GEM Mentoring Opportunities

The number of people who are 65 years old and older is projected to grow from 43.1 million in 2012 to nearly 84 million in 2050 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2014).  

This creates a growing need for registered nurses to care for older adults.  

Gerontological nurses care for the health of older adults at all levels of prevention and in a variety of settings. These settings include the following: the community, hospital, long-term care, skilled care, home care, and palliative and hospice care (Conley and St. Pierre, 2014). 

Gerontological nurses have diverse roles. These roles include direct-care provider, educator, leader, researcher, advocate, clinician, counselor, consultant, coordinator, administrator, collaborator and geriatric care manager (Conley & St. Pierre, 2014). 

Gerontology Nurse Scholars receive the following: 

• Mentorship from experienced adult-gerontology/gerontology-psychiatric faculty 
• Opportunities to connect to the older adult population through practice, research and education 
• Support to attend RUSH-sponsored events and related conferences 
• Recognition as a RUSH Gerontology Nurse Scholar 

Two fellows per GEM cohort will be selected in the third term of the degree program. The scholar experience begins in the third term and ends with the completion of the sixth term. 

Interested candidates can contact Ben Remor Inventor, PhD, CNP; and Mary Zonsius, PhD, RN. 

Generalist public health nurses work in state and local public health organizations and community-based agencies. This includes clinical, home visiting, care coordination, and population‐based services.  

Public health nurse responsibilities may include the following:  

• Basic data collection and analysis 
• Carrying out health promotion programs 
• Field work 
• Outreach activities 
• Program planning 
• Programmatic support 
• Working directly with at-risk populations 

Public Health Nurse Scholars receive the following: 

• Mentorship by experienced public health nurse faculty 
• Support for identifying related professional development opportunities 
• Support to attend related conferences and guest speaker events 

The following Public Health Nurse Scholar activities are required each term: 

• At least one meeting with a Public Health Nurse Scholar faculty mentor 
• One Public Health Nurse Scholar group meeting  
• The inclusion of a public health nurse focus as part of the student’s capstone project (terms five and six) 

Interviews for the program take place during the third term. The Public Health Nurse Scholar experience begin during the fourth term and end when the sixth term is completed.  

Generally, three to four students are selected from each cohort. 

If you have questions, please contact Mallory Bejster, DNP, RN, CNL. 

The focus of the generalist women, children and family nurse, or WCFN, is patient- and family-centered health and the well-being of infants, children, adolescents and women.  

The following are some of the benefits of the Women, Children, Family Nurse Scholar Program: 

• Mentorship from experienced WCFN faculty 
• Opportunities to attend local and national conferences and local guest speaker events 
• Opportunities in research, education and scholarship activities 
• Recognition as a Women, Children, Family Nurse Scholar 

Up to two scholars per GEM cohort are selected in the fourth term of the GEM program. The scholar experience begins in the fifth term and ends when the sixth term is completed. 

For questions, please contact Christie Lawrence, DNP, RNC-NIC, APN/CNS; and Jen’nea Sumo, PhD, RN. 

Clinical Nurse Leader Scholars have the opportunity to learn from a registered nurse with a clinical nurse leader certification.  

The following are some of the benefits of the Clinical Nurse Leader Scholar Program:  

• Mentorship from a clinical nurse leader-certified nurse  
• Multicohort collaboration   
• Leadership in cohort professional nurse adviser (PNA) activities    
• Opportunity to earn professional development hours for Clinical Nurse Leader Scholar activities  
• Profession development opportunities  
• Recognition as a Clinical Nurse Leader Scholar 

You are required to have at least one meeting per term with your assigned clinical nurse leader mentor. 

• Clinical Nurse Leader Scholar expectations: 
• Act as a student liaison for profession development opportunities 
• Actively participate in PNA activities    
• Demonstrate leadership in PNA activities  
• Lead at least two PNA activities aligned to clinical nurse leader competencies during your year as a scholar  
• Meet as a Clinical Nurse Scholar group once per term with the PNA faculty       

Interviews for the program take place during the third term. The Clinical Nurse Leader Scholar experience begins in the fourth term and ends when the sixth term is completed.

Up to two students are selected from each cohort. 

For questions, please contact Mallory Bejster, DNP, RN, CNL; and Amanda LaMonica-Weier, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNL.