Daphne Seybolt Culpepper Memorial Foundation
Geriatric Nursing Certificate Program
Fairfield University and its School of Nursing recently received a $10,000 grant from the Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation to develop and implement a Geriatric Nursing Certificate program for University Faculty and students, as well as practicing nurses in the greater Fairfield area. Dr. Meredith Wallace, Assistant Professor of nursing at Fairfield University will lead the team.
Purpose
The purpose of this grant is to develop a three-credit (30 contact hour) certificate program in gerontological nursing and to provide the course to our faculty, graduates, master's students, and practicing nurses from partner hospitals, including Bridgeport Hospital and Greenwich Hospital. Completion of the three academic credits (30 contact hours) will qualify registered nurses with two years of experience (inclusive of the year in which they are completing the certificate program) to sit for the Gerontological Specialty Nursing Certification examination provided by the American Nurse Credentialing Center. Through the development of theoretical knowledge and clinical practice with the elderly, nurses will develop comfort, confidence, and passion in caring for this population in long-term care. This certificate program will prepare nurses to plan, manage, and implement health care to meet those needs, and evaluate the effectiveness of such care.
Grant Objectives
- Development a course syllabus and receive approval of the course by School of Nursing curriculum committees.
- Enrollment a minimum of 20 nurses in the course.
- Demonstrate improved knowledge and perceptions of the elderly by students taking the course.
- Obtain successful certification of students as Geriatric Nurses through the American Nurse Credentialing Center.
- Disseminate project outcomes and experiences through paper and poster presentation.
Mission of the Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Foundation
The Foundation was established in 1983 and focuses its giving on education, health care, and human services.
Contact Information
Meredith Wallace PhD, APRN
Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator
Phone - (203) 254-4000, ext. 2719
E-mail - mwallace@mail.fairfield.edu | 
