Annual Awards

Each spring, UW Tacoma Nursing presents awards to an outstanding scholar, alumni, and community supporter as part of the Master of Nursing Hooding Ceremony. We gratefully recognize the important and unique contributions each recipient has made to our program, the campus, and the community.

Spring Quarter 2009

2009 MN Outstanding Scholar Award: Jillian Edwards

Besides excelling in her thinking and creativity as a Master of Nursing student, Jillian Edwards consistently expressed informed opinions that went far beyond the readings and taken-for-granted asumptions in our courses. Besides applying theory and evidence-based knowledge in her work here, Jill constantly synthesized such knowledge and research in her practice, first as a staff nurse and then as a public health nurse.

As a public health nurse for Pierce County Public Health Department, Jill created a program for Adolescent Health Education on Tobacco. She developed motivating interviews and trained other nurses to present them. Besides handling the usual caseload one would expect of a relatively young BSN graduate, she has applied her knowledge and expertise from the graduate program to work with colleagues across disciplines to propose and develop a number of extremely innovative programs, particularly those aimed at highly vulnerable populations.

Jill is being recruited to teach by one of our community college partners, and she will be starting the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the UW School of Nursing later this month. Throughout all her work, Jill adheres to the highest standards of performance, expertise, commitment, and professional ethics.

2009 Outstanding Alumni Award: Carolynn Morris

Carolynn Morris graduated from the Master of Nursing Program in 2006. Since earning her degree, Carolynn has been promoted to several leadership positions in the Emergency Department at MultiCare Health System, most recently to Trauma Educator and Outreach Coordinator. She organizes all trauma training for MultiCare and chairs their annual trauma conference.

In 2008, Carolynn was selected as the chair of the Pierce County Leadership for Alcohol and Drug-Free Youth, a coalition that works to promote a community environment that strengthens factors minimizing substance abuse. Recently, she led this group in obtaining a $1.2 million grant to prevent and reduce the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among youth in Pierce County. Carolynn is nationally known as a leader in adolescent alcohol abuse prevention and community interventions.

2009 Community Partner Award: Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Environmental Health Program

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD) has been a strong and constant community partner since the UW Tacoma Nursing Program started in 1992. In particular, the department’s Environmental Health Program has provided our students with collaborative learning opportunities on a range of important public health issues.

This year, BSN students in “Health, Communities, and Populations” (T NURS 414 and 415) conducted three projects with Environmental Health Program staff: carbon monoxide prevention, environmental action plans, and lead exposure prevention. Students gained expertise in community assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. Our students learned first-hand the importance of collaboration and partnership, not only with the TPCHD, but with other community agencies with whom they partner.

The ongoing support of Steve Marek, Senior Public Health Manager of the Environmental Health Program, and Frank DiBiase, Prevention Coordinator, has been vital in maintaining the ongoing partnerships that promote and protect the health of our local citizens.

Spring Quarter 2008

2008 MN Outstanding Scholar Award: Theresa Braungardt

As a staff nurse, manager, and learner, Theresa Braungardt has consistently adhered to the ‘beat of her own drummer.’ In doing so, she has taken established high standards of performance, patient care, and professional ethics for herself and the staff with whom she works. In her coursework, Theresa worked at the Department of Health, seeking to understand the state level organization and political and economic forces affecting clinical health systems; she sought to influence policy at a local level as a healthcare provider and to focus care of the uninsured/underinsured population.

Theresa oversaw a unit tripling in the number of patient beds and staff nurses as a nurse manager for a busy neuro intensive care unit. Rather than simply let growth occur, she created a coalition to manage rapid change, focused on communicating vision, and empowered others to act. The results of this change were amazingly successful.

Because of her commitment and ability, Ms. Theresa Braungardt has, in recent weeks, been named the Interim Assistant Administrator for Patient Care Services at Harborview Medical Center. Her 20 years of experience in intensive care nursing and management have joined with her integrity, commitment to high standards of ethical practice, and commitment to caring for patients and their families.

