Walsh University Professor of Nursing Karen Gehrling, Ph.D., was honored by the Byers School of Nursing during its annual Nursing Research Day on Friday, October 14. Dr. Gehrling received the Neuman Award, established in honor of Dr. Betty Neuman for her distinguished contributions to the nursing profession and given annually to a member of the nursing profession who has made significant contributions to the profession as a nursing educator, leader or clinician.
"Karen is an outstanding leader in nursing theory development and nursing education," said 2015 Neuman Award Recipient Dr. Jacqueline Fawcett, who presented the award to Dr. Gehrling. "She is a superb scholar with a record of numerous important papers published in top-ranked peer-review journals and important books, as well as many presentations on timely topics at regional, national and international conferences. Most of all, Karen is an outstanding scholar of the Neuman Systems Model."
Dr. Gehrling has taught courses within the Walsh’s graduate nursing program since its inception. As part of a HRSA Grant team, she has helped redefine the content of the FNP program to include content necessary for practice. Ever a pragmatist, her work with the Neuman Model began in 1982 with a chapter published in the first edition of the Neuman Systems Model book on the use of Neuman with families. She became a Neuman Systems Model Trustee in 1999. Her areas of interests with the Neuman Systems Model include developing a theory of reconstitution, helping nursing programs and curriculum development utilize the Neuman Model, helping students focus on family communication techniques and health promotion while using Neuman as a framework and the family as client, and most recently while consulting in Colombia South America, learning about the need to translate Neuman’s work into Spanish.
Sponsored by the Walsh University Phi Eta chapter of Sigma Theta Tau and the Byers School of Nursing, the 2016 Nursing Research Day featured a keynote address from Kimberly Kerr, MSN, NEA-BC, RN-BC, CRRN. Kimberly has extensive experience as a clinician, administrator, teacher and a researcher. She obtained her diploma in nursing from Massillon City Hospital School of Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Central Methodist College, and a Master of Science in Nursing in Community Mental Health Administration from The University of Missouri. She holds Nurse Executive Advanced, Nursing Professional Development, and Rehabilitation Registered Nurse certifications.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Walsh University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).