Mirror - Vol. 36, No. 18 -February 16, 2011

              rKhiL | Take one THE QPMlRROR
Week of Feb. 16,2011 | vol. 36, i<» ie
■ fairfieldmirror.com ■
The Independent Student Newspaper
of Fairfield University
The ReHection of Fairfield
New Doctor of
Nursing Program
Raises Standards
BY ELIZABETH KOUBEK
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Considered as one ofthe toughest and most rigorous pro-grams
on campus, the nursing school just got that much more
competitive. The School of Nursing is set to offer a program that
will "place Fairfield at the forefront of education in the nursing
field" according to Nancy Moriber, the School's nurse anesthe-sia
program track coordinator.
The 36-month Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse
Anesthesia Program (DNP-NAP) will join two other DNP pro-grams
offered here on campus: the Family Nurse Practitioner
(FNP) and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. The program is set
to run independent of the normal school calendar with the
program beginning in May of each year operating continu-ously.
Students will spend their first year completing stricdy
academic work then proceed to a 21-month long clinical
orientation and practica where they will work side-by-side
with certified registered nurse Anesthetics (CRNA) and other
anesthesiologists. The DNP-NAP track will work in conjunc-tion
with Bridgeport Hospital and Bridgeport Anesthesia
Associates.
Students will be challenged in routine surgical cases and
will participate in trauma, major burn and high-risk obstetrical
cases. Current student ofthe DNP-NAP, Matt Bishop, 11, says, "I
get exposed to a great deal of interesting cases and challenging
cases. I have to tell you that my experiences have been great, it
has been an amazing journey so far."
Who might be eligible? Applicants must have a B.S.N.
degree and a minimum of one year's experience as an RN
in a critical care setting. Applicants must also have a quality
point average of 3.0 or higher with a science GPA of 3.0. As
if the program wasn't competitive enough already, only 12
students are admitted into the Nurse Anesthesia Program
each year out of the many that apply.
However, with such a small class there proves to be
great benefits. Moriber states, "We are a very small self-contained
program in which the majority of the clinical
practicum is provided in one institution, Bridgeport Hos-pital.
Because of that we are able to provide one-on-one
mentoring to our students in a very family like environ-ment."
That is one asset we sometimes are not always
granted with in other academic programs at Fairfield.
"There is a crucial need to prepare advanced practice
nurses to take on a leading role among caregivers," said Jeanne
Novotny, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, dean ofthe School of Nursing.
"At the same time, there is an emphasis towards clinical DNP
certification for all advanced nurses within the next decade, and
this program addresses both those needs." The need seems to
be high since, according to the American Association of Nurse
Anesthetists (AANA), nurses are currendy involved in about
two-thirds of all anesthetics administered in the United States.
What draws people into the program here at Fairfield?
We have built up a great reputation in the School of Nursing as
highly competitive, well educated, and a level of excellence that
is hard to match. Milagros Romero '12, current student of the
B.S.N. program states, "This new development here at Fairfield
only proves us to be a force to be wreckned with. The School of
Nursing is no joke, we work hard and we love whatwe do. Add-ing
the DNP-NAP program will only add to our reputation as a
great program. It definitely makes me think about grad school
after graduation."
The DNP-NAP program is clearly designed for students
to leave with more than just a degree. They will be prepared to
assume a number of leadership roles which include executive
positions in all healthcare organizations along with university
based faculty positions with a clinical focus.
With programs like these, new nursing graduates will
think about going to graduate school to get even more
ahead in such a demanding field of work.
Digging the Dorm Designs
Check out the new living quarters for Seniors, Juniors and Sophomores scheduled for next year on P. 2-3
Tom McKiver/The Mirror
Kairos:Where Do\bu Stand?
BY SASHA CAMPBELL & ROSEMABY O'CONNER
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kairos. Almost all students on Fairfield's campus have
heard this word. Whether violently opposed or powerfully in
favor, Kairos seems to spark an emotional reaction in Fairfield
students.
"When I came back from Kairos, I was a member of a
large community," Ashley Rowe, '11, said. "That community is
so supportive and introduced me [to] amazing people I other-wise
would not have met. They helped me accept myself, faults
and all, and become the person I have always wanted to be."
Others oppose this view. When the retreats conclude,
complaints about "secrets," "cults," and "Kai High"
can often be heard from those who did not par
take.
"I've yet to go on Kairos in college,"
said Gabriella Tutino "but it seems to
me that it creates an intense bond
between people that do go. This is
not a bad thing in the least.
But ifyou're not on the same
retreat as your friend, when
he or she returns, you feel
a bit neglected, since those
who did go seem to have only
eyes for each other."
Many students are told
that Kairos is a retreat that has
a secret. Some students even think
that Kairos is some sort of secret
organization. But how many can actually
explain what it really entails?/Campus
Minister and Retreat Coordinator, Kevin
Donohue, and student coordinator, Colleen Wilson,
have something different to say on the matter.
Donohue, a Fairfield graduate, helps organize the various
retreats for Fairfield students. "There seems to be a persistent
misconception that Kairos is some sort of a 'Secret Society,'"
he said. He also professes that the reason for the secrecy is not
to exclude people, but to encourage them to attend the retreat
themselves. He believes most central elements of the retreat
are best experienced personally, instead of being recounted
through word of mouth.
He said that, "Kairos is a weekend long retreat grounded
in the spirituality of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits. Kairos
has a Catholic orientation, but individuals from all religious
traditions are welcome to attend. For instance, when I was
a student at Fairfield, a Muslim friend of mine took part in
Kairos and loved it."
Colleen Wilson '11, agrees with Donohue. "This retreat is
all that you make it and the religious aspect can play as little or
as big of a role as you would like. Over the three days, you are
broken into small groups and provided with opportunities to
get to know one another on a deeper level. The retreat can be
a moving experience allowing students to take a step back and
reflect on their lives."
Based on the number of people who sign-up
for Kairos, there is a high level of interest in this
retreat. Donohue is thankful for all the stu-dents
who are interested in the program
but states, "This is a mixed blessing,
because while we are pleased that
so many students want to partici-pate,
there aren't enough
spaces to accommodate
everyone who wants to
come."
Kairos is also not
unique to the Fairfield
campus. Many other
Catholic schools have their
own Kairos retreat programs.
Donohue states that, "Many Je-suit
Universities and High Schools
have the Kairos retreat. I first did Kai-ros
as a high school student at Scranton
Prep. With that said, every school has its
own unique style and individual emphasis, so
Kairos isn't the same at any two places."
Even if students have participated in a Kairos retreat in
high school, the staff at Campus Ministry does not want them
to turn away from the Kairos experience at Fairfield. They state
that each and every Kairos retreat is different based on the
students that participate and the subsequent interaction and
spiritual learning that takes place.
Wilson says, "Kairos is an extremely special and unique
experience, as one partici-pant
calls it, 'a celebration KAIROS | PAGE 6
INDEX
Opinion • Page 9
The Vine • Page 11
Coffee Break • Page 19
Sports • Page 24
ARE WE ACTUALLY
LEARNING
ANYTHING? P. 6
INSIDE m m
LITERARY
JOURNALISM p. 11