Cox College Spring 2019 The Pulse Magazine

r e n ovat i on u n de r way

p h o t o c r e d i t: K Y L E D E V R I E S

cont ents

Lunch on the patio

in this issue...

REGULARS

6 Engaged Students 24 Exceptional Faculty 30 Where Are They Now?

Burge School of Nursing and Cox College alums are making a difference

NOTEWORTHY 4

Tearing it Up

Renovaton of Cox College is well underway

13 Cox College Approval to Increase Nursing Students to 400 27 Halfway Party Tradition for BSN Students

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The best is yet to come!

36 Radiograpy Department Gets New Sim Labs 36 The Craziest Thing

Nursing clinical takes an interesting turn

LIVING HEALTHY

10 The Benefits of Yoga 11

Health benefits for a lifetime

Immune-Boosting Foods

14

Nutrition Diagnostic students share ways to strengthen your immune system

ALUMNI

14 Why I Became a Nurse Four students share their stories

16 Kerri Miller: Making People Better Burge grad uses her experiences with oral hydration to create a IV alternative

20 Mind, Body & Spirit

Burge School of Nursing grads friendship spawns business to help others

20

22 Saving Those in Need

Sometimes our four-legged friends need help, too!

28 Breaking New Ground

Recent OT grad helps fill the need at Jordan Valley Health Care Clinic

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The Pulse is a free publication of Cox College, Springfield, MO. Cox College is part of the CoxHealth system and is

greetings!

p h o t o c r e d i t: E R I C B A K E R

committed to excellence by meeting the educational needs of students and the

health care community. If you have received this publication in error or no longer wish to receive it, please let us know by email at marketing@coxcollege. edu or by mail at: The Pulse Magazine, Cox College, 1423 N. Jefferson Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802.

Amy DeMelo, EdD College President

At Cox College we are celebrating another year of excellence and looking toward another year of opportunity. This academic year has been an exciting milestone for us while also allowing us time to reflect on and celebrate all students, faculty, staff, and alums that have paved the path to get us to this point.

As we move toward the future, we continue to focus our efforts and initiatives on our growth. The renovation is fully underway and our building is literally being transformed before our eyes. We invite you to follow this process with us by following us on social media, visiting our website, or stopping by for a tour. Thank you for all you have done to get us to this point – we are forever grateful.

Sonya Hayter, EdD Vice President, Student Affairs & College Advancement Jayne Bullard, MBA Vice President, Business & Finance

Sonya Hayter, EdD (Health Science ’01)

Amy Townsend, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE Chief Nurse Administrator Amy Vaughn, OTD, OTR/L, BCP Department Chair, Occupational Therapy Michelle Masengill, M.Ed., BSRT(R), RDMS, RVT Department Chair, Radiological Sciences Kristen Williams, EdD, RD, LD Department Chair, Nutrition Diagnostics

ASN Nights & Weekends

Michelle Buchman, MS Department Chair, Medical Assisting

Eric Baker, MS Marketing & Web Coordinator Designer, The Pulse Kyle DeVries, BS Community Outreach Coordinator

Are you looking for a career change, but need to keep working?

Good news! We have night and weekend classes available for our ASN program!

Call our Admissions/Recruitment team at 417.269.3401 or go to our website for more information: Coxcollege.edu

University and College Designers Association

Tearing Photo Credit: SYDNIE MEYERS, COXHEALTH FOUNDATION

it

Amanda Poulton, Occupational Therapy graduate student, takes aim during Demo Day

HGTV’s

Chip Gaines has nothing on Cox College!

The design work completed, it was time to take down some walls! Demo Day at Cox College was a hit with faculty, staff, students, donors, and alums taking their turn at assisting with the demolition. The long-awaited construction launched in February and is being completed in three phases. The project is being led

by KCI Construction whose headquarters is in St. Louis, Missouri. KCI won the award after a competitive bidding process with ten contractors vying for the job.

A construction trailer now takes up residence in the parking lot across from the College. Phase

One of the project began on the 3rd and 4th floors and is nearing completion. Phase Two, which covers the north wing of the second floor, has commenced.

Phase Three will conclude with

Donors, administration, faculty, staff, and students get in line for Demo Day

4 The Pulse • Summer 2019

the completion of Fourth floor the ground, first, restroom and rest of the second floor. During each phase students will be relocated to other areas within Cox North for classes. The goal is to have the majority of the classroom space completed by the time students return in the fall.

The expectations for the construction were high when the design images were revealed. Alumni will see the most pronounced change in the new atrium staircase being created to allow a new flow between the ground, first and second floors. Natural light will fill the halls on all levels, illuminating the new classroom

photo creditS: ERIC BAKER

by lisa alexander, cfre vice president, coxhealth foundation

New classroom on 3rd floor with new student lounge to the right.

Draft version of proposed Donor Wall

4th floor hallway New hallway and work room between classrooms on fourth floor

spaces, conference rooms, study lounges, and labs. The first floor entry will welcome a new generation of health care students ready to bring their bright minds and great energy.

They will now have a facility worthy of those endeavors.

The CoxHealth Foundation will be hosting a VIP reception prior to the opening in 2020 to thank and recognize all project donors.

On the second floor, a donor wall will honor the past as well as the future of Cox College. This permanent recognition will tell how a community of supporters came together to revitalize a

Terrace renovation at north end

New ASR classrooms on the 2nd floor

building, continuing its story of educating the best health care professionals. A community open house will follow, with details to be announced as the completion of the construction nears.

Watch for more information in upcoming newsletters or catch up on the latest photos at www. coxcollege.edu.

5 Cox College • Springfield, MO

New windows installed on 3rd and 4th floor

STUDENTS ENGAGED

We believe in providing a learning environment that promotes student inspiration, support, and academic achievement.

ASR Student Chosen for MoSRT Internship

Marisa Christopher, first-year Cox College ASR student, was one of two radiography students chosen for a Student Intern position with Missouri Society of Radiologic Technologists (MoSRT)!

Dietetic Interns Gain Experience Working with Springfield Community Gardens

She will represent the state of Missouri at the 2019 ASRT Educational Symposium and Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting in Orlando this summer! Congrats, Marisa!

Dietetic Interns Advocate in Jefferson City Our interns, along with other local interns and Dietitians, spent the day at the Capitol advocating for the Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. They spoke with legislators about the importance of our licensure laws and increasing insurance coverage for Dietitian services.

Dietetic Interns Shaun Hawkins and Elena Valarde

The Springfield Community Gardens (SGC) is a rotation site for the College's Dietetic Interns. Students spend two weeks learning about gardening, potential medicinal uses of herbs and plants, and participate in cooking classes. Pictured above, students are shown making quiche filled with SCG's Market Garden Spinach, AppleJo Farms happy eggs, Edgewood Creamery milk and cheddar, and a handmade butter crust to be sold online.

Proceeds support Springfield Community Gardens!

Dietetic Intern Presents to Cardiac Rehab Class

Did you know the average American consumes 40 teaspoons of sugar a day?

Intern Amanda Martin shared this and other tips for improving heart health at a Cox Health cardiac rehab class.

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Nursing Students Participate in Emergency Preparedness Initiative In early March, Cox College BSN-E Community students joined the Greene County Health Department and the American Red Cross in a new emergency preparedness initiative. The goal of this ongoing collaboration is to enhance disaster emergency response capabilities of Springfield and Greene County Health Department nurses, community nurses and local student nurses. Cox College Students acquired skills necessary to participate in a “Point of Distribution” in the event of an actual emergency; they are now certified by the American Red Cross to staff a disaster shelter.

Photo CreditS: PROFESSOR KATHY MARTIN

Nursing Students Participate in Mock Disaster This semester's mock disaster event simulated injuries from a severe tornado. It's always amazing to witness how well our students work together to assist patients quickly and effectively!

This exercise is great preparation for their future careers.

Students Take Part in Mental Health Training Cox College Occupational Therapy Students participated in Adolescent Mental Health First Aid Training as part of their education at Cox College.

NOTE: All injuries in these photos are fake and the victims are actors.

Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) Weaves Mats for Homeless SOTA members have been collecting plastic bags since May for this project. Pictured below,"plarning," the process of flattening and cutting plastic bags, begins. The bags will be woven into sleeping mats that will be given to area homeless.

Photo CreditS: Eric baker

Cox College Students Present at CoxHealth's Research Day CoxHealth's 2nd annual Research Day was held at the end of March and Cox College was well represented! Students and faculty from the nursing and occupational therapy programs made presentations.

The purpose of this event is to empower bedside staff to conduct and utilize research, as well as highlight current research that has been conducted locally, to improve patient outcomes.

The day was broken up into two parts: the first spent receiving research insights from various speaks, and the second with presenters demonstrating their research in the poster hall.

Photo CreditS: dr. amada cole

7 Cox College • Springfield, MO

STUDENTS

ASR Students Participate in MoSRT Student Bowl

ENGAGED

Photo CreditS: dr. april swanson

(continued from previous page)

CarFit Event Helps Improve Comfort and Safety “Fit” for Drivers Everyday, 10,000 Americans turn 65, so mobility experts created a safety program designed to help older drivers and their families improve comfort and security.

CarFit, a national program developed by AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association, is designed to give a quick, yet comprehensive check on how well an older driver and their vehicle work together.

Cox College occupational therapy students were trained as CarFit technicians before conducting CarFit check-ups here at Cox College.

“As we age, changes in our vision, flexibility, strength, range of motion and even size and height may make us less comfortable and reduce our control behind the wheel,” said Dr. Dustin Cox, DPT and faculty for Cox College.

