The Connecticut Nurses' Association (CNA) awarded Fairfield University School of Nursing Professor, Ph.D., FNP-BC, with its prestigious 2009 Josephine Dolan Award for her outstanding contributions to nursing education.

This award, named after one of the most distinguished leaders in Connecticut nursing history, represents the highest honor that the nursing profession in the state can bestow on one of its own, a kind of "Nobel Prize" in nursing, according to Carole Bergeron, Ph.D., RN, executive director of the CNA. The Josephine Dolan Award was established by CNA to honor individuals or organizations that have made contributions in the areas of practice, education, research, administration, political action and/or service.

Dr. Grossman, the coordinator of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Fairfield, received the award at CNA's 103rd annual convention. "I'm humbled, especially because I was nominated by my peers," she said. "I am very honored by their letters of recommendation."

One such letter was submitted by Terry Tavella Quell, Ph.D., RN, assistant dean for undergraduate and graduate management of Fairfield University's School of Nursing and president of the Connecticut Nurses' Association. Dr. Quell called Dr. Grossman "a national leader" who has made significant contributions to nursing knowledge." "Despite the fact that she earned tenure and full professor rank many years ago, she continues to be a consistent researcher and spends most of her summers working on research projects," wrote Dr. Quell, who began working with Dr. Grossman in 1991 when she came to Fairfield. "Literally hundreds of alumni keep in touch with her, and I think this is a real tribute to her as an educator and clinician."

The award was bestowed on Dr. Grossman for her body of work. She is the author of textbooks, published articles, and undergraduate and graduate curriculum on the nurse practitioner role, critical care nursing, simulation teaching, palliative care, leadership, mentoring, and end-of-life care education, among other subjects.

Dr. Grossman recently returned from Norway, where she is the co-project director in a collaborative international project between Fairfield and the Oslo University College concerning simulation, cultural competency, and global exchange. Her research projects also include conducting a pedagogical study of the use of simulation and case studies in critical care nursing with colleagues at Yale New Haven Hospital and various studies regarding nurse practitioners and clinical outcomes.

Dr. Grossman has made numerous presentations. Most recently, she presented at Oslo University College in Oslo, Norway and at the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty Annual Convention in Portland, OR. In June, she spoke about the importance of professional schools and social justice at the Transformational Leadership in the Jesuit Tradition Conference at Fairfield, which brought together all the Jesuit universities in the country.

Dr. Grossman wrote the third edition of a textbook, "The New Leadership Challenge: Creating a Preferred Future for Nursing" (F. A. Davis Publishers, 2009). Her forthcoming book, "How to Run Your Own Business: A Guide for Nurse Practitioners," will be published in the spring by Springer Publishing. She received the American Journal of Nursing 2007 Book of the Year Award for "Mentoring in Nursing: A Dynamic and Collaborative Process."

Josephine Dolan was an esteemed author, nurse educator and nursing historian in Connecticut. She died in 2004.

Posted On: 11-06-2009 10:11 AM

Volume: 42 Number: 118