New Years Resolution 2017 – Continuing your education at MSUM

New Year’s is right around the corner! Do you have a New Year’s resolution? Is it eat healthier, exercise more, read more, or spend more time with family? These are very basic resolutions. Are you interested in picking up an extraordinary resolution? How about continuing your education at Minnesota State University Moorhead?!

If you are willing to commute to the MSUM campus, you have endless degrees to choose from! Prefer not to commute? Check out MSUM’s 4 Undergraduate programs and 13 Graduate programs! Don’t want to commit to a degree, unsure of what you want to get a degree in, or interested in learning a little more about a specific topic? Choose from over 100 online courses to take! Students who participate in on-line schooling have the same great experience as those who take classes on campus.

Go to the following link to take a look at all of the degrees offered at MSUM:

https://www.mnstate.edu/academics/

Go to this link and choose any semester to get a peek at some of the classes that are offered:

https://webproc.mnscu.edu/registration/search/basic.html?campusid=072&_ga=1.33158782.1553048548.1470847216

Make continuing your education a part of your 2017 resolution and apply to MSUM today!

Technology Applications to Physical Health

Every innovation can be used for more than one purpose. With technology becoming cheaper, more user friendly and accessible, new applications are constantly being created.

Everyone’s knows of at least 1 interactive video game; whether it be Dance Dance Revolution, Wii Fit or Pokemon Go. Something that not everybody knows is that these can be alternatives to traditional exercise. Playing these games has been shown to increase the amount of energy  used in a day. They help a player elevate their heart rate for an extended period of time and can actually help them increase there cardio performance. Hospitals, senior homes, and fitness centers have seen the potential and are installing them as well as other devices that promote activity in centers all across the country.

You can’t go wrong with a pedometer. Most people have seen one of these little step-counters and know what they are used for. These little counters have received an upgrade in the newer models that make them more attractive to some people.  Instead of just counting steps, they can judge speed and how much time was spent in a moderate intensive workout. Although it cannot calculate an accurate number for how much energy was used, it does work as a good motivator to reach a daily activity goal. There has been a link made that connected the use of a pedometer and a decrease in one’s Body Mass Index and blood pressure. The quickest way to getting physically active is just 10,000 steps away.

The Fitbit is one of the newest health crazes.A Fitbit is a wearable pedometer that can sync up with your phone or computer. It works by monitoring your activity levels,sleep cycles and how much you eat to help encourage you to make healthy choices. It is similar to a pedometer in nature, except it has merged modern technology to create something new.  “If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it.” This motto is said to be why it has spurred such a reaction and are becoming more popular. Fitbits give their users  physical evidence of their improvement that they would not otherwise see.

Technology is spreading and with it, information. With the amount of information available on the internet only growing and internet speeds increasing, people are able to learn more about fitness and health than ever before. They have access to the latest studies and testimonies about certain routines and diets , but not everything they see is true. Many people are unknowingly gathering wrong information and facts because they aren’t aware that not all information is valid. When googling something, look to see if the webpage is a for-profit or non-profit page. Did they get their information from a study within the last 5 years? Was the study and it’s results peer-reviewed?  Did they even get the information from a study? The internet may be a great tool, but only if it is used properly.

 

Sources

http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/using-technology-to-promote-physical-activity

https://www.acefitness.org/certifiednewsarticle/2904/5-ways-technology-can-help-your-clients-be-more/

https://www.wired.com/2012/04/fitness-tracker-psychology/

 

 

Winter Sickness Prevention

You aren’t doomed to get the sniffles or the flu every winter. There are steps and precautions that you can take to keep yourself and the people around you safe.

Prevention:

• Vaccinate! We cannot stress how important it is for you to get yourself vaccinated. If you don’t want to do it for yourself, do it for those that can’t. In order to prevent the flu from spreading, approximately 85% of the population at a minimum needs to be vaccinated. Get vaccinated for the people that have adverse reactions or conditions that prevent them from helping get that critical mass up.
• Wash your hands often, making sure to do so before eating or cooking.
• Sleep in. Not getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night hurts your immune system and makes you more susceptible to infections.
• GIGO. Garbage in, garbage out. Eat healthy, balanced meals to get the best performance and protection.
• Exercising. Getting active can actually stimulate the immune system and help build a better defense line.

 

Already sick?

•  Gargling salt water can help a sore throat and a humidifier may help a stuffed nose
• Limit your contact with other people. Cover your mouth when you sneeze and cough. Don’t share drinks or food with other people.
• Drink water. Be hydrated and get your rest. While doing so avoid coffee and alcohol, which will dehydrate you.
• See a doctor. By starting a treatment early, you can be decreasing the time you will have the cold and lessen symptoms so you can get back at it.

 

 

 

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm092805.htm

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/herd-immunity.html

http://www.bocatc.org/blog/uncategorized/12-safety-tips-for-the-winter-season-prevent-sickness/

5 Ways to Avoid Getting Sick in College

 

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

In 2012, President Barack Obama designated December as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. Impaired driving includes distracted driving, drugged driving, and drunk driving.

