Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is excited to share this spring’s Circle of Caring winners. The University’s Circle of Caring Award recognizes FNU faculty and staff members who go above and beyond in upholding our mission and contributing to our Culture of Caring.
Nominations for this award are considered based on the following Culture of Caring characteristics: professionalism, mutual support, respect, positive communication and inclusivity.
This term’s faculty winner is FNU instructor of four years, Katie Moriarty, PhD, CNM, FACNM, CAFCI, RN. The spring staff winner is Aimee Niles, FNU library technician, serving on the library service team for six years.
The age of COVID-19 has been full of challenges for the nursing community, yet so many FNU staff and faculty members have used it as a chance to grow and support one another. Moriarty is an excellent example of that mindset. Here is what her nominator wrote when discussing her dedication to her students and team over the past year:
“Katie has displayed extraordinary kindness and thoughtfulness since the pandemic started. She has been amazingly supportive of students, developing an excellent handout of mental health resources that she has shared with the students and faculty each term. Katie encouraged faculty to watch ‘Trauma-Informed Teaching’ by Inman Mays to understand and better help our students.
She also suggested and started live ‘Drop-in’ sessions for the students and a ‘Self-care and Self-Calming Activities’ Discussion Board that has been immensely popular among the students and faculty. Finally, Katie has gone out of her way to be available to students and meet with them as many times as they need to help them get through this period. She has been the model of supportiveness, kindness, and making sure every person feels included and welcome in her course.”
Upon receiving the award, Moriarty responded:
“It was an honor to receive the Circle of Caring Award for the Spring 2021 term–it is an entire team effort and award! Our faculty is a coordinated unit that works to facilitate and optimize the didactic course material, elevating the learning experiences of our students. COVID-19 and many current disasters have added elements that complicate life and many individuals’ ability to function. These challenges have had an impact on everyone on a personal and a community level. No one has been exempt from the ups and downs.
Within our course, we are constantly rethinking how to help our students to learn and retain the course information. We have tried and encouraged varied techniques, platforms and strategies that we believe have created an environment that helps with adaptation. We have worked to embrace a trauma-informed pedagogy.”
Similarly, Niles has been incredibly accommodating, positive, and kind as she interacts with co-workers, faculty and students in her daily work. Here is what her nominator had to say about Niles:
“It is hard to pick just one instance or interaction that exemplifies my communication with Aimee. I often need several articles that have to be obtained via interlibrary loan service, and Aimee is always so helpful with these. She is always kind and patient, even when some articles prove challenging to obtain. Aimee goes above and beyond ensuring our course readings are all updated and correct every term, and I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to get this many faculty to meet a deadline, but Aimee does it with grace. She has a quiet serenity that she willingly shares in our communications, and you always get the impression that you are the only one she provides services for when in reality, there are at least a hundred others who need her to do things for them, too.”
In response to her award, Niles said, “I felt truly honored and humbled by receiving the Circle of Caring Award. I am so moved by the generosity of my coworkers and forever grateful as well.”
Thank you to Katie and Aimee for being excellent examples of FNU’s Culture of Caring!