The Duke University School of Nursing 2023 December Hooding and Recognition Ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. in the Duke Chapel and Page Auditorium. Graduates should arrive at 8:45 a.m. and doors open for guests at 9:00 a.m. The event will also be live-streamed.

Whitney Thornton, MSN, is living her childhood dream of becoming a nurse and studying at the Duke University School of Nursing. 

Osborn Owusu Ansah, BSN, RN, is a registered nurse from Ghana who is studying oncology and disparities in the use of palliative care.

Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias, known as ADRD, are some of the costliest health conditions in the U.S. and around the world. Getting the right care and being able to pay for professional help are crucial. That’s why Hanzhang Xu, Ph.D., RN, assistant professor at Duke University School of Nursing, has made it her mission to address health inequities in cognitive aging and dementia care on a global level.

As the Baby Boomer generation ages, adult children are increasingly taking on the responsibility of caring for their elderly parents. Millions of Americans are “aging in place” out of a desire to remain independent in their homes, but soaring health costs and a shortage of health care workers means many family members with no medical training become caregivers out of necessity. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Caregivers are at increased risk of having multiple chronic diseases as they may neglect their own personal health needs while providing care to others.”

Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON) takes a holistic approach to reviewing and selecting its cohorts for each academic program it offers. Admissions officers are available to help applicants create the best possible application for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program and post-graduate degrees, all of which have different application deadlines based on the starting semester and the program. Each program has its own application requirements, and in two recent webinars – one for ABSN students and one for graduate programs – admissions officers outlined some helpful tips to create the best possible application.

Donna Biederman, DrPH, MN, RN, CPH, FAAN, DUSON associate professor, uses her nursing experience to improve health disparities and housing policies for people who are experiencing homelessness. 

The Student Success Center (SSC) at DUSON celebrated the opening of its new location on the first floor of Pearson Hall with a ribbon-cutting and rededication on Tuesday, October 31. The center started in 2020 in response to students’ increased stress brought on by the pandemic and the racial unrest and political strife that unfolded nationally following the death of George Floyd. Bernice Alston, PhD, was named director in 2021 and said the center continues to help students who need wellness support around academic stress and beyond.

Currently in the United States, there are more than 355,000 nurse practitioners providing care to patients and their families. The roles that nurse practitioners play along is expanding and their numbers continue to grow.

Commitment to DUSON’s stated Mission, Vision, and Values continues to drive accomplishments and a sense of community, says new Interim Dean Michael Relf.