Karla Kerkove, a nursing PhD student, will have a rare opportunity to see nursing leadership in action.
Kerkove, in her second semester at UNMC, was one of two students nationally to receive the Deborah E. Trautman Future Nurse Leader Scholarship, awarded by the Foundation for Academic Nursing, the philanthropic arm of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
The scholarship provides both “financial support and structured mentorship to outstanding graduate nursing students who aspire to leadership roles,” according to an AACN release.
As a recipient, Kerkove will have the opportunity to participate in the AACN annual conference, attend a nursing policy summit in Washington, D.C., and sit in on a virtual leadership program with Dr. Trautman and other nursing and policy leaders.
Once the program is complete, Kerkove will be part of a cohort of past scholarship winners who will continue to converse, collaborate and share insight.
“This experience is not only going to help me learn and open up my eyes to what’s being done across the nation, but it’s also going to help me bring back some of those components to the Midwest,” she said.
Kerkove, who also is a clinical assistant professor in the RN-to-BSN program at Iowa State University, said she hopes to use the experience to improve her own skills and influence positive changes in nursing.
“I really want to be able to gain additional insight into best practices within nursing leadership. What does that look like across the nation? How can we come together?” she said. “I want to be able to advance knowledge within health policy, social justice, social determinants of health and how that can be incorporated into nursing curricula.”
She said it also will help her better advocate for healthier workplaces.
“This opportunity will allow me to strengthen my knowledge within academic leadership…because that’s different than clinical leadership,” she said. “And through good, solid academic leadership, I can help promote healthy workplace environments.”
Roxanne Vandermause, PhD, PhD program director and Gladys E. Sorenson Endowed Chair for Nursing, said Kerkove’s reception of the scholarship is a point of pride for both Kerkove and the PhD program.
“We are proud of Karla Kerkove’s accomplishments and commitment,” Dr. Vandermause said. “She is part of a highly talented student body in our PhD program.”
A bonus of the scholarship, Kerkove said, is to represent the UNMC College of Nursing and highlight the many opportunities it provides students.
“The structure, support, and growth opportunities I have experienced here at UNMC have not only been appreciated, but speaks volumes for the dedication and support available in UNMC’s PhD nursing program,” she said.