As someone who readily confesses that she likes to
go to school, June Patton couldn't be in a better
place than Ashland University, teaching research and
other courses to RNs pursuing bachelor's degrees.
More often than not, the classroom is a two-way street,
with the nurses enlightening Patton even as she schools
them in matters that transcend practice settings.
"I love the dialogue with students," Patton
said. Her expertise is oncology; students can be from
any department: cardiovascular, intensive care, emergency
and occupational health, among others. "It's
a growth experience on both parts," she said.
Some nurses enroll in a BSN-completion program for
the joy of learning, but usually it's more than that.
It's expensive to go back to school and stressful,
especially for students with families, Patton said.
Very few don't work and therein lies the motivation.
"Some hospitals are encouraging and some are
even mandating that they get a bachelor's degree if
they want to be in management," she said.
"Usually they want to do something different
in nursing and they can't go beyond where they are
without the bachelor's degree."
Once in a while, a star comes to light under Patton's
watch. "The stars seem to go beyond whatever
is the required assignment for class and are interested
in pursuing something in addition," she said.
One such student, an aspiring nursing teacher, paid
Patton perhaps the highest compliment, characterizing
the mentoring and instruction she received in and
out of the classroom as the equivalent of a full scholarship.
Patton, who has been recognized by both the university
and Sigma Theta Tau International for mentoring, said
she encouraged the student-who now is in graduate
school-to publish her classwork because of its depth
and contributions to the profession.
Patton's students, led by example, are necessarily
involved in their profession and are taught to stretch
their wings. All are required to attend a meeting
of the Ohio Board of Nursing and are encouraged to
make their feelings on nursing issues known to lawmakers.
With Patton's support, one student created a career
with an Internet nursing guide, another became the
first sexual assault examiner in her county and a
third overcame her fear of public speaking to become
a public health nurse who now is renowned for her
presentations on lead poisoning.
Patton's philosophy of education and her purpose
go far beyond the content of courses, beyond facts,
critical-thinking techniques, conflict resolution
and workplace culture, so that "no matter what
organization you work in, you can-within a couple
of weeks-get a bird's-eye view of who holds power,
how decisions are made and how you fit into the organization.
"That's how I think we have to prepare nurses
for tomorrow, with skills they can take from setting
to setting," she said.
