Hello CON students, employees, community and friends!
The College of Nursing had an eventful and community-oriented July. Many of our CNL students completed their community interventions at various local partnerships such as Augusta Training Shop, the AU Literacy Center, Compass for Hope, and the Boys and Girls Club! Just this week we hosted our annual children's physicals for the Healthy Grandparents Program, and of course, we celebrated the 21st Annual Costa Layman Health Fair. The partnerships and initiatives demonstrated the excellence of our university and the impact of our healthcare faculty, students, and community organizations.
The College of Nursing exceeded our fundraising goal with a record-breaking year! Well beyond the annual average of approximately $600,000 for the past five years, our fundraising total for Fiscal Year 2026 is nearly $5,000,000. This is a first, and the largest fundraising total in a single year since the inception of the college. The collective fundraising total is comprised of various gifts, including annual level donations made during the IGIVE and Augusta Gives campaigns, major gifts that endow named funds at a $25,000 minimum, outright gifts made to a specific fund by alumni or community supporters, memorial contributions, and planned gift commitments. We have seen an increase in planned giving/legacy gifts, allowing donors to contribute at a higher level through their estate plans. Likewise, gifts of assets through securities and mutual funds are on the rise and offer tax advantages.
We are immensely grateful to our donors for not only their financial support but for their engagement, commitment, and sense of pride in our college. Your generosity makes a direct and meaningful impact on our students and we appreciate and continue to need the continued support of our donors, friends, and alumni!
Thank you so much,
Beth NeSmith
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Dean NeSmith served as Associate Guest Editor for the June 2026 Special Issue of Research in Research in Nursing & Health, a high-impact nursing journal for the Southern Nursing Research Society. As a part of this role, she co-authored a publication titled "The Impact of Stress, Trauma, and Violence on Well-Being and Physical Health." Be sure to check out the journal issue.
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Dr. Joshua recently attended the 2026 Society for Epidemiologic Research(SER) Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Not only did he work as a poster judge evaluating posters, but he presented his CMAS study, Covid, Mental Health, and Soul Study.
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PhD student, Nevada LeCounte led a hands-on mini workshop on simulation in radiologic sciences at the AEIRS conference this month! She is a simulation expert and has lead lectures across the country. In addition, she led a CNE webinar last April, has had two recent publications, and another was just accepted in a radiology journal. Great work, Nevada!
Enhancing communication in skills labs using ChatGPT voice role-play can be found here. Integrating the Modified Early Warning Score Into Senior BSN Education to Promote Early Recognition of Clinical Deterioration can be found here.
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Class of 2026 CNL Piedmont Hospital Summer Clinical Group |
This group's clinical instructor reached out to tell us just how outstanding our students are. "I have had many years of amazing students at this point, but this group is truly special. The students are outstanding and the 6NS staff at Piedmont were thrilled when they were back today after being here all Spring." A huge shout out to Lionel Grant, Luke Willis, Madeline Crosby, Aja Johnson, Annan Verbeck, Elizabeth Law, Maddie Chamber, and Anat Shapiro.
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Class of 2026 CNL student, Luke Willis was recently complimented by his clinical instructor for his work at Piedmont Hospital this summer. A physical therapist raved about Luke's care, claiming that he had a patient he helped up to the shower with OT, changed all their linens, took them to the toilet, etc. Though the patient had multiple accidents during this, Luke repeatedly recovered the situation and cleaned everything up without complaining. When PT came to work with the patient, the same thing happened three more times, but Luke just smiled and continued to help. He truly sympathized for the patient and did not have a bad attitude about any disasters that happened.
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Lionel Grant is a class of 2026 CNL student who is also in clinical group at Piedmont this summer. A patient specifically reached out to his clinical instructor wanting to compliment Lionel. "Lionel is like a friend. He saw me as a human and not everyone does that. He reached into my heart and really touched me with his compassion. My husband has not left my side for 8 days but after we got to know Lionel he felt so comfortable driving an hour home that he left for a while knowing that I was in good hands. He did the most thorough assessment I have ever had medically, including doctor's offices and other nurses. He listened to me and cared for me. From the moment he walked in he didn't even feel like a stranger. He was respectful, introduced himself, was careful as he assessed me, and he honored my feelings. I want the whole hospital to be filled with Lionels. I know that he is going to make an amazing nurse because of how impressed we were with his care today. Please make sure that he is recognized."
