Message From the Dean

Dear School of Nursing alumni,

Hello!  I hope you are safe and healthy. This has been a challenging time for all of us. 

Undoubtedly, you have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis in the course of your work. The education you received from the Valentine School of Nursing is crucial for our society during this unprecedented time. The Jesuit value of cura personalis was a central component of your SLU nursing education and now, more than ever, we need nurses dedicated to caring for the entire person. Thank you for all the sacrifices you have made to care for others. You are truly an inspiration.

As you can imagine, COVID-19 has also had a profound effect on Saint Louis University and the Valentine School of Nursing. Beginning the of the week of March 16th, we moved all courses to an online delivery mode. Our undergraduate students have had to adapt from being in a classroom with faculty and other students, to an online format with many changes in learning-style.

Additionally, we have had to pull all students from their clinical experiences for their safety. Many things are unknown, but it appears that we will need to continue this method of course delivery into summer and possibly fall. The faculty are being very creative in how they present content. We are using online resources in place of the typical clinical experiences. The online clinical sessions are tools that have been implemented in many educational settings as a supplemental program alongside the in-person clinicals. During this unsettled time, our faculty are exploring additional resources to ensure our students have the quality education as you have all experienced. We are certainly in challenging times, which also comes with a cost. As you can imagine, these resources are expensive, so we continue to be as fiscally responsible as we can while working to deliver outstanding education and nurses who are highly qualified. 

The faculty in the Valentine School of Nursing have once again been recognized for their excellence in nursing and education. St. Louis Magazine annually recognizes nurses in the community who are outstanding in their respective areas. Two faculty members were named top in their field when St. Louis Magazine handed out its Excellence in Nursing awards on Thursday, April 16. Kelly Lovan-Gold, MSN, was honored for her work in Women’s Health and Renee Davis, DNP, was honored in the Pediatrics, non-neonatal category. Other finalists included Dr. Jean Krampe for education; Ms. Samantha Marquand for Advanced Practice; and Ms. Christine McGroarty for Oncology. I am so proud that these ladies have been recognized publicly for their hard work and dedication. 

Sincerely,

Peggy Ellis, R.N., Ph.D.
Interim Dean
Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing