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Welcome to Gamma Nu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International
Chartered in 1978, Gamma Nu is Seton Hall College of Nursing's chapter and has over 300 members. 

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Gamma Nu provides annual Christmas Dinner to Magnificat Home

On December 9, 2020, Gamma Nu helped the women of Magnificat Home in Jersey City celebrate Christmas with our annual dinner and gifts.  Carolyn Rummel once again organized this event, and Seton Hall College of Nursing faculty generously donated money for the gifts. The women enjoyed Chicken Marsala, Penne with vodka sauce, salad, bread, cupcakes and cookies.  Each received a gift bag with fuzzy socks, a Christmas ornament, candy cane, assorted candy and a Walgreen’s gift card for $40. Although Gamma Nu usually serves this dinner and delivers the gifts in person, this year's event required adjustments, so Carolyn found a new caterer to deliver dinner and dropped off the gifts for the women.  Her personal touch with the creation of the gift bags made this socially-distanced event seem warm and caring. We hope to return to our usual in-person celebration next year. 

Magnificat Home currently houses 14 previously homeless women.  In addition to the annual Christmas party, Gamma Nu supports the home throughout the year with gifts of household supplies and other requested items.  Click here to learn more about Magnificat Home.

Merry Christmas to all!  
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Gamma Nu sends its best wishes to all members during the COVID-19 outbreak.  Thank you to Gamma Nu members and all nurses who are working to care for those directly affected by the virus.  Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost a family member or friend to this pandemic.
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Annual Magnificat Home Christmas Party  On December 9, 2019, Gamma Nu provided its annual Christmas Party for the women of Magnificat Home.  This year, Carolyn Rummel, Kim Conway and Lori Wilt delivered the dinner and gifts to the home in Jersey City.  Everyone enjoyed delicious food and the traditional Christmas cake.  All of the women received gifts, generously donated by College of Nursing faculty.  Many thanks to Carolyn for once again organizing this wonderful event, and to Kim for setting up the "Giving Tree" at Seton Hall so that CON faculty could purchase desired gifts.  Gamma Nu supports the residents of Magnificat Home throughout the year with donations of needed items for the household.  To learn more about Magnificat Home, visit  http://www.magnificathome.org/

Carolyn Rummel, Lori Wilt and Kim Conway

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Gamma Nu Delegates and Leaders attend the STTI 45th Biennial Convention

Gamma Nu Chapter Delegates Afua Ampiaw and Diane McClure attended the Sigma 45th Biennial Convention along with chapter leaders Carolyn Rummel and Connie Sobon-Sensor.  The convention was held November 16-20, 2019 in Washington, DC.  In addition to attending many educational activities, our two delegates voted for new officers and several by-laws changes. 

First-time attendee Diane McClure stated, "It was an honor to serve as a delegate. The conference itself was awesome. I learned a lot and will be sharing my new knowledge with the board at our next meeting".  Afua Ampiaw had this to say about her first Convention experience: "I have not been able to hide my pride for being a Sigma nurse since the experience. I was amazed at the altruistic attitudes of the international and regional officers I had the opportunity to meet personally. It was nice to see nurses from across the globe come together to share their research on the profession and healthcare in general during the concurrent sessions and the poster presentations".

Unlike Diane and Afua, who were enjoying their first Convention, Gamma Nu's Carolyn Rummel has been attending them regularly since the 1980s, sometimes as a delegate and sometimes on her own.  She says, "The conventions are always excellent---something for everyone.  Over the years friendships have developed with members of other chapters across the country;  it is always fun to reconnect and rekindle these friendships".

An added highlight to the Convention experience was when Gamma Nu's member and Sigma Leader Connie Sobon-Sensor was honored for her service as Sigma's United Nations Liaison, 2015-2019.  

Gamma Nu Delegates Afua Ampiaw and Diane McClure	Gamma Nu members Connie Sobon-Sensor and Carolyn Rummel at the Convention
Tribute to Connie Sobon-Sensor's work as Liaison to the United Nations

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Dr. Judith Caruso Receives NJ Consortium Award

Judith Caruso, DNP, RN, FACHE received the 2019 Mary Ann Rooney Essence of Nursing Award at the NJ Consortium’s Founders Day Dinner on October 3, 2019.  The award is given to a nurse who exemplifies the mentor relationship and “fosters talent and develops nurse leaders resulting in a personal connection of caring, inspiration, and encouragement to accomplish goals”.  It is awarded each year by the New Jersey Consortium of Sigma Theta Tau International Chapters, in memory of Gamma Nu’s former member, Mary Ann Rooney. Judy Caruso is a dual member of Gamma Nu and Alpha Tau and was nominated for the award by both chapters.  Her career in nursing spans the continuum of the healthcare industry and includes caring for patients across the life span.  Judy has mentored many nursing students and practicing nurses ranging from new graduates to nurse leaders.  She has been a nurse at the bedside and in the boardroom; a faculty member at Seton Hall, Rutgers and Yale; a published author and popular speaker.  She is currently President & CEO of Caruso Consulting, a healthcare consulting company that focuses on linking financial and clinical data for improved outcomes.  Judy is a past Treasurer of Gamma Nu and founding member of Alpha Tau.

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Gamma Nu Celebrates at its Annual Induction Ceremony and Dinner

Gamma Nu Chapter celebrated the induction of 57 new members at its Annual Induction Ceremony and Dinner on April 26, 2019 at the Springbrook Country Club.  Over 100 students along with their family and friends joined Seton Hall faculty and staff for a memorable evening. The event began with a cocktail hour and socializing.  Mistress of Ceremonies Benay Johnson opened the program by welcoming guests and introducing CON Dean Dr. Marie Foley and SHU Interim Provost Dr. Karen Boroff, who warmly congratulated the inductees and their families.  Dr. Mary Ann Scharf, Gamma Nu Founding Member and Past President, offered the Invocation before everyone enjoyed a wonderful buffet dinner.

