Graduate Nursing Student

Receives Overall Excellence

Award from the MU Sinclair

School of Nursing

Contact: Pam Roe
S218 School of Nursing
(573) 884-2690

May 3 , 2007

COLUMBIA , Mo. – Amy Vogelsmeier has wanted to be a nurse since the age of five. Her oldest brother was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and she was able to help her mother care for him after a lengthy hospitalization. She distinctly remembers feeling a sense of pride in helping her big brother recover.

Through her career, she has gradually increased her level of education. Each degree brought Amy a greater sense of autonomy and fulfillment. Vogelsmeier's passion for life-long learning and applying what she knows to her nursing practice were the deciding factors in her receiving the PhD Student Award for Overall Excellence at the MU Sinclair School of Nursing's annual spring banquet on April 13. Amy and her husband, Jay, of Sweet Springs have two children, Jennifer, 18 and Matthew, 14.

It was through her work with the elderly and their families that she made the decision to pursue a master's degree. And a few short years later she became a certified gerontological clinical nurse specialist.

During her master's program she met several research nurse faculty members at the School and began working for them as a clinical consultant to Missouri nursing homes. Later she had the opportunity to work directly with nursing home staff and residents and to experience first hand the influence of their work toward improving care.

“Amy exemplifies the art and science of scholarly pursuits as a doctoral student,” said Jill Scott-Cawiezell, assistant professor of nursing at the School. “She has a passion for problem-solving and a heart for supporting those who take care of the elderly. Amy is constantly pondering the challenges of providing safe care to nursing home residents in her coursework.”

Her work as a research nurse continues to be the most rewarding and fulfilling work she has ever done. However, in addition to being a strong student she is also a service to her community, wife and mother of teenagers. She is active in her church and local community as well as being actively involved with her children's activities.

In the past year, Vogelsmeier has also had her first data-based, first-author publication in the Journal of Gerontological Nursing and is second author on a chapter for the Annual Review of Nursing Research that focuses on nursing home safety.

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