Nicaragua 2014 – Part 1

Six Minnesota State University RN to BSN nursing students and one graduate nursing student recently returned from a medical trip to rural Nicaragua where care was provided to the ‘los pipitos’ (children with handicaps), as well as the general population.

MSUM Nicaragua Team 2014

Care was provided to hundreds of under-served patients and education was also provided to young school children. This trip is led by Dr. Jane Bergland on an annual basis during spring semester and has taken place for more than a decade.

Dr. Jane Bergland and Claire with a patient

Medical, Eye, and Dental International Care Organization (MEDICO) is the organization through which the trip has been organized for the last 6 years. MEDICO, a nonprofit humanitarian service organization, has been providing comprehensive health care in Central America since 1990. The organization’s mission is to provide medical, eye, and dental care, and educational services to people in developing countries who have little or no access to health care. ™

The medical team consisted of nursing students, pediatric residents, pediatricians, dentists, a physical therapist, a pulmonologist, an emergency medical doctor and a pharmacist. MSUM represents one third of the trip members.

Entire Nicaragua Team 2014

 

Xi Kappa – At – Large Awards

Picture – https://www.winona.edu/nursingandhs/Images/theta_thau.jpg

What It Is All About

The mission of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI ) is advancing world health and celebrating nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service. The honor society’s chapters are separated into 6 global regions.  The North American region is further divided into 15 geographic regions.The Xi Kappa -at- Large Chapter (MN) gives its awards and scholarships in recognition of nursing colleagues for their accomplishments and to reward outstanding undergraduate and graduate students.

How To Nominate

To nominate an individual for an award or scholarship, please refer to the specific criteria and complete a nomination form, a statement describing how the nominee demonstrates the criteria for the award and obtain the resume or curriculum vitae of the nominee.The deadline for all award submissions is September 15th of each year.

  Awards

• Xi Kappa -At- Large Chapter Excellence in Caring Award

This award will be given annually to a member who promotes the art and science of nursing in caring that achieves positive outcomes for clients and/or the profession, advocates for others in health promotion, and demonstrates caring in any field of nursing.

• Xi Kappa –At- Large Chapter Outstanding Member Award

This award will be given annually to recognize a Xi Kappa At Large Chapter member whose contribution and actions have helped advance the Chapter and its initiatives.

• Xi Kappa –At- Large Chapter Excellence in Nursing Practice Award

This award will rotate between Nursing Leadership, Education, and Research.  The Nursing Practice award will be given to a member who demonstrates clinical excellence in an area of nursing practice through innovation, influence, and/or extraordinary performance, shows evidence of having mentored student nurses, and advocates for clients.  This award will be given every other year in the even years (i.e. 2014, 2016).

• Xi Kappa –At- Large Chapter Excellence in Nursing Education Award

This award will rotate between Nursing Research, Practice, and Leadership.  The Nursing Education award will be given to a member who demonstrates excellence in teaching or promoting education as well as holds a position in which the primary function is education/teaching to nurses, other health care professionals or community individuals.  This award will be given every other year in the even years (i.e. 2014, 2016).

Links And References For More Details

• http://thecircle.nursingsociety.org/XiKappaChapter/chaptermembers/memberscholarshipsawards/xikappaundergradgraduate/
• http://xikappa.nursingsociety.org/XiKappaChapter/Home/
• http://www.nursingsociety.org/Pages/default.aspx

World Down Syndrome Day

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World Down Syndrome Day And What It Is All About

World Down Syndrome Day was created to raise awareness about Down Syndrome. Friday, 21st of March is the 9th anniversary of this occasion. This cause was officially endorsed by the United Nations, in 2012. On this dedicated day, people with Down syndrome as well as those who interact with them on a daily basis throughout the world, organize and participate in activities and events purposed to raise public awareness of this condition, and also create a united global voice for advocating for the rights, acceptance and well being of people with Down syndrome.

What IS Down Syndrome?

Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder, that occurs, when nuclei in the cells of an individual contain a complete or partial extra copy of chromosome 21. This condition results in cognitive and physical impairments, which may range from mild to severe.

