A Day in the Life of an Academic Geriatric Nurse

Jean Wyman, PhD, RN

Professor and Cora Meidl Siehl Endowed Chair in Nursing Research
School of Nursing
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Director, University of Minnesota
Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence

President, Midwest Nursing Research Society

“It’s an honor and a privilege to promote nursing science, which ultimately improves care for all patients, including older adults,” says Jean Wyman, PhD, RN, about her role as president of the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS). MNRS is the largest of the four regional nursing societies in the country. “MNRS promotes the careers of nurse scientists,” says Dr. Wyman. The gerontological nursing research section is one of the largest sections within MNRS.

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As president of the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS), Dr. Wyman presides at the 2010 Annual Meeting in Kansas City, MO.

Serving as president of MNRS is just one of Dr. Wyman’s many leadership roles. As Director of the University of Minnesota Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, she guides the Center in its mission to advance the care of older adults by preparing outstanding nursing faculty. “At our center we prepare both doctor of philosophy (PhD) and doctor of nursing practice (DNP) students who are committed to academic careers and teaching geriatric nursing,” says Dr. Wyman.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to promote nursing science, which ultimately improves care for all patients, including older adults.”

Dr. Wyman is particularly proud of a program called Faculty Learning About Geriatrics (FLAG). This week-long summer program and year of mentorship for new and existing faculty enhances expertise in teaching geriatric nursing. “This has become a national model for strengthening the teaching of geriatric nursing,” says Dr. Wyman.

Under Dr. Wyman’s leadership, the Hartford Center has established opportunities to increase the reach of geriatric nursing throughout the region, paying particular attention to the communities served. The Upper Midwest Geriatric Nursing Education Alliance brings regional nursing schools together to discuss how to strengthen aging content in their programs. The Hartford Center is also dedicated to increasing the number of American Indian nurses pursuing clinical and academic careers in geriatric nursing.

A convening of members of the gerontological nursing research section and Rachael Watman of the Hartford Foundation at the 2010 MNRS meeting. At the poster session of the MNRS meeting, Dr. Wyman talks with Claire M. Fagin Post-doctoral Fellow Todd Ruppar, PhD, RN, GCNS-BC, about his research.

Patricia Holkup, PhD, RN ›