College of Health Professions’ Faculty & Staff outline ways to increase critical staff pipeline.

Pace University today hosted New York State Senator Pete Harckham on a tour of its clinical simulation labs and held a roundtable discussion on addressing New York’s critical need for nurses and other primary care professionals.

In visiting Lienhard Hall, home to Pace’s College of Health Professions and its Lienhard School of Nursing, Harckham joined faculty, staff, and nursing students – all of whom shared their experiences in the field and discussed ways to address the nursing shortage and expand the healthcare worker pipeline, a staffing issue that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The stress and strain of the pandemic have exacerbated the existing shortage of nurses in New York State,” said Senator Harckham. “I am thrilled to be able to spend time with this new generation of nurses at Pace University, who will greatly benefit the workforce. It is critical that we encourage and reward people to join the nursing profession, which needs rejuvenation and reinforcements."

“Simulation is an evidence-based component of training of multiple health professions that has been proven to enhance student learning, confidence, clinical skills and ultimately improve the quality of patient care,” said Marcus Tye, dean of Pace University’s College of Health Professions. “Incentivizing preceptors and expanding the use of simulation in healthcare training will help increase the supply and quality of our future health workforce.”

Nurses provide 90% of all care to patients in hospitals, and by 2030 there is a projected shortage of more than 39,000 registered nurses in New York, according to the New York State Department of Health. The challenge is so great across the country that The American Nurses' Association called for the Department of Health and Human Services to declare a national nurse staffing crisis.

Further complicating the situation is that many schools are limited in the number of licensed nurses they can prepare, despite great interest in the field, because of a shortage of clinical training experiences.

“I have met with numerous chief nursing officers from NYC and Westchester County healthcare agencies, all of whom voiced deep concern about current and pending severe staffing shortages,” said Rhonda Maneval, vice dean for the College of Health Professions and the Lienhard School of Nursing at Pace University, who testified before the State Legislature on the nursing shortage issue. “These meetings focused on ways our school could provide more practice-ready graduates. The good news is that, despite the pandemic, or because of it, people want to become nurses. By working together, we can address this crisis head on.”

Pace University faculty have been leaders in advocating for ways to prepare and educate more people for a career in healthcare through a series of measures and proposals including providing practitioners with tax credits as well as passage of a bill that would recognize a portion of a student’s time spent in a controlled simulation laboratory count toward their required clinical hours.

“When it comes to preparing nurses for a complex work environment, far too many healthcare facilities and schools are in a catch-22 situation: They have a shortage of nurses and space to dedicate to student clinical experiences, and as a result, schools are therefore limited in the number of healthcare workers they can prepare for the workforce,” said Dr. Harriet R. Feldman, chief wellness officer, professor and dean emerita of the College of Health Professions and the Lienhard School of Nursing. “Through smart legislation and policy, however, nursing schools and host institutions can work together to increase the pipeline of workers ready to respond to emergencies.”

For Cristina DeRose, a senior majoring in nursing, classes that take place in a simulation lab are productive and mirror real life emergencies. “With simulation, you know every student has gotten the experience necessary to work in the field.”

Senior Alexis Ninonueva agreed: “Simulation is especially helpful. Time in the sim lab gives you confidence and Pace is doing a great job preparing us for the profession.”

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About Pace University

Since 1906, Pace University has educated thinking professionals by providing high quality education for the professions on a firm base of liberal learning amid the advantages of the New York metropolitan area. A private university, Pace has campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York, enrolling nearly 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in its Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Lubin School of Business, College of Health Professions, School of Education, School of Law, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

About College of Health Professions

Established in 2010, the College of Health Professions at Pace University offers a broad range of programs at the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels. It is the College’s goal to create innovative and complex programs that reflect the changing landscape of the health care system. These programs are designed to prepare graduates for impactful careers in health care practice, health-related research, or as educators, and equip graduates to work in health policy and global health fields. Students in clinical programs receive hands-on training in the College’s interprofessional Center for Excellence in Healthcare Simulation and have the opportunity to apply their developing skills in real-world settings at many of the regions' leading clinical facilities. The College is currently comprised of several growing and important areas of study, which include Nursing, Physician Assistant, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Nutrition and Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, and Health Science. Our vision is to be recognized for our innovative leadership in education, practice, scholarship, and service to improve health and the health professions. Our mission is to educate and challenge diverse students for the health professions to be leaders, innovators and lifelong learners who will positively impact local, national, and global health.

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Pace University's College of Health Professions and Lienhard School of Nursing Clinical Associate Professor Maureen Cooney published, Assessment and Multimodal Management of Pain: An Integrative Approach, which she co-authored with Ann Quinlan-Colwell from NC. This book was recognized by the American Journal of Nursing (AJN) for the 2021 Book of the Year Awards for Med-Surgical Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing. CHP's Dr. Elsa Wuhrman also contributed her expertise and knowledge to the book by writing a chapter.

