Ellmer School of Nursing at Old Dominion University

Last week, members of our faculty attended the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's 2026 Access, Connection, Engagement (ACE) Symposium, themed Policy, Power and Pathways: Elevating Excellence in Academic Nursing.

Faculty members presented their work, Beyond the Lecture: An Experiential Scavenger Hunt Model for Teaching Nursing Research, and also shared a poster presentation, Collective Engagement Survey: Piloting First Steps to Create Power for Change.

We are proud of our faculty and grateful for the opportunity to showcase the innovative scholarship, leadership and collaborative work taking place at our school.

Thanks to a $600K grant from the Obici Healthcare Foundation, ODU Community Care continues to grow its impact in Franklin, Virginia and beyond, bringing essential healthcare resources to underserved communities while providing hands-on learning for future nursing leaders.

Learn more about the inspiring work being done in our latest story. https://www.odu.edu/nursing/article/eliminating-barriers-to-care-the-western-tidewater-region

We're looking forward to an important conversation on the future of AI in healthcare and nursing education.

Jane Carrington, Ph.D., R.N., FAMIA, FAAN, interim chair of graduate programs at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer School of Nursing at Old Dominion University, will join fellow experts as a panelist for "Privacy, Data Protection, and AI Literacy: Understanding the Academy’s AI Position Statement", hosted by the American Academy of Nursing.

This Policy Dialogue will bring together speakers from the Academy’s AI Task Force to discuss the development of the Academy’s AI Position Statement and highlight key policy recommendations, including considerations for governance, regulation, implementation, and trust. The discussion will also offer forward-looking perspectives on the impact of AI in health and healthcare.

To learn more and RSVP, visit: https://aannet.org/events/eventdetails.aspx?id=2062332

📣 Pre-Licensure Nursing Application Now Open – Spring 2027 Cohort

We're excited to share that the Pre-Licensure Nursing Application for the Spring 2027 cohort is now live and available for submission.

Application Deadline: July 15, 2026

Students intending to apply to the Spring 2027 nursing cohort should review the application requirements and submit their materials before the deadline.

Apply here:

Prelicensure Application Process Students wishing to enter the Prelicensure program must be admitted to ODU, and then they can must submit a separate application to enter the Nursing program. Learn the correct process, and how to transfer credits from other institutions.

This weekend, students and faculty members participated in the annual Asian Festival at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach, hosted by the Asian Pacific American Heritage Organization (APAHO).

In partnership with the Philippine Nurses Association of Virginia (PNAVA), the Alzheimer's Association, and Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer School of Nursing at Old Dominion University, students engaged with community members from across Hampton Roads to celebrate cultural heritage while promoting health education and community service.

Throughout the event, volunteers helped raise awareness for the Walk to End Alzheimer's by sharing information about brain health, dementia awareness, caregiver support and the importance of early detection. The festival provided a meaningful opportunity to connect with the community, foster important conversations and support a cause that impacts millions of families.

Don't forget to join us tonight for what promises to be an engaging discussion about our D.N.P. program! We look forward to sharing insights, answering your questions and connecting with future nurse leaders. See you there!

Join us for an interactive Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) Program Info Session!

Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: Live on Zoom

This session will include:
• A comprehensive overview of the D.N.P. program
• Insights into curriculum, expectations, and outcomes
• An open Q&A- bring your questions!
No registration required- simply scan the Zoom link at the scheduled time and join us.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Community Health in Action! This weekend, our Community Health students had the opportunity to participate in the Youth Day Fair hosted by Seton Youth Services Organization for the first time.

Students provided blood pressure screenings, vision screenings and valuable health resources to attendees, helping promote wellness and community awareness.

We are incredibly proud of our students for their commitment to serving others and addressing the needs of the community.

All smiles as we look back on our final Skills Day of the semester with the Family Nurse Practitioner Class of 2027!

Students spent the day strengthening essential clinical skills through hands-on learning, including orthopedic joint assessment techniques, EKG interpretation, and a suturing and incision & drainage (I&D) workshop led by our dedicated faculty.

As she reflects on her time in Honduras, Ashley Larson, D.N.P., Class of 2027, describes the experience as both personally and professionally transformative.

The opportunity to provide care in a different healthcare setting strengthened her clinical confidence, broadened her perspective on patient care and reinforced the importance of service.

One lesson stood out throughout the experience: meaningful growth often happens outside of your comfort zone. Ashley encourages students to embrace new challenges, remain open to learning and take time to reflect on the people and experiences that shape their journey.

Keeping a journal, practicing gratitude and leaning on trusted peers for support helped her process the experience and appreciate its impact long after each clinical day ended.

“This experience solidified my dream of incorporating yearly medical mission trips into my career as a CRNA. A goal I hope to share with my husband, whom I actually met on a previous medical mission trip.” Ashley says.

From the Classroom to Honduras!

This semester, Ashley Larson, D.N.P, Class of 2027, traveled to Roatán, Honduras, where she gained hands-on experience providing anesthesia care.

Working under the guidance of her preceptor, Ashley managed patients through the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative phases of care for high-acuity ENT procedures, including tonsillectomies and thyroidectomies.

The experience challenged her to think creatively and adapt clinically. Limited oxygen supplies, minimal equipment and language barriers required resourcefulness, teamwork and confidence.

“Culturally, the “All hands-on deck” mentality was incredibly refreshing. There was no “That’s not my job” attitude. Everyone from the surgeons to the students to the cleaning staff worked as a cohesive unit,” Ashley reflected.

One of the most meaningful moments came during a clinic follow-up when a patient shared that her hearing had improved after surgery and embraced a member of the medical team in gratitude.

The experience reinforced her commitment to global health and strengthened her belief that every patient, regardless of geography, deserves safe, high-quality care.