“CarFit provides older adults with the tools to understand and apply the safety features of their car.”

At a CarFit event, trained volunteers complete a 12-point checklist with each driver. Among the items checked: · Correct position of driver’s seat

Each year faculty and students attend the Missouri Society of Radiologic Technologists (MoSRT) conference in Columbia, MO. At the conference, teams from around the state compete in the Student Bowl.

Three students, Josh Bennett, Cody Cates, and Parker Glouse, were selected by their classmates to represent the College.

Two alternates, Nick DeLong and Kyle Sartain, were selected as well. The team almost made it to the finals. Better luck next year!

· Driver’s ability to easily reach pedals · Proper adjustment of mirrors Occupational therapists are on hand at CarFit events to provide consultations that will teach drivers how to maintain and improve aspects related to their driving health. The therapist can also provide information to participants addressing individual needs, including information about local community resources on exercise, nutrition, and other programs to help keep them safe on the road.

“It is important that everyone make safe driving a personal priority,” said April Swanson, OTD, Cox College faculty. “Driving today is more difficult than ever because of increased traffic congestion, longer commute distances, new technology, and faster speeds. Our students are now trained in a tool that can help drivers ensure proper positioning and gain knowledge about their vehicles. The students now have another tool to address the needs of patients in their future careers and provide a valuable service to our communities. ”

ASR Students Represent at Day of Caring Each year ASR students and faculty have participated in the United Way of the Ozarks Day of Caring. This year a total of 18 worked at the Finbrooke Girls Scout Camp in Rogerville. Great job, everyone!

MSN Student Chosen to Serve on ANPO Executive Board Cox College is proud to announce that Gabrielle Ybarbo, MSN student, has been chosen to serve as the Student Representative on the 2019 Advanced Practice Nurses of the Ozarks (ANPO) Executive Board! She will provide input regarding the needs of APNO student members and how the organization could meet their professional needs upon becoming Advanced Practice Nurses.

8 The Pulse • Summer 2019

Graduate Students Present Evidenced-Based Research Cox Medical Center South was host to the Division of Interprofessional Studies Showcase in May. This year the Nutrition Dietetics department joined with the Occupational Therapy department and 40 graduate students shared their evidence-based research with the Cox employees and the Springfield community.

The nutrition and dietetics students conducted a systematic review of experimental research studies that examined the effect of a nutrient or diet on a particular disease. Some of the topics included the effect of gluten on schizophrenia, vitamin D and peripheral neuropathy, low carbohydrate diets on weight loss, and vitamin E supplementation in pediatric non-alcoholic liver disease. Cohort 4 Occupational Therapy students made various projects focused on increasing client's ability to complete specific occupational-related task. This year, adaptable bracing and splints were made in conjunction with Cox Prosthetics.

The MSOT faculty was very happy to see students seeking out other Cox departments to help develop their projects. We look forward to adding graduate nursing next year.

Occupational Therapy Students Present at National Conference We are so excited to celebrate Cox College student research at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Conference in New Orleans!

Way to go JoAnna Cruz, Jamelle Brownlee, and Kat Zumalt!

Occupational Therapy Cohort Three (Patricia Leavell) and Cohort Four (Desgazon Stephanie, Mario Kassa, Ashley Nicole Marks, and Jami Hogan) were able to soak in the research, gain new knowledge, and networked with other occupational therapy students.

DID YOU KNOW? If a service dog without a person approaches you, it means the person is down and in need of help.

Don't get scared or annoyed, follow the dog!

9 Cox College • Springfield, MO

Submitted by Nancy Probst

Manager Group Excercises CoxHealth Fitness Centers p h o t o c r e d i t: ja c o b l u n d/s h u t t e r s t o c k

Living Healthy

the benefits

In a fast paced and hectic world, people’s busy lives often affect their health, inner peace, and happiness.

However, yoga can help with all the above. Yoga is a practice—not something to be perfected within one class, one year, or even over the course of a lifetime.

To breathe fully, one must be able to release the abdomen, rib cage, chest, and back from tension that restricts the respiratory process. The primary muscles involved in breathing are the diaphragm, external and internal intercostals, and the transverse abdominis.

Many of us underutilize these muscles, which causes their strength and elasticity to diminish, which in turn, reduces the depth of each breath taken.

Exercises or yoga poses are designed to stimulate blood circulation, glandular and abdominal processes, muscle flexibility and even skeletal strength. Additionally, yoga teaches breathing control to enhance mental fortitude.

Our nervous systems are comprised of a sympathetic (fight or flight) or parasympathetic (rest and digest) mode. Almost all Americans (95%) operate in the sympathetic system for the majority of the day. Yoga and breathwork can take us to the 10 The Pulse • Summer 2019

parasympathetic system, which has many health benefits.

