2024 Region 8 Sigma Conference Agenda

Nursing Contact Hours

 The University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by The Mississippi Nurses Foundation Inc. an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

As an approved provider, the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing awards this educational activity 7.50 contact hours

Thursday, September 19th

5:30pm – 8:30pm

Registration: Nachez Prefunction Area

Welcome Reception: North Prefunction Area

Pick up conference materials, poster set-up, silent auction item drop-off

Be sure to stay for hors d'oeuvres and networking! Instructions in your welcome packet.

Friday, September 20th

7:30am – 8:30am

Registration: Nachez Prefunction Area

Pick up conference materials, poster set-up, silent auction item drop-off

Breakfast: Jackson II Ballroom

8:30am – 8:50AM

Opening Ceremonies: Jackson II Ballroom

Dr. Kim Douglas, 2024 Region 8 Committee Chair

Dr. Haley Townsend, Sigma Region 8 Coordinator

Dr. Lisha Lee, President, Theta Beta Chapter, Sigma

8:50am – 9:50am

Keynote Speaker: Mary Hanks EdD, MSN, CNL, CNE

Associate Professor, Chair Division of Nursing

The University of West Alabama School of Nursing

“The Legacy of Representation: The Foundation of Nursing Programs”

Jackson II Ballroom

10:00am – 11:00am – Concurrent Sessions

Jackson I:

Concept Mapping for Prelicensure Nursing Students: Introducing Social Determinants of Health

Mahalia Barrow EdD

Driving SUCCESS: Results from Simulation-based Experiences to Meet Community Health Needs

Ashleigh Bowman DNP; Carol Pierce MSN

     Jackson III:

Care Management, Active Learning, and Mock Trial Simulations

Candace Magan Evans DNP, RN, CNE

Measuring the Effects of Consistent Leadership Rounding on Patient Experience

Lacey Gentry DNP, RN, CNE; Courtney McMullen DNP, RN

Jackson IV:

Capstone Students’ Emotional Intelligence and Empathy in Old Curriculum, Pre-Pandemic

Andrea Taylor DNP; Michelle Finch PhD

      11:00am – 12:15pm

Silent Auction Open: Jackson II Ballroom

Poster Presentations: Oxford Meeting Room (authors present)

12:20pm – 1:00PM

Lunch: Jackson II Ballroom

1:15PM – 2:15PM

Keynote Speaker: Josie Bidwell DNP, RN, FNP-C, DipACLM, FACLM

Professor and Clinical Director, Department of Preventative Medicine

Director, Office of Well-Being

University of Mississippi Medical Center

“Lifestyle Medicine and Nurse Well-Being”

Jackson II Ballroom

2:20pm – 3:20pm – Concurrent sessions

      Jackson I:

Increasing Undergraduate Nursing Students Resilience, Self-Compassion, and Well-Being Through Health and Wellness Coaching

Yvonne Creighton, DNP; Deborah Lee, PhD    

Preventing Aggression in Pediatric Inpatient Units: A best practice Implementation Project
Johnna Riddick, MSN

     Jackson III:

Onboarding Program Supports Academic Preparedness for Nurses Entering Graduate School

Tina Ferrell PhD, RN; Jinny Bailey MEd

Representing More through Collaboration: The SEC Nursing Faculty Professional Development Consortium

Andrea Smith MSN; Carley Dear PhD; Robin Harris PhD

Jackson IV:

Enhancing Undergraduate Nursing Research Education through Collaboration Between      DNP- and PhD-prepared Faculty
Melissa Klamm, PhD; Meagan Cherry, MSN

Teaching Nursing Students' Clinical Judgment Using Situation Awareness and Principles of Combat Training
Lishia Lee, PhD, RN, BC-Ped

3:20pm – 3:35pm

Afternoon break – refreshments 

3:35pm – 4:35pm - Sigma Session

Building Climate-Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare Organizations: A Nursing Perspective

Mercy Mumba PhD, RN, CMSRN

Jackson II

Special notes:

Silent Auction closes at 2:45 pm and winners will be posted at 3:30 pm! Winners should pay and pick up items by 5:00 pm in Jackson II Ballroom.

Dinner is on your own. See the Conference Program or website for dining suggestions!

Saturday, September 21st

7:30am – 8:30am

Breakfast Buffet: Jackson II Ballroom

8:40am – 9:40am – Concurrent sessions

Jackson I:

Connecting the Dots: From Concepts and Exemplars to Communication and Clinical Judgment
Tara Price DNP; Leigh Holle, DNP; Lori Duke DNP

Improving Hospital Partnerships Through Collaboration in Nursing Leadership Education
Debi Fatherree DNP; Jeanne Calcote PhD; Deanna Howington MSN

Jackson III:

Telementoring Contemporary Healthcare Priorities Virtually and Collaboratively in Interprofessional Communities to Increase Nursing Workforce Capabilities
Bettina Riley PhD, RN, FAAS; Rebecca Thomas DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC

Clinical Decision Making in the Classroom: Representing, Reflecting and Responding. Preparing Students for Real-life Nursing
Monica White MSN; Presly Lowry MSN; Lisa Horsey MSN; Jennifer Hargett DNP

Jackson IV:

The Relationship between Gamification and Coping: Nursing Students’ Perceptions of the Educational Environment
LynLee Morgan PhD; Marion Patti DNP                                                                                                                                                                 

Incorporating Social Determinants of Health into Nursing Curriculum Through Simulation
Priscilla Simms-Roberson DNP, APRN, NP-C, SANE-A

9:50am – 10:50am  - Sigma Session

Unlocking Excellence: Navigating the Path to the Sigma Chapter Key Award and Establishing a Chapter-At-Large

Haley F. Townsend EdD, RN, FNP-BC; Kimberly Douglas PhD, RN, CNE; D'Ann Somerall DNP, MAEd, CRNP, FNP-BC, FAANP

Jackson II

11:00am – 12:00pm

Lunch: Jackson II Ballroom

Region 8 Meeting: Dr. Haley Townsend, Sigma Region 8 Coordinator

12:00pm – 12:30pm

Concluding Remarks: Dr. Kim Douglas, Region 8 Conference Chair

Evaluations and Instructions to obtain CE Hours

Sigma Region 8 Coordinator: Haley Townsend

Keynote Speakers

Conference Theme and Overall Goal

Conference Presentations

See Program for listing of Abstracts

Conference Evaluation and CEUs

Conference Proceeds

Conference Attendees