Some Noticeable Effects May Include;

• Upward-slanted eyes
• Somewhat flattened profile, with broader than usual faces
• A single crease in the palms

Issues More Pressing In Nature May Include;

• Hypotonia (low muscle tone)
• Visual/auditory/vocal problems
• Heart defects
• Mental developmental delays
• Gastrointestinal defects

There is no determined cause of this condition primarily. However, researchers have established that a contributing factor may be the age of the mother- the older the mother, the higher the risk. There are diagnostic and screening tests that can be performed during or after pregnancy.

Progress For People Living With Down Syndrome

Great strides are being made in researching ways of prolonging the longevity of people with Down Syndrome. In the past, it was not uncommon for those with Down Syndrome to be much more susceptible to diseases. However, with drugs containing certain antibiotic properties, the immune system, for instance, is aided in fighting off infections and illness more effectively.

Society is becoming a lot more aware of the fact that, having Down Syndrome does not limit in any way a person’s right to be treated with equality and respect. Fairness in the rights to attain good jobs, and generally acceptance, not tolerance, are the qualities that are being fought for all over the world for those living with Down Syndrome.

Sources For Help

• International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association
  www.imdsa.org
  Offers support and resources to families of and individuals with mosaic Down syndrome through the lifespan

• Medline Plus: Health Topics – Down Syndrome
  www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/downsyndrome.html
  An overview and list of resources on Down syndrome and prenatal testing from Medline Plus, a service of the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health

• National Society of Genetic Counselors
  www.nsgc.org
  Find members of NSGC through the Find A Genetic Counselor search function

References

https://www.ndss.org/Down-Syndrome/What-Is-Down-Syndrome/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/down-syndrome-treatment-experimental-drug-cognitive-deficits_n_3875217.html

Fall 2014 RN/BSN Application Deadline Extended to April 15th

The MSUM School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership is extending the deadline for applications to the RN to BSN program for Fall 2014 semester start due to hiring additional faculty and new opportunities for students to pursue. Applications in the online application system will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. CDT on April 15th. Applications submitted by the original March 15th deadline will be reviewed and invitations will be sent to students dragon mail accounts in early April. There will be a second round of admissions in late April for those who apply by April 15th. The MSUM RN to BSN completion program is 100% online with clinical experiences arranged in the student’s home region if possible. For more information please visit: http://www.mnstate.edu/snhl/bsnadmission.aspx<http://www.mnstate.edu/snhl/bsnadmission.aspx> , email ‘nursing@mnstate.edu’ or call 218-477-2693.

Poison Prevention Week

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March 14, 2014 kicks off the beginning of poison prevention week. National Poison Prevention week is the third week of March every year. It was created to ensure the safety of children and adults by bringing awareness of what can be dangerous in your home and how you ccan prevent accidents. According to poisonprevention.org, “More than 2 million poisonings are reported each year to the 57 poison control centers across the country. More than 90 percent of these poisonings occur in the home. The majority of non-fatal poisonings occur in children younger than six years old. And, poisonings are one of the leading causes of death among adults.”

What Is A Poison?
A poison is something that can cause harm to a person if,
-Used in a wrong way
-Used by the wrong person
-Used in the wrong amount

What Are The Poisons In My Home?
-Medicines (Pain Medicine, tablets)
-Liquids (Household Cleaner, Bleach)
-Sprays (Spray Cleaners)
-Gases (Carbon Monoxide)

How To Poison Proof Your Home
-Medicines: Keep medicines in their original containers, properly labeled, and store them appropriately
-Carbon Monoxide: Have a working carbon monoxide detector in your home. The best places for a CO detector are near bedrooms and close to furnaces.
-Household products: Keep products in their original containers. Do not use food containers (such as cups or bottles) to store household cleaners and other chemicals or products. Also, keep all laundry products locked up, high, and out of the reach of children.
-Chemicals: Keep antifreeze and all chemicals and household products in their original containers.

For more information on how to poison proof your home, visit: http://www.poisonhelp.hrsa.gov/what-can-you-do/poison-proof-your-home/index.html#Medicines

What To Do If There Is An Emergency
The toll-free poison help number is 800-222-1222, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.
How You Can Get Involved
If you are are interested in participating in a poison prevention event, contact your local poison control center by calling the nationwide toll-free number, 800-222-1222, and ask to speak with a poison prevention educator.