Through her full-time position at a major medical center as a Pain Management Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Cooney is aware of the knowledge gap that exists among many health care providers in pain care for people across their lifespan. She says, "There is not enough time in any basic professional educational program to provide the depth of content necessary to address patients' needs. There are many misconceptions held by patients and health care providers that interfere with appropriate pain care. The purpose of this book is to provide a resource for all health care providers to aid in filling the gap."

The writing process was a challenging yet rewarding journey for Dr. Cooney. She not only learned more about herself but also about the importance of an integrative approach to pain care. An unexpected obstacle for Dr. Cooney was working on her typing skills. "I never should have skipped that typing class in high school!" She also discovered having an interprofessional approach to pain care as professionals from other disciplines, including physical and occupational therapies and pharmacists, contributed to the book.

Dr. Cooney is hopeful that this book will inspire her current and future students. "Pain is far more than a number on a 0-10 numeric rating scale, and pain management is far more complex than simple medication administration."

"Pain is far more than a number on a 0-10 numeric rating scale, and pain management is far more complex than simple medication administration." - Dr. Cooney

Her dream is to motivate and influence others to learn more about pain management and recognize that this is a deep and rich area of specialization for health care providers. "I also hope that my current and future students would recognize that when they find their passion, spending time and energy exploring that area of passion is not work; it is an opportunity for personal and professional fulfillment," expressed Dr. Cooney.

Dr. Cooney is a three-time Pace alum from the Lienhard School of Nursing, receiving a bachelor's and master's degree in nursing, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Additionally, she completed the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Cooney has been an adjunct faculty member in the Lienhard School of Nursing for 25 years, and for the past 20 years she has taught and supervised students in the FNP program. Dr. Cooney and Dr. Wuhrman are also Clinical Co-Coordinators for the FNP program.

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Dr. Cooney acknowledged that Dr. Wurhman was most instrumental in encouraging her to specialize in pain management. In her chapter, Dr. Wurhman focused on helping students to, "Understand that, as the American Society for Pain Management purports: every nurse is a pain management nurse." She hopes that this book exemplifies that principle by enabling nurses to gain confidence and apply their knowledge to all patients.

Order a copy of Assessment and Multimodal Management of Pain

Wellness Week is an annual initiative where Pace students can join classes and utilize resources aimed at improving their mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. From yoga and meditation classes, to relaxing artistic workshops, this year’s lineup of in-person and virtual offerings will empower you to take control of your wellness.

Self-Love and Body Positivity
Tuesday, February 22 | 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
One Pace Plaza, Student Center West
Join us for a beautiful, body positive experience. Learn to love your body through body affirming exercises, enjoy inspirational talks, and connect with other students. Light refreshments will be served.

Wake Up and Meditate with Greg Weil
Wednesday, February 23 | 10:00 a.m.
One Pace Plaza, Student Center West
Open your mind and ground yourself with an early meditation experience, where you can learn strategies to practice mindfulness and self-care. Light refreshments will be served. Can’t make it in-person? Attend virtually via Zoom:
Meeting ID: 915 0441 1030
Passcode: mindful

Writing to Heal Workshop
Wednesday, February 23 | 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
One Pace Plaza, Student Center West
Unlock the power of writing to tap into deeper reflection, holistic healing, and richer self-expression. Light refreshments will be served. Can’t make it in-person? Attend virtually via Zoom:
Meeting ID: 995 2148 1046
Passcode: 587406

Glowing from the Inside Out: Nutrition for Pace University Wellness Week
Wednesday, February 23 | 3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
One Pace Plaza, Student Center West
Two Pace alumni from the NYC Campus, one a registered dietician and one a therapist, share simple steps to empower, motivate, and create self-sustaining, healthy eating patterns for those who have full schedules and a tight budget. Light refreshments will be served. Can’t make it in-person? Attend virtually via Zoom:
Meeting ID: 963 8502 5847
Passcode: GlowUp

Healing Through Creative Arts
Thursday, February 24 | 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
One Pace Plaza, Student Center West
Create cards of encouragement for others, de-stress with coloring and crafts, and practice guided gratitude exercises in this workshop geared towards healing. Light refreshments will be served.

Yoga Healing
Thursday, February 24 | 11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
One Pace Plaza, Student Center West
Learn about benefits of yoga and foster a deeper mind-body connection. Can’t make it in-person? Attend virtually via Zoom:
Meeting ID: 954 8552 0549
Passcode: 946485

Yoga with Shannon Haick
Thursday, February 24 | 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
One Pace Plaza, Student Center West
Relax with this engaging yoga and meditation class through deep breathing techniques and healing stretches. Yoga mats are provided for in person attendees, if needed. Can’t make it in-person? Attend virtually via Zoom:
Meeting ID: 954 8552 0549
Passcode: 946485