Obama chose this month specifically, because December seems particularly suited to this observation because traffic fatalities that involve impaired drivers increase significantly during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods.

In an average year, 30 million Americans drive drunk and 10 million Americans drive impaired by illicit drugs. On average, 25 people were killed in an alcohol-impaired driving crashes per day during December 2010.

Young adults are among those at greatest risk for driving impaired. During December 2010, drivers from the ages 21-34 were alcohol impaired and involved in fatal crashes at a higher percentage than any other age group.

Here are some tips to ensure everyone’s safety this holiday season:

• Designate a sober driver BEFORE celebrations begin
• Never serve alcohol to those under the age of 21
• If you have been drinking, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public safety.
• You may be a safe driver but that doesn’t protect you entirely from accidents, be aware of your surroundings including other drivers.
• If you see an impaired driver, call law enforcement. It’s better to ruin their night than their life.
• If you see someone leaving a celebration impaired, take their keys. Don’t let them leave until they have made different driving arrangements.
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride with a driver who is impaired, take the driver’s keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

This month’s goal is to raise awareness about the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, to ensure a happy, healthy life for everybody.

Every American can play a role in reducing the frequency of these accidents by speaking out and warning others of the dangers associated with impaired driving.

Happy Holidays & Drive Safe!

 

 

Sources

http://www.madd.org/blog/prevention-month.html

http://youth.gov/feature-article/december-national-impaired-driving-prevention-month

 

 

Healthy Holiday Eating

It that time of the year when family, food and fun times all meet. While getting lost in the time, it’s easy to not pay attention to what your eating. Contrary to popular belief, you won’t gain five pounds from the holidays and over eating. In fact, most people only gain 1 to 2 pounds over the weeks before and after Christmas. That may not sound like a lot, but this extra weight usually stays with the carrier for life. If this weight is allowed to accumulate from year-to-year, it can result in being overweight or obese.

Here are some ways to avoid unintentionally sabotaging yourself during the holidays this year.

• Skip the appetizers. It’s easy to sit by a bowl and munch while you talk to someone, but most of the food that makes a quick snack are going to be loaded with calories.
• The eye knows best. While piling up your plate, try to avoid any dishes that have a sauce or cream on them and anything that looks fried. Instead go for food that is prepared to be eaten all by itself.
• Eat more food? Before you go to the party, have a quick snack. Vegetables and fruits are low in calories and will have you feeling less hungry when you get to the party, helping you avoid overeating.
• Simple substitutes. If you are the cook, you can be sneaky and help everyone out. Substituting one ingredient for another can shave off calories and still keep the same flavor. Use applesauce instead of oil or use more veggies than bread in stuffing. Refrigerate creams and gravies to skim the fat off the top. Try removing the skin on any turkey or chicken served.
• Cutting weight. Don’t try to lose weight during the holidays, instead try and maintain your current weight. Not seeing results can hurt your mindset and make you more likely to ditch any restraint or dieting plan.
• Socialize. The goal of the holidays isn’t to eat, it’s to meet up with family. Try doing other activities with them instead of eating. Games and crafts go over well because almost everyone can participate.

 

Sources

http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthy-holiday-eating-10/holiday-foods-diet?page=1

http://www.cpmc.org/about/e-health/11-05%20healthy-holidays.html

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-blog/healthy-holiday-eating/bgp-20056243

 

Commencement and Open House

Now is the time of the year when some students have crammed for their last final and written their last paper. Tomorrow, December 15th, join us in welcoming new additions to our alum. Commencement will begin at 1pm tomorrow in the Nemzek Hall. If you cannot join us in person, there is a link below to show you a live feed.

Live Stream

Join us for the School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership Graduation Celebration Open House tomorrow, December 15th from 11am to 12:30 pm in Lommen 104. The open house is open for all graduating students from our programs and their guests, as well as current students. Light refreshments will be served. Please e-mail snhlsa@mnstate.edu to RSVP or if you have any questions regarding the open house.

 

Holiday Office Hours

It’s getting to be that time of the year, Winter Break! During winter break, the School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership will be having different office hours then usual, starting on December 19th. Below are the office hours over winter break.

December 19-22: 8 A.M.-2:30 P.M.

December 23-Janurary 2: CLOSED

January 3-Janurary 6: 8 A.M.-2:30 P.M.

Starting back on January 9th, the office will resume regular hours, which are 8 A.M.- 4:30 P.M.

Wishing everybody a safe, relaxing, and joyful winter break!

Happy Holidays from the School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership!