References:
http://www.poisonprevention.org/index.htm
http://www.poisonhelp.hrsa.gov/

Summer 2014 Courses

The School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership has a variety of courses offered over the summer. Make sure to check them out and sign up as soon as possible. Classes are limited and may be cut if not enough students register. A list of our Summer 2014 courses is listed below:

Nursing:
NURS 318: Nursing Ethics
NURS 342: Nursing Care of Diverse Populations
NURS 420L: Gerontological Nursing to Promote Successful Aging
NURS 473: Professional Pathways
NURS 490: Nursing Ethics Service Learning
NURS 605: Healthcare Quality and Aging
NURS 622: Teaching Technology and Information Management
NURS 627: Program/Curriculum Design and Evaluation
NURS 689: Thesis/Project Seminar 1
NURS 690: Topics in Nursing EducationNurse Educator Clinicals
NURS 691: Thesis/Project Seminar 2
NURS 698: Continuing Registration
NURS 699: Thesis (Plan A)

Health Services Administration:
HSAD 326: Applied Epidemiology
HSAD 420: Healthcare Policy and Payment
HSAD 469: Internship

Community Health:
COMH 403: Health Informatics
COMH 418: Global Health Issues
COMH 469: Internship

Masters in Health Administration:
MHA 614: Strategic Management of Health Care Organizations
MHA 669: Capstone I

More information about each of these courses can be found on eservices. Using your login information you  will be able to search for the courses listed above and read descriptions of the courses and even see which goal areas are fulfilled. Another place to learn more information is on our webpage:
http://www.mnstate.edu/snhl/majorsandminors.aspx. Click on the major you are in and view if any of the core requirements are offered. If they are offered this summer, you can read an in-depth description about the course by clicking on the red course number.

International Women’s Day 2014: Inspiring Change

Each year International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8. In some countries like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women’s Day is a national holiday. In other countries the day is simply reserved for celebrating women. This year the United Nations declared Inspiring Change as the theme.

The mission of the day is to encourage advocacy for women’s advancement everywhere in every way. Although women’s equality has made positive gains, the world is still unequal. Thousands of events occur to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present, and future. Currently, there are 182 events set to take place in the United States on March 8^th in honor of International Women’s Day. Participants celebrating the day include organizations, government, charities, educational institutions, women’s groups, corporations and the media.

The first International Women’s Day event took place in 1911. The first celebrations were dedicated to the women who worked towards the right to vote. Later, International Women’s Day was broadened to celebrate all aspects of women’s achievements and to encourage equality.

For more information on International Women’s Day, please visit http://www.internationalwomensday.com/default.asp

American Red Cross Month

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The American Red Cross is a human Services Organization. They are commonly known for gathering blood donations, however they do so much more. The American Red Cross website shares how they help with diaster relief, supporting America’s military familes, provide health and safety services, gather lifesaving blood from donors, and provide other international services.

This month is devoted to the American Red Cross and all of the hard work their organization does. The hope is to get others involved.

Ways To Help The American Red Cross
-Donation
-Fundraisers
-Giving Blood
-Taking, Teaching, or Hosting a Class
-Volunteering
-Become an Advocate

References:
http://www.redcross.org/

Fall/Summer Advising Is Approaching

Summer and Fall semester advising is approaching. Remember to sign up for a time with your advisor in advance to schedule your next semester. To check which classes are offered in the Summer of 2014 and the Fall of 2014, login to eservices and “Search Courses”. A list of advisors for the School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership is provided below. Make sure to contact your advisor directly to schedule an appointment.

Professor                       Email                                               
Barb Matthees:                matthees@mnstate.edu
Vicki Teske:                     teskevi@mnstate.edu
Pam Kirk:                        kirkpa@mnstate.edu
Tracy Wright:                   wrighttr@mnstate.edu
Jane Bergland:                 berglaja@mnstate.edu
Becky Rudel:                    rebecca.rudel@mnstate.edu
Terry Dobmeier:               dobmeier@mnstate.edu
Mary Rousslang:               rousslama@mnstate.edu
Nandita Bezbaruah:           nandita.bezbaruah@mnstate.edu
Melanie (Lonni) Schicker:   melanie.schicker@mnstate.edu

HSAD students chosen to serve as student assistants by the American College of Healthcare Executives

Health Services Administration (HSAD) students Megan McDowell, Megan Strese and Bailey Beauclair were chosen by the American College of Healthcare Executives to serve as student assistants at the annual conference in Chicago. The conference is being held March 24-28. The American College of Healthcare Executives is the premier organization for healthcare administrators.