CoxHealth Fitness Centers has numerous yoga classes from which to choose. Our North facility offers a yoga class on Monday nights at 5:30pm.

For your health, both mind and body, join us anytime. All members can try one class for free to see if they like it before making a commitment. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at 269-5147.

Reference Dubai. D. My Mat is My Canvas.

Retrieved from www.dhyana-fitness.com.

NETA (2014). Yoga Teacher Training Manual. (pp. 21-22)

By Amanda Martin and Brooke Crotty Nutrition Diagnostics students

Many of us will try to get through this year’s cold season without a sneeze or a cough. We go through our days washing our hands to fight away the unwanted germs.

But what about starting from the inside out? There are many types of foods that can be incorporated into your diet to help build your immune system so that you can be better prepared–and that can start with your grocery list.

So, what exactly do you need to look for? Focus on foods containing antioxidants and probiotics. Both of these can exhibit beneficial effects on the immune system.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants help maintain a strong immune system by fighting off free radicals, which can harm our cells. By maintaining the integrity and structure of our cells, we can be less susceptible to getting sick. Antioxidants are found in our food through vitamins including vitamin A, C, and E. Vitamin A: This antioxidant source helps your cells react properly to those unwanted germs that cause you to get sick.

You can find vitamin A in a variety of foods that you may already be consuming. These foods include dark leafy vegetables, red and orange fruits, milk, eggs and fish. The recommended amount of vitamin A to be consumed by adults aged 19 years or older is 10,000 IU per day.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C is another antioxidant that can help build your immune system. This vitamin acts to support our immune system by enhancing the body’s protective barrier against infectious agents. Fruits and vegetables that contain vitamin C include: citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, and broccoli. The recommendations for vitamin C vary between men and women. It is recommended for adult men to consume around 90 mg per day and adult women to consume around 75 mg per day.

Vitamin E is a valuable antioxidant that provides ideal immune function by fighting infection and preventing oxidative stress. If you are trying to find sources of food high in vitamin E, start with nuts and seeds, including almonds, sunflower seeds, and peanuts.

Natural forms of vitamin E can also be found in vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and vegetable-based oils. Many foods also have vitamin E added into them to make them more nutritious, including fortified breakfast cereals. It is recommended for adults to consume around 15 mg per day of vitamin E. Probiotics would be the second thing to incorporate in your diet.

Probiotics are a form of bacteria that, when consumed, help maintain the good bacteria in our gut. They strengthen the immune system by decreasing inflammation, (continued on next page)

11 11 Cox Cox College College • Springfield, • Springfield, MO MO

Living Healthy

Immune-Boosting Foods

Why Choose Cox College?

Immune-Boosting Foods (continued on from previous page)

enhancing our defense mechanisms, and preventing the pathogens' negative effects. Sources of probiotics include yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and many other fermented foods. One important thing to look for on the food label when searching for a probiotic-rich yogurt is the phrase “contains live and active cultures.” This tells us that probiotic bacteria is present.

Immune-boosting snacks

7 DEGREE PROGRAMS OFFERED

9-1 FACULTY TO STUDENT RATIO

27 STATES REPRESENTED

BY STUDENT POPULATION

79% OVERALL GRADUATION/ COMPLETION RATE (WELL ABOVE NATIONAL AVERAGE)

86%

STUDENTS EMPLOYED UPON GRADUATION

By adding these foods into your diet, you can begin to build your immune system and fight your way through the cold season.

• Probiotic-rich yogurt with almonds • Hard-boiled eggs with an orange • Raw broccoli and tomatoes with homemade ranch dip made out of probiotic-rich plain Greek yogurt • A smoothie made with probioticrich yogurt, spinach, milk, and your choice of fruit • Vitamin-E-fortified cereal with milk This post was written by Amanda Martin and Brooke Crotty.

Amanda is in the Dietetic Internship program and Brooke is a first-year graduate student in the Nutrition Diagnostics Master's Program and Dietetic Internship.

PART OF

COXHEALTH DIVERSE HEALTH CARE NETWORK LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER WITH

11,000 EMPLOYEES

SOURCES: 2018-19 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) - Fall Enrollment Survey; 1017-18 Graduating Student Survey; Spring 2019 Official Census; IPEDS

Martin

Crotty

References

Bendich, A. (n.d.). Vitamin E and immune functions. Retrieved from https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3074789

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Carr, A. C., & Maggini, S. (2017, November 03). Vitamin C and Immune Function. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/29099763 Hajian, S. (2014, November 17) Positive effect of antioxidants on immune system [PDF]. Immunopathol Persa.

