New nursing dean visits Kearney, Scottsbluff

College of Nursing Dean Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., and Gloria Gross, assistant dean of the College of Nursing West Nebraska division in Scottsbluff.

In just her second week as the new dean of the UNMC College of Nursing, Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., traveled to Scottsbluff and Kearney.

Her goal was to listen to citizens; visit UNMC nursing campuses; meet with faculty, staff and students; visit with hospital leaders; and emphasize UNMC’s commitment to the state’s rural areas.

During her Oct. 20 trip, Dr. Tilden shared her enthusiasm and reasons for coming to UNMC and Nebraska, noting the chancellor’s support of the College of Nursing, which is “on the move.” In addition, she said, “Nebraska has people who care tremendously about their communities.”

Dr. Tilden and Bob Bartee, left, executive assistant to the chancellor, speak with Kearney Rotary members.

Students at the UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska division welcome Dr. Tilden.

She also spoke about the national challenges that UNMC is helping to resolve: a shortage of nurses, the number of medically underserved people and advancing the science of care.

Enrollment is at an all-time high in the UNMC College of Nursing, which has four campuses and 73 distance education sites, Dr. Tilden said. Overall, more than 4,000 College of Nursing alumni live and work in the state.

More than 40 million Americans and more than 190,000 Nebraskans don’t have health insurance, Dr. Tilden said. UNMC is committed to serving underserved regions, in part, through its four nurse-managed clinics — the mobile nursing center, Family Health Care Center, Senior Health Promotion Center and Panhandle Hispanic/Native American Diabetes Clinic. It also is committed to improving racial and ethnic disparities in health care, she said.

Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., and Bob Bartee, left, meet with University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen.

UNMC also is working to advance the science of care. The college has 29 active research grants worth $2.5 million annually, Dr. Tilden said. Current grants provide for 56 paid positions.

During her trip, Dr. Tilden visited with leaders from Good Samaritan Health Systems in Kearney and Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. She also attended community receptions in each city with faculty, staff and students in the UNMC College of Nursing Kearney division and College of Nursing West Nebraska division.

On Nov. 19, Dr. Tilden will travel to the College of Nursing in Lincoln. A reception is planned at The Cornhusker. Details will follow.

Dr. Tilden and Gloria Gross, far right, meet with State Sen. LeRoy Louden of Ellsworth and his wife SharonAnn.

Dr. Tilden meets with State Sen. Adrian Smith of Gering.

Dr. Tilden, 57, previously served as associate dean for research for the Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing and is nationally known for her extensive research related to end-of-life care. She was one of the founders of the Center for Ethics in Health Care and has led the center’s research program on improving care of the dying.

She has been a principal investigator of National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research and training grants since 1986. She has been active in teaching, curriculum development and program evaluation since 1974.