Public Health Minute With Helen Harris

PUBLIC HEALTH MINUTE

 Flu Sense(Cents)

The seasonal flu has arrived in Minnesota. In fact it started early (week of Dec 2) according to the CDC which tracks flu activity & surveillance providing a weekly FluView.

Beginning the week of December 2 (week 49 of 2012) cases spiked in MN.

The Pioneer Press reported online that the Minnesota Department of Health says an increasing number of schools across the state are reporting flu-like illnesses.

Schools have reported increasing flu-like outbreaks. In St. Cloud, a Catholic school even canceled classes due to a large number of students being out sick.

SENSE

Disease is transmitted very quickly. Best defense is

• Good hand washing- sounds basic but we do not always practice this
• Cover mouth and nose for coughing and sneezing
• Eat well, stay hydrated and get good sleep
• Exercise to stay physically and emotionally healthy
• If you or any of your family becomes ill with flu or any cold, do not go to work, school, church, shopping etc. Stay at home until you are symptom free for 24 hours. This can be hard for families that have both parents working and children who become sick

On average, about 24,000 Americans die each flu season, according to the CDC. It is not too late to get a vaccine now.

References

Centers for Disease Control. (2012). 2012-2013 Flu season. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm

Minnesota Department of Health. (2012). Flu stats. Retrieved from Minnesota Department of Health website: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/flu/stats/flustats2.pdf

Pioneer Press. (2012, December 19). Minnesota: Flu-like illnesses on the rise in state schools. Retrieved from Pioneer Press online: http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_22223784/st-cloud-school-cancels-classes-flu-outbreak

Helen Harris, RN, MS
Assistant Professor, Nursing
School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership
Minnesota State University Moorhead

MSUM Students Awarded Scholarships from the Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation

Three students from Minnesota State University Moorhead were awarded scholarships in 2012 from the Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation (MNAF):

Alena Deutschlander (MNAF Graduate)
Megan Knoll-Pruden (Cynthia Hunt-Lines)
Karen Smiley (MNAF Baccalaureate)

Please join us in congratulating them in their accomplishment! They were acknowledged at the annual Awards Banquet at the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) Convention and on page 7 of the Winter 2012 Minnesota Nursing Accent.

For your information, the Foundation awarded a total of 23 scholarships in 2012:

3 $5000 each – Cynthia Hunt-Lines Scholarship
7 $2000 each – MNAF Baccalaureate Degree Scholarship
5 $2000 each – MNAF Graduate Degree Scholarship
1 $2000 each – Janky Foundation Scholarship
5 $3000 each – Rose Dhein Scholarship
2 $2000 each – Sarah Colvin Social Justice Scholarship

The primary source of funding for these scholarships is from a voluntary dues check-off process of nurses who are members of the Minnesota Nurses Association. In 2012, over 6,200 members contributed a total of over $87,000 to the general scholarship and grant fund and over $36,000 to the Cynthia Hunt-Lines scholarship fund.

The Foundation Board members appreciate the support the schools have given to nursing students. We strongly urge you and your faculty to continue to inform your students of the opportunities available through MNAF scholarships and research grants. We are particularly interested in receiving research grant applications from masters and doctoral students as well as applications for clinical practice projects that may be joint practice/education endeavors. Scholarship and research grant applications are available on the MNA web site at www.mnnurses.org/mnaf.

Highlighting Spring 2013 HSAD Courses

This spring has a number of HSAD courses being offered.  Each are detailed below with some insight and a resource or two.  For more information regarding Health Services Administration, please contact Dr. Lonni Schicker at melanie.schicker@mnstate.edu.

COMH-HSAD 414: Health Services Planning and Evaluation

Health Services Planning and Evaluation will look at the process of healthcare planning / marketing and its applications for health care service delivery.

A Whole New Mind-Daniel Pink 1/6 (one of the required videos in the class)

HSAD 469-Internship

The students in the MSUM Health Services Administration program complete a planned internship, which is related to their course of study. This 440-hour internship (11 credit hours) is designed to provide practical experience based upon the theoretical foundations learned in the classroom and accounts for eleven credits.  Each student develops skills in the area of problem solving, strategic planning, financial analysis, human resource coordination, and leadership.

 

HSAD 421-Long Term Care Administration

Long Term Care Administration is designed to provide an overview of the management practices and methods for administration of institutional long term care services.

1. The ability to describe of the unique needs and of the aging (elderly) population
2. An understanding of the role and function of long term care within the U. S. health care delivery system.
3. Knowledge of the Federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations concerning the operations of long term care organizations whether not-for profit or for-profit.
4. Understanding of the internal operations and functions of a nursing home and assisted living facility including nursing services, rehabilitation programming, spiritual care, financial and reimbursement
5. Ability to describe the role and function of a nursing home administrator and their role in operating an organization dedicated to the care and treatment of its residents

Video: Culture Change in Long-Term Care http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=long+term+care+video&view=detail&mid=690D6B23DE9F21908E91690D6B23DE9F21908E91&first=21

HSAD 419-Finacnial Management of Healthcare

Financial Management of Healthcare Organizations is designed to provide an overview of the current healthcare financial climate, introduction to tools and techniques as well as terminology used in health care financial management.