How Vitamin C Supports a Healthy Immune System. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.eatright.org/food/vitaminsand-supplements/types-of-vitaminsand-nutrients/how-vitamin-c-supports-ahealthy-immune-system Huang, Z., Liu,Y., Qi,G., Brand, D., & Zheng, S. G. (2018, September). Role of Vitamin A in the Immune System. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC6162863/ Knight, J. A. (2000). Review: Free Radicals, Antioxidants, and the Immune System [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.annclinlabsci.org/content/30/2/145.full.pdf Natural Food Sources of Vitamin A and Provitamin A. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/ abs/10.1177/156482659201400115 Office of Dietary Supplements–Vitamin A. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ods.od.nih. gov/factsheets/VitaminAConsumer/ Office of Dietary Supplements–Vitamin C. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ods.od.nih. gov/factsheets/VitaminC-Consumer/ Office of Dietary Supplements–Vitamin E. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ods.od.nih. gov/factsheets/vitamine-consumer/ Probiotics: How should they be defined?

(1999, October 05). Retrieved from https:// www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/ abs/pii/S0924224499000278 Yan, F., & Polk, D. B. (2014). Probiotics and immune health. NCBI. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC4006993/

Radiological Sciences and imaging

UPDATE

Every graduate from our Computed Tomography and Diagnostic Medical Sonography programs is registered and employed! Congratulations and best wishes for the future!

Additionally, the Sonography program received a 10-year accreditation with CAAHEP for the concentrations of general, vascular, and echocardiography.

Cox College Approved to Increase Nursing Students to 400

BY KAITLYN MCCONNELL

Cox College may now accept more nursing students than it ever has before.

In late February, the Missouri State Board of Nursing (MSBN) officially approved Cox College’s request to increase its number of nursing students to 400. The change adds 150 spots for nursing students at the college.

This change is a milestone for the medical training center.

Representatives from the College were required apply to the Missouri State Board of Nursing (MSBN) and show a need in the community— as well as a plan for growth— before being granted approval to accept more students.

“We are thrilled that our request was approved, because this a huge part in providing nurses that this community needs,” says Dr. Amy DeMelo, President of Cox College. “This change allows even more health professionals to make a difference for people right here in our area.”

The increase will be rolled out incrementally over the next few years. It is a key aspect of the college’s $6.6 million revitalization campaign, which ties to training more nurses locally—and ultimately, having even more health care professionals in the Ozarks.

Cox College is mentioned in this article from Governor Mike Parson's office about the expansion of nursing programs around Missouri. It is great to have the support of our state's leaders! Source: https://difp.mo.gov/news

"Never give up on someone with a mental illness. When "I" is replaced by "We", Illness becomes Wellness." - Shannon L. Alder

13 Cox College • Springfield, MO

led me to being a frequent flyer at my local pediatric psychiatric Hospital.

However, there was a nurse at the hospital who was a constant throughout my many visits. She was a fantastic nurse and always made sure the unit was running smoothly. Taking no grief from the kids, she still made every patient there feel as though they were important and that they mattered. She cared about all of us, and me—even when I was behaving badly or had a lot of stuff going

Alisa Melugin

The reason I chose to go into nursing is because I am a proud cancer survivor. Being only six years old when I was diagnosed, I spent a lot of time in the hospital receiving treatment.

I'll never forget the nurses who cared for me, Martha and Susie, as they were kind, gentle, and cheered me up when I was scared. It is their impact on me that played a significant role in my decision to become a nurse.

My desire is to care for my patients the same way that Martha and Suzy did for me.

Rebekah Cates

I know a lot of people like to say that they've wanted to be a nurse since they were a child.

That was not me.

For a long time I didn't want to be anything. I had a lot of serious mental health issues and didn’t want to grow up. I even questioned whether I wanted to be alive or not. I hated myself and everyobne else. Being so angry

14 The Pulse • Summer 2019

Interestingly, this nurse would always tell me the many things I couldn't see about myself. She would tell me "you're so smart, you would be a perfect fit to be a nurse." And I would constantly tell her I wasn’t going to ever be a nurse and how stupid I thought that idea was. Her response would be "Not only should you be a nurse, you should work at place like this.

You should work at a pediatric site." I would thank her for her silly suggestion and that I

To do what nobody else will do, in a way that nobody else can, in spite of all we go through; is to be a nurse.

- Rawsi Williams, RN, attorney

appreciated it, respected her, but indicated I had zero plan for doing that and in fact, I had no intention on living that long. Absolutely none.

Several years later, through a lot of hard work and a lot of help from really good people in my life—and couple miracles thrown in there— I figured out that that I really did want to be alive and that I liked living. With that, I had to figure out what I was going to do. In the back of my mind, I still heard that nurse's words in my head saying, "you should be a nurse, you should be a nurse." At that moment, I began kicking the idea around that maybe, just maybe, I could be a nurse–but certainly not a psych nurse.

So about a year into my program, I started working at a child psych unit as a tech. I realized that this was okay, but I'm not going to do this as a nurse when I graduate.

