Dr. Truman to Receive Award

Dr. Jean Truman, assistant professor of nursing at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, will receive the 2009 Chairs’ Faculty Teaching Award for excellence in teaching.

“In addition to receiving highly favorable feedback from students, Dr. Truman uses innovative teaching methods in her classroom,” wrote Dr. Lauren Yaich, chairwoman of the Division of Biological and Health Sciences, in recommending Truman for the award. “She has played an important part in the effort to incorporate computerized simulation mannequins into the nursing curriculum.”

Yaich also explained that the nursing students have almost always given Truman teaching evaluation scores that were well above the average, including perfect scores on certain specific teaching skills. Truman’s evaluations were compared not only to the Pitt-Bradford nursing faculty, but also those of nursing professors in the School of Nursing in Oakland.

Truman will receive her award during Honors Convocation on Thursday, April 9.

Truman was chosen for the award by the chairmen and chairwomen of Pitt-Bradford’s five academic divisions.

In choosing an award recipient, the chairpersons reviewed letters of recommendation, student evaluations of teaching, syllabi and grade distribution. They also considered the teachers’ knowledge of subject matter and their advising and dedication in working with students beyond the classroom in such activities as internships and research projects.

The award, which is in its eighth year, is open to any full-time faculty member who has taught at Pitt-Bradford for at least the last three consecutive academic years.

“I am humbled to receive this award,” Truman said. “I can appreciate that each student learns in his or her own way, and I try to incorporate a variety of learning styles for my students to help them understand nursing concepts.

“My goal for the nursing program at Pitt-Bradford is to graduate students who can critically think in the clinical arena to be able to provide safe and competent care to those entrusted to them.”

In addition to working with the computerized mannequins, Truman has created a Web-based tutorial that allows students to explore various kinds of irregular heartbeats. She has also used volunteers to portray burn victims to expose her students to a situation in which they would have to handle a severe burn.

Last year, Truman earned her doctorate of nursing practice degree with a focus in educational leadership from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Truman, who also coordinates Pitt-Bradford’s associate of science in nursing program, wrote her dissertation about predictors of student success on state board nursing licensure exam.

She came to Pitt-Bradford in 2003 after working as a critical care nurse, coordinator of staff education and nursing supervisor at Bradford Regional Medical Center, Hamot Medical Center in Erie and Presbyterian University Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Her other research interests include cardiac care nursing. She also holds a master of science critical care clinical nurse specialist degree from Gannon University and a bachelor of science in nursing degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Truman is the daughter of Louis W. and Mariann Pascarella of Bradford. She continues to work as a nursing supervisor at Bradford Regional Medical Center and is an active volunteer for the American Cancer Society. She enjoys spending her free time with her husband, G. Scott Truman, and their children, Megan and Andrew.