1. An understanding the language, tools and techniques used in the financial management of health care organizations.
2. An understanding the importance interpretation of balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements for both for-profit and not-for-profit facilities.
3. Knowledge of working capital management, corporate compliance rules and regulations, handling of investments, and the methods for operations of a health care organization.
4. Creation of a capital and operational budget for a health care organization and understanding of the management principles used in the implementation and monitoring of the budget process.
5. A practical understanding of the methods of financing large capital projects thought the use of pool financing, equity financing and tax-exemption bond financing.

Faculty Highlight – Alicia Swanson

Among other roles, I am a wife, mother of three, nurse and nurse educator. I graduated from North Dakota State University with my Bachelors of Science in Nursing in May of 2002. Soon after, I began my journey as an inpatient nurse on the Children’s Hospital Float Team (NICU, PICU, PEDS) and also provided nursing care on the Adult Cardiac Step down unit. Currently, I remain per diem at the Children’s Hospital on the Pediatric Unit.

I have had the great opportunity to educate nursing students since 2003. After a few years of instructing, I completed my Masters of Science Nursing Education at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, in 2007. My research and thesis was titled Nurses Knowledge, Beliefs and Practices Regarding Infant Positioning in the Prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

I have taught a wide variety of courses in Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), Bachelors level Registered Nursing, Registered Nurse to Bachelors of Science in Nursing and Associated Degree Registered Nursing programs. In addition, I have the great opportunity to facilitate learning in the traditional classroom, online, simulation and clinical settings.

I have greater knowledge and interest in the areas of Pediatrics and Maternal/Child care. I have had the opportunity to supervise nursing students providing direct patient care in both clinical areas. I also have experience and enjoy instructing Public Health Nursing, Nursing Leadership, Transcultural Nursing, Nursing Preceptorship and Nursing Research.

However, my LOVE is Holistic Nursing and Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Therapies. I have experienced and witnessed some amazing transformations and healing! I am a member of the American Holistic Nurses Association which is a professional nursing organization that advocates for holistic nursing care. I am also a Jikiden Reiki Practitioner and BodyTalk Practitioner. I would love to be involved in more research and practice related to complementary and alternative health modalities.

I have taught part-time at Minnesota State University Moorhead since the summer of 2007. And now the opportunity to develop and instruct the Holistic Nursing Course! I can honestly say I feel so very blessed to have the honor to collaborate with such wonderful faculty and students!

Thank you for allowing me the chance to share my journey with you!

In Health and Happiness,

Alicia

Alicia Swanson RN, MSN, PHN
Nursing Faculty
Minnesota State University Moorhead
School of Nursing and Health Care Leadership

Happy 2013 from Terry Dobmeier

Happy 2013 and welcome to our new RN to BSN students joining the program this semester! And of course, welcome back to our returning students.  I am looking forward to another semester of teaching N430 Nursing Research, with 49 students aboard, hopefully all eager to hone their skills in the evidence-based practice process.  Understanding research and its relationship to nursing practice is vital for professional excellence in the discipline of nursing. The goals of this course include increasing nurses’ awareness, understanding and appreciation of the principles involved in nursing research and preparing nurses to utilize research findings to improve nursing practice. Begin exploring the evidence-based practice process by review this tutorial from the University of Minnesota Libraries: http://hsl.lib.umn.edu/learn/ebp/

 

 

Terry Dobmeier, MSN, APRN

School of Nursing and Health Care Leadership

Minnesota State University Moorhead

Zombies

Zombies

Zombies have caught the attention of the American public since the 1920s in books and then film starting in the 1930s. Now part of the horror genre of film noir, some postulate that there could be a zombie apocalypse. If this happens, rest assured that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has this covered. On September 22, 2012, I heard the director of the CDC Dr. Thomas Frieden on NPR state “if anyone comes up with a way of diagnosing someone as being a zombie, I can guarantee you it will be the CDC” (http://www.npr.org/2012/09/22/161566065/cdc-director-thomas-frieden-plays-not-my-job)

Zombie Preparedness  

 

“Wonder why Zombies, Zombie Apocalypse, and Zombie Preparedness continue to live or walk dead on a CDC web site? As it turns out what first began as a tongue in cheek campaign to engage new audiences with preparedness messages has proven to be a very effective platform. We continue to reach and engage a wide variety of audiences on all hazards preparedness via Zombie Preparedness; and as our own director, Dr. Ali Khan, notes, “If you are generally well equipped to deal with a zombie apocalypse you will be prepared for a hurricane, pandemic, earthquake, or terrorist attack.” So please log on, get a kit, make a plan, and be prepared” (Centers for Disease Control, 2012)!

Reference: http://www.cdc.gov/phpr/zombies.htm

Helen Harris, RN, MS
Asst Professor Nursing
School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership
Minnesota State University Moorhead

2012 – Nurses Do It Again!

Public once again votes nurses the “most trusted” professionals.

This is the 13th year nurses have come out on top for ethics and honesty in this annual Gallup poll.

Resources with additional details:

News Release from ANA:

http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/MediaResources/PressReleases/Nurses-Remain-Most-Ethical-of-Professions-in-Poll.pdf?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=Nursing%20eNews&utm_campaign=Nursing2012%20eNews%20December%202012

Article:

http://www.rwjf.org/en/blogs/human-capital-blog/2012/12/enduring_trust_nurs.html

Gallup poll results::

http://www.gallup.com/poll/159035/congress-retains-low-honesty-rating.aspx