But you know, after working there several months I realized the nurse was right the whole time. I AM fantastic at my job. I know how to connect with the kids. I just have a good understanding of that type of environment in nursing. Just recently I accepted a job as a child psych nurse at Cox Medical Center. Everything just kind of lined up to work out perfectly and I'm so happy to be where I am.

lives, and realizing how rewarding that was.

Kelsie FergusonI

My story is a little bit different than most of my classmates.

I was a college student who changed their major every semester, but realized it was all part of a bigger plan because it had to be that way in order for me to end up here.

After being accepted into nursing school and completing my first semester, I decided to take a semester off to decide if this is really what I wanted to do with my life. What really pushed me to continue was my experience working as a float nurse’s aide in the hospital, caring for patients at the most critical points in their

One year before the day I graduated, I was in a serious car accident which landed me in the hospital for three weeks and then in-patient rehab for weeks after that. While I have no recollection of this experience, my family stood by me throughout the entire recovery process and I’m so grateful for that. Equally important the nurses in those units took great care of me and my family during a most difficult and trying time.

Those wonderful nurses were there to take care of not only me, but to also comfort my family when they were scared and worried about my condition and whether or not I would fully recover.

My mom told me she cried tears of happiness whenever she came into my hospital room and found the nurses had not only cleaned me up but also braided my hair.

That small act of kindness made it easier for her to see me while being connected to so many tubes and a ventilator. This experience made me realize sometimes it is not only the medical care but also the little things we do as nurses that make the biggest difference to patients and their family members.

Corrine Rinne

I chose nursing because when my mom was younger—before I was born—she was really sick. In fact, she wasn't supposed to have kids, but unexpectedly she became pregnant with me, which was a blessing for both of us.

Her like pregnancy and her struggle really guided me towards nursing and she always talked about her labor and delivery nurses to this day 23 years later. She still talks about the roast beef sandwich that she got after she had me and so that has steered me into getting into labor and delivery. So come June I’ll be working in Kansas City as a labor and delivery nurse.

15 Cox College • Springfield, MO

Alumni

Dr.Kerri Miller MAKING PEOPLE BETTER story by Holly Atkinson

The creation of re:immune®, the illness recovery formula, has had a profound impact on an untold number of lives, and it all started at the Burge School of Nursing.

Dr. Kerri Miller is the brain behind re:immune® and currently serves as CEO of Make People Better, an organization dedicated to focusing on an individual’s specific DNA to tailor wellness plans made especially for them.

While Kerri would eventually receive her doctorate, circumstance and immediate need had her journey starting at nursing school, where she relied upon her instructors for help and motivation.

of our students—balancing school, work, and time with her children. With the help of classmates and friends, she graduated in 1989 from Burge School of Nursing. Her lifetime’s pursuit of helping others was still in its infancy.

Health care education has come a long way since the 1980s.

Today, students of Cox College receive practical, hands-on experience as they complete their education, but this practice was quite rare when Dr. Miller was in school. When she joined the Neuro Trauma Department

“[The instructors] were the reason I got through it,” Dr. Miller said of the experience. “After the first semester, we were basically thrown in as nurses’ aides and progressed up the ladder.”

Dr. Miller experienced the trials and triumphs shared by many

16 The Pulse • Summer 2019

at Cox South Hospital, she learned all aspects of the job on-site.

“Back then, it was sink or swim,” Dr. Miller said. “But there were great, experienced nurses that had your back. Eventually, I started to thrive; I really started to get into it.”

Once she got her feet wet, she decided to branch out and returned to school to become a nurse practitioner (NP). At the time, this position was practically non-existent. The closest school with an NP program was University

of Missouri-Kansas City—two and a half hours away. But Dr. Miller wasn’t going to let a little thing like distance stand in her way, even with three kids at home. She made the drive to UMKC three days a week and received what she recalls as a great education.

But graduation presented its own set of obstacles, the foremost being that few people understood the value of a nurse practitioner, so finding work was an uphill battle. Eventually, Dr. Miller landed at the Cardiology Group at Mercy Hospital.

Recovery care became a big portion of her daily tasks.

“I started looking at their labs and noticed that all of my patients were dehydrated, their immune systems were shot,” Dr. Miller said. “When you have a chronic illness, being in the hospital just exacerbates the condition.”

Nurse practitioners became more mainstream as time progressed, increasing the number of available jobs.

While making her mark as a nurse practitioner, Dr. Miller learned that a cardiologist with whom she was acquainted had traveled to Nicaragua for mission work. Suddenly, Dr. Miller’s world was wide open to new opportunities.

it. It gave me a different understanding of human health and healthcare.”

Dr. Miller dedicated twelve years of time and passion to Project Hope, but she still wanted to do more. Ambition led her to one of the leading Global Health Schools—Johns Hopkins—where she would study for her doctorate. Her coursework presented her with a behemoth of a challenge: develop a program with community health educators to help communities treat diarrheal disease.