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MSN Student Community Intervention |
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MSN Students at the SPEAR Center |
Our MSN students have been hard at work in the SIM center! Recently, they had a case that focused on an elderly patient with dementia and Parkinson's who had a UTI. We are so proud of these students and can't wait to see the incredible nurses they will be! View all the photos here.
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21st Costa Layman Health Fair |
Thank you to everyone who volunteered at the Costa Layman Health Fair on July 10th. Nearly 125 AU faculty, staff, and students provided care to over 200 far workers. This is a significant signature project to our college and is a wonderful opportunity to provide a positive impact to our community. View all the photos here.
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Thank you to Dr. Lisa Prince-Clark who participated in this year's LAUNCH Camp! Students were provided with a hands-on learning experience focused on proper hand hygiene and safe medication preparation. These activities were designed to give students a glimpse into "A Day in the Life of a Nurse."
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Join us as we celebrate our incoming BSN and MSN students! We will also announce this year's winner of the Ever Onward Award.
Date: August 28, 2026
Time: 10 AM
Location: Christenberry Fieldhouse
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Paid Research Study About Georgia Pathways to Coverage |
Seeking current or former Pathways enrollees and human services professionals: face-to-face or virtual interview, $75 compensation. Researchers are conducting a study to better understand real experiences with Georgia Pathways to Coverage. Learn more here.
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Love in Action is a healthcare outreach for the uninsured and under insured that occurs on a monthly basis. Lisa Wheeler, DPH is the organizer of this outreach program. Please contact Lisa Wheeler or Dr. Lynn Glenn if you are interested.
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College of Nursing Announcements |
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Successful Dissertation Defenses |
We are so proud to announce that three PhD students successfully defended their dissertations this month! Thank you to their major advisors Dr. Julie Zadinsky (O'Connell/Malcom) and Dr. Desiree Bertrand (Greene).
Dr. Cheryl O'Connell - Adolescents with Complex Congenital Heart Disease in Saudi Arabia: A Focused Ethnography
Dr. Amy Malcom - Bringing Compassion with Us: Examining the Relationship between Compassion Satisfaction and Job Satisfaction in Primary Care Nurse Practitioners Delivering Telehealth-Based Compassionate Care
Dr. Lawanda Greene - Fueling Faith and Extinguishing Fear: Advance Care Planning in the African American Church
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Join us in supporting our Post Masters Traditional and Nurse Executive students as they present their DNP poster projects! Faculty, staff, students, and alumni are all encouraged to attend.
Date: November 17th
Time: 11 am - 1 pm
Location: Greenblatt Library
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NeSmith to be inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing |
Beth NeSmith, PhD, has been selected to become a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (Academy). Induction is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career in which their accomplishments are honored by their colleagues within and outside the profession. Fellows are selected based on their outstanding contributions to improve health locally and globally.
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Costa Layman Health Fair continues to thrive with its services |
Following a momentous 20th anniversary celebration last year, Augusta University’s partnership with Costa Farms remains stronger than ever as colleges, departments and community organizations joined together at the farm. On July 10, seasonal farmworkers in Trenton, South Carolina, received potentially life-saving health care, education and resources.
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Nursing shortage drives Augusta University outreach across N. Georgia |
Augusta University President Russell T. Keen visited Athens this week as part of the 2026 Summer Tour across north Georgia.
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Please send your submissions for Nursing Notes to Nina Sligar by 2 p.m. on the 20th of each month.
Nursing Notes is a publication of the Office of the Dean of the College of Nursing.
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This email was sent to College of Nursing faculty, staff and students.
© 2026 Augusta University. All rights reserved.
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View this email online.
1120 15th Street | Augusta, GA 30912 US
This email was sent to nsligar@augusta.edu.
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