 

 

BENHA Accreditation

Accreditation through the Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators is a goal many individuals strive for. “The mission of the Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators is to promote the public’s interest in quality care and effective services for residents of nursing facilities by ensuring that licensed administrators are qualified to perform their administrative duties.” The School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership at MSUM is proud to be accredited through BENHA. Jitendra Singh, a faculty member in the Health Services Administration major answers a few questions about the accreditation and what it means in the video below.

Sources: https://www.mnstate.edu/snhl/careersinhealthcareadministration.aspx  http://mn.gov/boards/nursing-home/

Finals are Here!

It’s that time of year where all of your hard work and effort throughout the semester are put to the test! This year, Study Day is Wednesday, December 7th with final exams beginning on December 8th.

Some study tips include:

• Time Management: Don’t try to cram all of the information in at once. Space it out!
• Focus: It can be hard to study when there are several distractions. Do your best to avoid them! If social media distracts you, put the phone out of sight. If noise is distracting, move your study spot to a quiet place.
• Get Sleep: Pulling an all-nighter may sound great for reading through your classwork, but a lack of sleep does not allow your brain to retain information as efficiently. Lack of sleep also decreases your alertness and cognitive abilities. Even a short nap or two during the day can be beneficial.
• Take Breaks: Taking breaks allows for your brain to process the information you just learned. Studying for a long period of time results in your brain only being able to process what you learned in the beginning and end of your study time.

Also note that the Livingston Lord Library hours change during finals:

Wed., December 7th	8:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Thurs., December 8th	8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fri., December 9th	8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sat., December 10th	Closed
Sun. December 11th	1:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Mon., December 12th	8:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m
Tue., December 13th	8:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m
Wed., December 14th	8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

If you are unaware of your finals schedule, take a look here to find your class time and find your test day:

Regular Class Time	Exam Date	Exam Time
9:00 am T H	Thursday-December 8	9:00 am
11:00 am MWF	Thursday-December 8	11:30 am
12:00 pm MWF	Thursday-December 8	2:00 pm
8:00 am MWF	Friday-December 9	9:00 am
1:30 pm TH	Friday-December 9	11:30 am
2:00 pm MWF	Friday-December 9	2:00 pm
9:00 am MWF	Monday-December 12	9:00 am
10:30 am TH	Monday-December 12	11:30 am
12:00 pm T H	Monday-December 12	2:00 pm
7:30 am T H	Tuesday-December 13	9:00 am
1:30 pm MWF	Tuesday-December 13	11:30 am
3:00 pm MWF	Tuesday-December 13	2:00 pm
10:00 am MWF	Wednesday-December 14	9:00 am
1:00 pm MWF	Wednesday-December 14	11:30 am
3:00 pm TH	Wednesday-December 14	2:00 pm

Classes meeting at 4:30 pm or later will give final exams during finals week at the regularly scheduled day and class time.

The Comstock Memorial Union is putting on the event Movie Night-In the Afternoon on Study Day at 3pm and 6pm in Langseth Auditorium (Room 104). Practice the Take a Break study tip from above and enjoy a movie with free popcorn!

Good Luck and study hard!

 

Sources: http://studyhut.com/tag/manhattan-beach/

Jingle Bell 5K for arthritis

This winter help take a stand against arthritis by running a 5K. Or walking if running isn’t quite your speed. The Jingle Bell Run is hosted every year by the Arthritis Foundation to help raise funds for arthritis research. Last year they raised over $4 million from runners that fund-raised and were sponsored. Where ever you are there is an event near you that you can be active in with there being over 100 sponsored events in the upcoming weeks. The run in Fargo is scheduled to happen tomorrow, December 3rd. Wear jingle bells or holiday themed outfits to add to the fun!

Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the country with it affecting over 50 million Americans, roughly 1 in 5 adults. Arthritis is a blanket term that refers to over 100 different joint pains or diseases. Some common symptoms that are shared between them are swelling, pain, stiffness and a decrease in the range of movement. Some common visible symptoms are knobby finger joints, but other damage can only be seen on an X-ray. Arthritis can affect different parts of the body besides your joints; the heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys and skin are all at risk.

Most people don’t think they have arthritis, they believe it is a later life disease so they deny the symptoms they are displaying. It is true that more than half of the people over the age of 65 have some form of arthritis, but what they don’t know is that 2/3 of all people diagnosed with arthritis are under 65. Over 300,000 kids under 18 have some form of arthritis, which further shows that it can afflict anyone at any time. While arthritis can be tricky to diagnose, if you are experiencing joint pain and even have the suspicion that you might be afflicted, contact your doctor.

There are several things that you can do to reduce your risk of developing a form of arthritis. Maintaining a healthy weight decreases you chance of developing Osteoarthritis. Eating a healthy diet that’s low in sugar and alcohol significantly decreases the chance of gout, a dietary form of arthritis. Not smoking helps reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. While there is no cure for arthritis, there is a chance that the money that is donated at one of these runs could be what is needed for a breakthrough.

Sources

http://www.arthritis.org/

http://www.arthritis.org/get-involved/jingle-bell-run/