Working closely with the Nicaraguan government and Project Hope, Dr. Miller developed a community health education program, recruiting women with no medical background and training them to become community educators.

These women returned to their communities and trained more than 220 families to manage diarrheal disease. This effort continues to this day.

Upon returning to Baltimore for school, Dr. Miller started working with the Bloomberg School of Public Health. There, she observed colleagues as they researched and developed the uses of zinc as a supplement to promote healing. Always focused on innovative means

to improve the lives of others, Dr. Miller began to think of ways to make an impact on a global scale. With this ambition in mind, she enrolled in Harvard’s Global Health Effectiveness summer program.

After graduation, Dr. Miller returned to internal medicine, her sights now set on making her mark. She considered the observations she had made about patients undergoing prolonged hospital stays, and decided to follow the advice often attributed to Gandhi by becoming the change she wanted to see in the world. Her vision would not only improve the lives of those in developing countries, but also those at home in the United States.

Dr. Miller built upon her experiences with oral rehydration, osmolality, and homeostasis, and developed what is now known as the hydriobiotic, re:iimmune®, a cheaper IV alternative. This oral rehydration supplement helps improve the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, reducing inflammation and hydrating the body at a cellular level.

Over the last four years, Dr. Miller has been consumed with the effort of introducing her product (continued on next page)

Dr. Miller cutting down an agave plant, one of the main gredients in re:immune

“I said to myself, 'I’ve never traveled anywhere,'” Dr. Miller said. “I was 36 years old and I didn’t have a passport. I’d been to Mexico but that was back in the 80s. I said, ‘I’m going to go.’ So I signed up with this group.”

She began traveling with Project Hope Nicaragua, a Springfield-based mission organization, every year. “It was my lifeline. I thrived in that position. I was really good at

17 Cox College • Springfield, MO

(continued on from previous page)

to the world. While her knowledgebase is vast, making the transition from medicine and education to the business world has not been without its challenges. Still, she managed to secure $750,000 to launch her product, which she repaid in full within two years. She also maintained her passion for helping those in developing nations. Partnering with Convoy of Hope and Direct Relief, Dr. Miller’s company distributes one box of re:iimmune® to areas in need for every box purchased in the United States.

UP!

SHOW YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT WITH A WIDE SELECTION OF COLOR COMFORT® TEES The Store @ Cox College carries an assortment of stylish and comfortable T-shirts and fleece active wear. You can fuel up with assortment of protein bars, greek yogurt, hummus, cookies, and candy. For the coffee lovers, we carry several different blends as well as Dunkin Donuts, McCafe, and Monster Cafe cold coffee drinks in several flavors. For extra energy, we carry Powerade, Monster Hydro, and Vitamin Water.

SUMMER HOURS

Starting 5/13/19 through 8/9/19 8:00am - 4:00pm Mon-fri

Fall hours

Starting 8/13/19 7:00am - 5:00pm Mon-Fri

18 The Pulse • Summer 2019

Dr. Miller’s drive and innovation has impacted the lives of untold thousands around the globe.

With a manufacturing plant in Forsyth, Missouri and headquarters in Springfield, Dr. Kerri Miller has come full circle. Her roots run deep through Missouri and the Burge School of Nursing, but her reach is world-wide.

NOTE: Dr. Miller has written a booklet, "The Ultimate Guide to Illness Recovery Through Shared Decision Making" which is available on her website, MakePeopleBetter.com. In it she discusses "DNA testing for health and why home DNA testing is a game changer."

welcome new faculty & staff

Carol Forner, MSN

Jordan Farmer, BS

System Administrator

Administrative Assistant

"Party on the Patio" celebrates a another remarkable year at the College.

Michael McShane, BS Executive Assistant

Angela Jenkins, BS

Josh Jones, BS

Tina Liles, CRT, RCP

Kelly Smith, BS

Administrative Assistant

Simulation Specialist

Simulation Specialist

Bookstore Assistant

raising awareness

thanks for your service

Our Admissions and Recruitment teams work hard to get the word out about the great programs offered by Cox College.

Two faculty members recently retired from the College.

Brenda Lehr, ASN faculty member for nine years, and Donna Rye, BSN faculty member, for eleven years. The College celebrated their service with a going away party and giving each of them a commerative plaque.

In April, our admissions and advisement teams had several opportunities to speak. Below, team members presented to Springfield high school counselors.

We also visited high school schools in the Kansas City area.

Monday, May 13th, staff and faculty gathered on the patio outside the Fountain

In May, they had a blast hanging out at CoxHealth’s Pediatric Safety Fair at Cox North.

Plaza Room for a time of fellowship and reflection on the great things happening at the College.

DON'T FORGET! Help make the difference in the future of health care by donating to the CoxHealth Foundation.

Please review the giving envelope inside this issue. There are several worthy funds that need your help. THANK YOU!!

