after graduation is to aid fighters and veterans. Originally from Las Vegas, NV, Kyle Herzberg served for eight years in the Air Force as a Russian cryptological language analyst and is currently in the College’s Accelerated BSN program.

“I decided to go into nursing because I want to help our war fighters, veterans, and people of faraway lands when they are most vulnerable and hurt,” says Kyle. “I also want to serve as a commissioned officer to help guide and direct the future of our Air Force. Nothing would be a greater honor than doing it as a Nursing Corps Medical Officer.”

Congratulations to the University of Kentucky College of Nursing’s Lovoria Williams PhD, FNP-C, FAANP, FAAN for receiving the 2021 Fred and Marcielle de Beer Award for her impactful research to improve diabetes outcomes in underserved populations. 

The award is presented annually by the UK Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center to recognize faculty for excellence in research, education, clinical care or leadership activities related to diabetes.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, the American Cancer Society names the third Thursday of the month as The Great American Smokeout – a day to encourage people who smoke across the country take the first step toward a healthier life.

According to the American Lung Association (ALA), Kentucky has the highest incidence rate of lung cancer in the country. As the University for Kentucky, we take tobacco prevention seriously.

We asked Dr. Melinda Ickes, a tobacco prevention research expert, about the prevalence of tobacco use, the importance of the Great American Smokeout and how to help individuals quit using tobacco.