McKendree nursing professor joins Board of Directors

Janice Wiegmann, PhD, RN, a professor of nursing at McKendree University in Lebanon, is the newest member of the Board of Directors at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese.

“The hospital board is pleased to welcome Dr. Wiegmann,” said board chairman Patrick Hitpas of Breese. “She brings a strong understanding of the healthcare field to the position.”

Wiegmann, of New Baden, holds a doctorate degree and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from Saint Louis University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Saint Xavier University in Chicago. She joined the McKendree faculty in 1982.

Her teaching focus has been family and community health including assisting students to develop community education programs.

“My other favorites are transcultural nursing, ethical/legal issues and leadership and I also enjoy teaching two elective courses, one on nursing history and the other on patient teaching,” Wiegmann said.

“At the MSN level, I have concentrated on cultural diversity and health promotion/disease prevention,” she said. “Over the past five years, I’ve become more involved in on-line learning.”

Outside of the classroom, Wiegmann serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Communion at St. George Church in New Baden, as a delegate director to the Illinois Division of the American Cancer Society and as president of the board of the Metro East Region of The American Cancer Society.

She organized Jan’s Gems for the Strides Against Breast Cancer walk; was Volunteer Chair for the Cancer Prevention Study 3 enrollment at the Clinton County Relay for Life; and is a member of the American Nursing and Illinois Nurses Associations, the honor society of nursing, Sigma Theta Tau, the academic honor society, Phi Kappa Phi, and the National Council of Family Relations.

Wiegmann published “Promoting Health in Families” on health promotion of families in rural settings; and published and presented “Benefits and Barriers of Online Learning in a BSN Completion Program” during the Illinois Online Conference.

She has also presented “Technology in a Baccalaureate Completion Program in a Liberal Arts College;” “God Put Me On This Earth” at the University Honors Convocation; and “Health and Well-Being of Rural Families” at the fifth International Family Nursing Conference in Chicago.

Wiegmann is a 2003 Hall of Honor inductee as a Distinguished Alumna at Mater Dei High School in Breese and received the United Methodist Exemplary Teacher Award in 2000.

Others on the board include Sister MaryBeth Culnan, Sister Josine Mondloch, Elaine Behrmann, Dr. Erin Gagen, Carson Hempen, Patrick Hitpas, John Hudspeth, Dr. Jonathan Osborn and Paul Strieker.