Nursing faculty receives Teaching Innovative Award

Image
  • LU nurses receive award
    LU nurses receive award
Body

Two nursing faculty members in the JoAnne Gay Dishman School of Nursing, Drs. Stacey Knight and Cynthia Pipkins, have been awarded the Teaching Innovative Award from the Texas Organization of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Education (TOBGNE).

TOBGNE awards faculty for innovations in teaching and excellence in research.

Nursing assistant professors Knight and Pipkins received the award based on their implementation of a service-learning study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic to study the rural healthcare needs of the Dominican people in 2019. The trip was the first service learning opportunity for the School of Nursing where students led health screenings and participated in home visits for rural communities.

“This award is the only one of its kind given among all the schools of nursing in the state of Texas,” said Cindy Stinson, chair of the Dishman School of Nursing. “We are very proud of our outstanding faculty.”

After review from a panel of individuals from TOBGNE-member schools, the service learning study abroad trip was selected for the Teaching Innovative Award. The organization will honor Knight and Pipkin at its meeting in Austin later this spring.

“This was truly a humbling experience for both faculty and students,” said Knight. “We are proud to have represented Lamar University and the School of Nursing while serving those less fortunate and with limited access to healthcare. Learning about different healthcare systems and cultures is very important to enhance nursing care for diverse populations, and we look forward to future service opportunities.”

TOBGNE seeks to promote the health of Texas through excellence in nursing education, provide access to educational opportunities and expand the integrity and harmony of spirit of the profession. TOBGNE’s goal is to enhance the preparation of entry-level and advanced practice nurses in Texas through the promotion of collaborative and facilitative relationships among Texas institutions involved with nursing education at institutions of higher learning.