2008 Outstanding Alumni Award: Candace Goerhing

We honor Candace Goerhing as an alumnus who exemplifies the mission and values of the UW Tacoma Nursing Program. Candy completed the communities, populations and health curriculum option and graduated from the Master of Nursing Program in 2002. Since earning her MN degree, Candy’s nursing career exemplifies excellence in leadership and management of community-based healthcare. She is known at the state level for her expertise in regulatory and accreditation issues that relate to the cost and quality of home healthcare, aging, and adult services.

Currently, Candy is a unit manager for Home and Community Programs, a division of Washington State’s Aging and Disability Services Administration. She presents state-level policy to Long Term Care Financing and Chronic Care Management Task Force advisory groups and participates in various state-wide planning groups. Candy is an outstanding example of a UW Tacoma alum who is changing community-based healthcare delivery in Washington State.

2008 Community Partner Award: Providence St. Peter Hospital

We are proud to recognize Providence St. Peter Hospital as a community partner who has formed strong bonds with UW Tacoma Nursing. Providence entered into a collaborative partnership with the Nursing Program in August 2005 to help working, registered nurses earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees. Aware of the importance of BSN education to staff development, the Providence Foundation provided funds to offset costs. Connie Huber, Assistant Administrator Patient Care Services, and Sandra Penland, Director of Nursing Practice, gave their full support, and, along with Dannah Madden, UW Tacoma BSN Adviser, coordinated student advisement and recruitment. Due to this unique partnership, the first group of Providence nurses will collect their baccalaureate degrees this coming Friday. Because of the positive experience of the nurses and the positive outcomes of the partnership, the Providence Foundation is providing funds for another group of PSPH nurses to start their BSN education this fall in Olympia.

Spring Quarter 2007

2007 MN Outstanding Scholar Award: Andrew Nolze

Andrew Nolze is in the process of developing a new area of research: intimate partner violence (IPV) in homosexual men. His ability to identify this research interest indicates the independent thought capability Andrew possesses. His deep understanding about the complicated issues of power, marginalization, and bias inspire him to continue to learn and seek answers addressing current social and health problems.

Andrew has a passionate and positive creative nature evidenced in his daily interactions with people at work and at school. His personality lends itself to mentoring many of his peers in the community, at his professional work place, and within the Master of Nursing program. He is a comfortable natural leader who offers support and accurate assistance to those who are beginning to travel the academic road.

Intelligent, questioning, and energetic, Andrew is an outstanding role model for aspiring nurses and students wishing to pursue higher academic education. Andrew leaves a legacy at UW Tacoma and also the State of Washington as he continues his research and pioneering study in intimate partner violence.

2007 Outstanding Alumni Award: Kathy Bressler

Kathy Bressler has been an integral part of Franciscan Health System since 1990, starting as a nurse manager at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma. Today, Ms. Bressler is Chief Operating Officer for St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood, one of four and soon to be five hospitals in the Franciscan system. As the head administrator, Kathy is responsible for daily operations, as well as strategic planning and development, physician relations and financial performance.

Ms. Bressler received her Master of Nursing degree from UW Tacoma in 2000. Her degree was a blend of two study options: Leadership and Communities, Populations & Health. As a Clinical Faculty member for the University of Washington, she has made substantial contributions to the UW nursing program through her expertise and desire to share her leadership experience to students. She is also a member of the NW Organization of Nurse Executives, the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses and is the recipient of numerous citations for community service.

An athlete, a mother of three and a focused competitor, Kathy has risen through the ranks of her profession as the result of her enthusiasm, incisive thinking and compassionate leadership.

2007 Community Partner Award: Faith Homes

Faith Homes has been serving teen girls and young women since 1959. As the needs of this population have changed over the years, Faith Homes programs have changed. Today the agency provides housing and treatment for abused, homeless, and victimized young women, many of whom are pregnant or parenting. Through a continuum of care that includes group care, foster care, emergency shelter, transitional housing and follow-up services Faith Homes seeks to serve the clients regardless of their specific needs. The therapeutic model, Relational Healing, a recognized promising practice, is the focus that drives the work with clients. It facilitates healing from the pain caused by severe trauma and it is the basis for reestablishing positive family relationships.

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