Following dinner, Dr. Coleen Carrington presented the keynote address Lifelong Learning.  Dr. Carrington’s central message was that “Nursing as a profession is in a realm of its own, set upon a higher ground. Nurses are ordained or called to realize the core essence of all humanity”.  She also asked, “What is the Art of Nursing? The Art of Nursing is there as the nurse tends to her patient; it may be a presence, a touch, a trusting relationship between nurse and patient---perhaps it is something that can be learned or perhaps it is God given---but it is the essence of the nurse”.

After the keynote, Dr. Joyce Maglione led the Induction Ceremony.  The new members included 33 undergraduate inductees (including 12 who had officially been inducted in Fall 2018) and 24 graduate student inductees from all CON programs.  New members received their Sigma Certificates and an honor cord to wear to graduation ceremonies.

Four members of Gamma Nu were awarded scholarships of $500 each by Dr. Pamela Galehouse.  Pictured here (L to R) are the winners: Andria Song (MSN), Joanna Builes (MSN), Dr. Galehouse, Victoria Yackubovich (BSN), and Afua Ampiaw (PhD).

Finally, Gamma Nu awarded its inaugural Outstanding Service Award, which will be given annually at Induction to recognize exceptional service to Gamma Nu and/or the College of Nursing.  Diane McClure (Gamma Nu Past President) proudly presented the award to Dean Marie Foley (both pictured below).  Dr. McClure explained that the award, which featured a dragonfly in a globe, was chosen because “In almost every part of the world, the dragonfly symbolizes change, transformation, adaptability, and self-realization.  The dragonfly has been a symbol of happiness, new beginnings and change for many centuries”.  Dean Foley was chosen as the first recipient of the award for her contributions the College of Nursing for many years, her support of Gamma Nu Chapter and her leadership in facilitating the CON’s move from the South Orange campus to the new Nutley location.

Congratulations to all!

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32nd Annual Reinkemeyer Research Conference a Success

The 32nd Annual Reinkemeyer Research Conference, co-sponsored by Seton Hall University College of Nursing and Gamma Nu Chapter of Sigma, was held on Friday March 8, 2018.  This was the first time the conference was held on the new Interprofessional Health Sciences Campus in Nutley and over 100 attended.  Chaired by Afua Ampiaw, MSN, RN-BC and Kimberly Conway, PhD, RN, both members of the CON faculty as well as Gamma Nu leaders, the conference once again provided a stimulating day of presentations and networking.  The agenda featured podium and poster presentations from Seton Hall's health sciences programs, in celebration of College of Nursing's move to the new campus.

This year's keynote speaker was Tracy Perron, PhD, RN, CNE, CSN, Assistant Professor of Nursing at TCNJ.  Her presentation, The Evolution of an Interprofessional Approach to Combating Childhood Obesity in an Urban Setting, described a collaborative community-based project that engaged nursing, health and exercise sciences students in interventions aimed at improving the lives and health of school age children.

Four podium presentations and fourteen posters covered a range of nursing and health topics.  The podium presenters and presentation titles were:

• Cornelia Gilpin, DNP, RN: The impact of patient acuity-based staffing on patient outcomes
• Joy Sawicki, DNP, APN-C, AE-C: Impact of live webinar asthma education for caregivers of preschool children
• Bryan Pilkington PhD: Conscience protection for nursing practice: Bioethical reflections
• Patricia M. Hubert, DNP, RN: Application of Jean Watson’s Theory of Transpersonal Caring in nurses practicing in a pain center

Since its inception, this annual nursing research program has been called the Reinkemeyer Research Conference in honor of Sister Agnes Reinkemeyer, the third dean of the College of Nursing at Seton Hall University (1968-1977).  She was the first dean to have an earned doctoral degree, receiving a PhD in nursing education from the University of California at Berkeley in 1966.  Sister Agnes had a visionary approach to nursing education and practice for that time. “Much must be done to improve certain aspects of nursing education and nursing practice. No giant step forward will be taken in either direction unless nurses become serious about doing and using research in nursing.” Sister Reinkemeyer nurtured the initial graduate nursing programs and the Gamma Nu chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. Sister Reinkemeyer left Seton Hall to Kenya in 1983 to return to the work of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary.  In 1989, she was killed at her health care mission by gunmen seeking money . The Annual Reinkemeyer Research Day continues her dedication to the development of nursing’s science, practice and education. (http://blogs.shu.edu/rrd/)

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Annual Magnificat Home Christmas Party  On December 11, 2018, Gamma Nu provided its annual Christmas Party for the women of Magnificat Home.  Everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner and a beautiful cake.  All of the women received gifts, generously donated by College of Nursing faculty.  In addition, Gamma Nu purchased a variety of board games for the Home, thanks to the donations of chapter members.  Many thanks to Carolyn Rummel (in the photo) for organizing the event.  To learn more about Magnificat Home, visit  http://www.magnificathome.org/

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Gamma Nu's 40th Anniversary

Gamma Nu Founding Members pose with the chapter's Charter in front of a display of Gamma Nu memorabilia. Pictured (L to R): Linda Ulak, Mary Ann Scharf, Josephine DeVito, Maura Ryan and Carolyn Rummel

Five Gamma Nu Past Presidents were able to attend the 40th Anniversary Celebration.  Pictured are Diane McClure (then President), Mary Ann Scharf (1986-1988), Josephine DeVito (2006-2008), Brenda Petersen (2008-2010), Wendy Budin (1998-2000) and Carolyn Rummel (1990-1992 and 2012-2014)