OSHKOSH, WI, April 06, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Leona F. Dempsey, APNP, PMHCS-Board Certified has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
She is driven to pursue a career in service to others with excellence in knowledge and caring. Dr. Dempsey began her nearly 50-year-long career as a nurse primarily specializing in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing by earning a diploma from St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center School of Nursing which led to her becoming a registered nurse. Over the years, she expanded upon her professional knowledge and skills by earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from De Paul University and a Master of Science degree in Nursing degree from St. Xavier University. More recently, she earned a Doctorate in Philosophy degree with the functional areas of philosophy and nursing from Loyola University.
Her career is a testimony to the breadth and depth of opportunities and other possibilities in nursing. Dr. Dempsey explored and personally assisted in defining the 4 main areas of nursing by entering each at a beginning level and reaching the top level of each area (except research which is ongoing). For instance, in Clinical Practice the advancement was from staff nurse to board certified clinical specialist as well as recognition as the first Masters Prepared Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse to work for the City of Chicago Out-Patient Mental Health Centers, and finally, to advanced practice nurse prescriber (APNP). In the Nursing Leadership area, the advancement was from team leader to director of nursing which included an additional w/e rotation per month as the hospital administrator on duty. For Nursing Education, the advancement was from being the first psychiatric-mental health nursing instructor for a school of nursing (originated and taught the theory and practice course) to Professor Emerita. For research, it was from an unpublished master's thesis ("Relationships Among Clients Cognitive-Affective Style, Level of Self-Exploration and Therapist Relationship Orientation in the Initial Interview") to published articles (which include but are not limited to) "The Lived Experience of Perimenopause and Menopause," "Connections and Lingering Presence as Cocreated Art" and "A Qualitative Descriptive Exploratory Study of Feeling Confined Using Parse's Human Becoming School of Thought." This last-mentioned study which was presented in Nursing Science Quarterly was selected by Sage Publication for the 2008 Best Paper Award.
Her community minded focus began emerging in grade school when she volunteered as a group leader/teacher for younger children. During the first year of high school, she volunteered at a hospital each Saturday. Her volunteering by necessity needed to pause after that in order to make the money to pay for her future nursing school tuition, etc. and picked up again when she was a member, then president of the Oshkosh Division of the Mental Health Association. Other opportunities arose as a volunteer in helping her city "Build a Park." Her immediate family consists of her husband, 6 grown children and their spouses, and many grandchildren. Her husband and children all have earned degrees in different areas (2 PhD's and 5 Masters Degrees). She and her husband have created an ongoing scholarship for students of University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh nursing program. Currently retired, she still utilizes some of her skills through volunteering with others in three different women's groups and in presentations to lay people and professionals as needed. While her professional life is filled with highlights, she takes the most pride in a handmade pin that a former patient designed and presented to her that reads: "Mrs. Dempsey, you made a difference in my life."
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