Hood Nursing Faculty Receive Awards

Three faculty members from the Department of Nursing were recognized by the Nurse Support Program II (NSP) via the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) with nearly $40,000 in total awards and grants.

Hollis Caswell, M.S., RN, RNC-NIC, CHSE, visiting assistant professor of nursing and nursing simulation coordinator, received an NSP II Nurse Educator Doctoral Grant (NEDG). Caswell, a Doctor of Nursing Practice candidate at Chamberlain University, is completing her final project at Meritus Medical Center. Funds from the grant will support this project, which involves clinical simulation for early ambulation of ventilated patients in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU).

“Nurses in the MICU are currently not performing this task. After conducting a needs assessment, it was observed that nurses lack confidence, have insufficient training, lack necessary resources and are concerned that they may inadvertently harm patients,” said Caswell. “Simulation is an excellent intervention to build confidence, increase teamwork and provide training in the clinical setting.”

As part of the project, Caswell will measure the confidence-level of nurses before and after a simulation experience. She hopes to test the correlation between confidence and frequency of performed ambulation, a key driver toward increasing patient outcomes. The practice can minimize ventilator-associated pneumonia and reduce complications associated with being intubated, ultimately decreasing the number of days that a patient spends in the hospital.

“When patients are able to avoid complications, they have better outcomes and live a healthier life,” said Caswell. “This saves the hospital and the patient money.”

Meanwhile, Evelyn Nieves, Ph.D., RN, CNE, assistant professor of nursing, and Sheila Pierre-Louis, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC, CNEcl, assistant professor of nursing, both received Nurse Faculty Award Recognition for Teaching Excellence for their contributions to nursing education and service to Maryland nursing students.

"Receiving this award is an incredible honor that reaffirms my passion for nursing education. It is humbling, gratifying and motivating to be recognized for my contributions to shaping future nurses and nurse practitioners, while advancing the nursing curriculum,” said Pierre-Louis. “This award has reinforced my dedication to making a difference here at Hood. [It] serves as a reminder of the impact educators have in preparing the next generation of nurses and nurse practitioners and motivates me to continue innovating and advocating for high-quality nursing education.”

With her commitment to advancing innovative and high-quality nursing education, Pierre-Louis plans to use the award for professional development, curriculum enhancements and scholarly projects. All these efforts will support student learning and patient outcomes, making an impact in both academia and healthcare.

Nieves likewise will use the award funds for professional development opportunities. From attending conferences, earning new certifications and collecting teaching resources, Nieves strives to stay current in an ever-evolving field, which ultimately best serves nursing students. Nieves is also currently working on a scholarly project involving emotional intelligence and empathy to cultivate a deeper understanding of patient-centered care among students.

“By incorporating caring science principles into the curriculum, we can help students not only develop technical skills, but also nurture the compassion that truly defines excellent nursing care,” said Nieves. “Teaching is my passion, and impacting the next generation of nurses is deeply fulfilling. This recognition is a reminder of how important this work is and motivates me to continue striving for excellence in my teaching and mentorship.”

The goal of the Nurse Support Program is to increase the number of nurses in Maryland hospitals, with NSP II focusing on expanding the nursing workforce through nursing education programs at colleges and universities based in Maryland.

“Programs like NSP are essential to strengthening the nursing workforce in Marland by addressing barriers to improving patient outcomes,” said Pierre-Louis. “As Maryland faces increasing healthcare demands, programs like NSP play a critical role in preparing quality nurses to meet the evolving needs of patients and the community. NSP helps build a sustainable pipeline of nurses equipped to support the growing and diverse healthcare needs of the state.”

Nieves also notes the importance of NSP in retaining top-level nursing educators. “These programs not only help with the financial burden of nursing education, but they also support faculty development, helping to ensure that the educators who shape the future workforce are as well-prepared and supported as possible,” said Nieves. “With ongoing nursing shortages, initiatives like NSP are pivotal in addressing these gaps and ensuring that nursing education has a strong, well-trained and diverse nursing workforce to meet the healthcare needs of our communities and the student body.”

At Hood, the undergraduate nursing program (BSN) is the fastest-growing major and was named a program of distinction by Colleges of Distinction in 2024.

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