April 25, 2008
Kirkpatrick to serve as interim head of Purdue School of Nursing
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
Kirkpatrick succeeds Julie Novak, who is stepping down as head and associate dean at the end of the academic year.
"Jane is an award-winning educator and a leader in the field of maternal newborn nursing," said Craig Svensson, dean of the College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences. "I feel confident that her passion and enthusiasm for her profession will serve the School of Nursing well."
Novak, who has been head of the School of Nursing since 2003, announced earlier this week that she will return to faculty status while continuing to oversee the school’s five nurse-managed clinics and the doctor of nursing practice program. Novak joined Purdue as a professor and director of practice and community outreach in the school in 2000.
Kirkpatrick received the LaNelle E. Geddes Excellence in Teaching Award, was inducted into the Purdue Teaching Academy and was named to the Purdue Book of Great Teachers, all in 2003. She received the International Tribute Award for Information Technology from Sigma Theta Tau International in 2005 for "PhysWhiz II: Labor and Delivery," a computer-based professional education program that she co-authored with Linda Caputi. Kirkpatrick was honored with the Education Excellence Award by the Indiana section of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses in 1997.
Kirkpatrick's research focuses on high-risk newborns and computer-based learning in nursing education. Her clinical experience includes all areas of inpatient obstetrics and neonatal intensive care. In addition, her instructional programs on newborn assessment are used in nursing schools and hospitals across the country.
She is co-chair of the executive council of the University Teaching Academy and also has served on several university committees related to student issues as well as the School of Nursing's student affairs and curriculum committees.
Kirkpatrick received her undergraduate degrees in nursing from Purdue, earned her master's degree from Indiana University and completed her doctorate in educational technology at Purdue. She is certified as an inpatient obstetric nurse by the National Certification Corporation.
Svensson said he plans to appoint a committee to conduct a national search for Novak's successor.
The Purdue School of Nursing supports more than 500 undergraduate and 50 graduate students on the West Lafayette campus.Writer: Tanya Brown, (765) 494-2079, tanyabrown@purdue.edu
Source: Craig Svensson, (765) 494-1368, svensson@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:
Purdue nursing professor Jane Kirkpatrick, at right, teaches a nursing student how to assess the needs of newborns. Kirkpatrick has been named interim head of Purdue's School of Nursing. (Purdue News Service file photo)
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