Preview
Award Date
2006
Title at time of award
Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing; Rush University's school for mentally disabled children
Description
Illinois Wesleyan University will honor Jean L Heideman, class of'82, as this yea~s Distinguished Alumna for Nursing Excellence on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006. Heideman is being recognized for her extensive work in the field of nursing, and in particular, her involvement with the Rush Day School in Chicago, a therapeutic school for emotionally disturbed children and a child, adolescent and family behavioral health outpatient clinic. Heideman started her work at the Rush Day School in 1986 as a Nursing Coordinator, and since has served as the school's Clinical Coordinator, Program Director, and is presently the Director of Child Psychiatry Outpatient Services. In her time at the school, Heideman developed a satellite outpatient clinic in Oak Brook, Ill. from the "ground up;' and helped expand the program to more participants. The Rush Day School is a part of Rush University Medical Center. Rush is the recipient of the Magnet Nursing Services Recognition Program for Excellence in Nursing, the highest award a hospital can receive for outstanding achievement in nursing services, and was named as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in a 2006 U.S. News & World Report. In addition to her involvement at the school, Heideman also works out of a private practice in Chicago and Skokie, Ill. that concerns individual, group and family psychotherapy. She has worked as a nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago and Riveredge Hospital in Forest Park, Ill, as well as a consultant in various places around the Chicago area. Her research has been featured in numerous publications, and she has presented her work in locations throughout the Chicago area and California. Heideman graduated from IWU with a degree in nursing and went on to receive her maste~s in Child/Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Illinois and her master's in public policy from the University of Chicago with a certificate in Health Administration and Policy. She is a member of the Illinois Society of Advanced Practice Nurses and the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. In 1996, Heideman was awarded the Mary Beth O'Holleran Nurse Mentorship Award, and in 2001, shew as named Manager of the Quarter in the Department of Psychiatry.