There was a time when Fresno State lecturer Beverly Miller, recipient of the 2008 Above and Beyond Award from the California School Nurses Organization, had pictured a somewhat different career for herself.
“My original dream was to be a medical missionary,â€Â she said. “But then I got married and had children, and plans changed.â€Â
Miller decided to pursue nursing as her mother had.
“My mother was a nurse, and I really admired her,â€Â she said. “She was probably the person who inspired me the most.â€Â
After 20 years of working as a school nurse with the Fresno Unified School District, Miller joined Fresno State̢۪s Department of Nursing as a lecturer and instructor in 1998.
She soon became aware of the school nursing credential program̢۪s limited availability as a strictly local affair, and set about developing a distance learning program.
“We had satellite sites in places like Visalia, Stanislaus, Chico and Redding,â€Â Miller said, “but we still weren’t meeting the total needs of the students.â€Â
Technical problems were quite common as she and other instructors taught via television, and only 12 of the program̢۪s 27 units, the core nursing courses, were available through distance learning.
So with the advent of Blackboard, Miller helped put the whole program online in 2001, adapting curriculum and course materials for the Internet.
“Then everybody would be able to participate in the program, even from home,â€Â she said.
Miller̢۪s efforts have been apreciated by others in the department.
“Beverly is the lifeblood of this program,â€Â said friend and colleague Nancy Busch, “and very, very dedicated. She works very hard to improve it in any way she can.â€Â
Nursing students work under an instructor in their own area, Miller said, while the lecture portion is taught in online seminars and practicum.
“It’s worked out very well,â€Â Miller said. “We did a lot of things to help the students feel nurtured and supported. There is a buddy system and also support groups.â€Â
All of this helped lead to the full accreditation of the School Nurse Services Credential Program in the spring of 2006, but because school nursing is not officially mandated by the state, Miller said, “sometimes it’s a bit of a rollercoaster.â€Â
The cut in education aid impacts the number of students entering the credential program, she said. “And until nurses are mandated in the schools, there’s going to be a problem. As it stands right now, only the bare necessities are in place.â€Â
But due to Miller, nursing students now have access to all 27 units of coursework online, 15 of which must be completed through Fresno State.
“This is literally one of the most innovative programs in the state,â€Â said Dr. Michael Russler, head of Fresno State’s Department of Nursing. “People prefer our program because of its access and its excellence, thanks to Beverly.â€Â
Russler thinks Fresno State is fortunate to have Miller on campus.
“As a colleague and a friend, she is always a willing participant in all aspects of the program,â€Â he said. “Her creativity ensures that students maintain high levels of quality.â€Â
Miller has been in the limelight often, due to a multitude of awards – including the Above and Beyond, as well as being named Central Valley School Nurse of the Year in 1998 and California School Nurse of the Year in 1999.
“I’m really kind of a private person, but I’m deeply honored and humbled,â€Â Miller said. “I love doing what I do, and the opportunity to make a difference.â€Â
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