19 Cox College • Springfield, MO

Alumni Photo Credit: mimagephotography/shutterstock

Friends since nursing school, Jana Kueck and Dr. Robin Talley pursue their passion and start Providence Aesthetics & Medical Spa

story by Holly Atkinson

W

hen they met at the Burge School of Nursing, they already had a lot in common. They were both local to the area, having graduated high school in the same year, and both had also served as cheerleaders for their respective schools. Their shared passion for helping others would bring these two strangers together as fellow students, then roommates. And twentyfive years after they graduated, Dr. Robin Talley and Jana Kueck would go into business together, launching Providence Spa. Much like Cox College today, the Burge School of Nursing had established a name for itself based on the excellence of the offered programs. Both Talley and Dr. Kueck describe the atmosphere as one that emphasized the importance of what they were there to accomplish. While fun was had and lifelong friendships were formed, students were led by a faculty that was dedicated and passionate about what they

did, and believed the students should be as well. The end result was an education that expertly prepared them for their future careers.

Following graduation, Dr. Talley worked in the operating room at Cox North before moving to Cox South. In 1988, she moved to Kansas City and begain working toward her doctorate at the University of Kansas. She pursued anesthesiology as a career path, citing a preference for the ability to address needs quickly before moving onto the next need.

Dr. Talley received a degree in anesthesiology, completed her residency, and became board certified. She remained in Kansas City as a professor before ultimately moving back to Springfield and rejoining the CoxHealth team as part of the anesthesia group.

Kueck remained in the Ozarks at Skaggs Community Hospital.

After she had her first child, she joined the obstetric department, where she would spend the next

20 The Pulse • Summer 2019

Burge Alumnae

Kueck and Talley

fifteen years, working with labor and delivery. The hospital was smaller, so Kueck got to work in a bit of everything within her department, including postpartum and newborn nursery. She expanded her knowledge-base, eventually instructing her colleagues on neonatal advanced life support; she also gave new mothers breastfeeding education and taught Lamaze. She spent the last ten of her cumulative twenty-five years at Skaggs Community Hospital working in Surgical Services.

This placed her back on track to reunite with her former roommate approximately fifteen years following their graduation.

Dr. Talley was on call at Skaggs Community Hospital while Kueck was working in the post-anesthesia care unit.

It would be another few years before they reunited to go into business together. After her third child was born, Dr. Talley decided she wanted out of the hospital scene to allow more time with her children, so she began pursuing other passions, primarily cosmetic surgery, aesthetics, and anti-aging.

Having obtained advanced training and aesthetic fellowship through The Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine at the University of Southern Florida, Talley began performing dermal fillers and botulinum toxin injections for patients as she transitioned out of hospital work.

In 2009, Talley knew Kueck would soon start transitioning out of hospital work herself, and approached her with a proposal— start a business together.

What began as a small, two-person operation grew over the years into a full staff of estheticians.

Today, Providence Spa is home to a pharmacologist who specializes in hormone testing, thyroid testing, adrenal testing, high-performance nutraceuticals, and more. They also have a physical therapist, several estheticians to cater to clients seeking permanent cosmetics, weight loss, or thyroid care, as well as two massage therapists.

The practice is based on meeting the individual needs of each client, listening to their stories, identifying what’s important, and determining which approaches would yield the best results.

The client range at Providence Spa covers a wide spectrum,

Photo Credit: eric baker

At the start, neither Talley nor Kueck knew how the venture would pan out. They had a shared vision for a business that addressed the mind, body, and spirit of their clients. Having been in the industry for several years, they made the conscious decision to start small, with just the two of them answering the phones, scheduling appointments, and performing services—mostly Botox, laser hair removal, laser resurfacing, and anti-aging

cosmetics. This cautious approach allowed the business to grow naturally as client needs were identified.

Denise Pewton, Office Manager, greets visitors and clients at the front desk.

21 Cox College • Springfield, MO

from teenagers battling with acne to adults who spent a bit too much time in the sun in their youth. While Talley and Kueck are keen about keeping an eye on the future to determine where the business might expand, they hold to the philosophy that waiting is better than rushing. This way when they do expand the services they provide, they will know it’s the right move.

Talley and Kueck enjoy the serendipitous nature of their relationship, which today spans four decades. How they began as rival cheerleaders for competing high schools, became roommates at what is today Cox College, and how life kept throwing them together.

That they would become lasting business partners seems inevitable now. Neither Talley nor Kueck shows any signs of slowing down.

Alumni

SAVING THOSE IN NEED story by KYLE DEVRIES

p h o t o c r e d i t: h a n n a h a r n z e n p h o t o g r a p h y

In 2015, Kallie Campbell graduated from Cox College’s ASN program, ready and eager to enter a workforce in constant need of dedicated, caring professionals.

She spent the first couple of years serving the patients in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and Cardiac Arrest Unit at Cox South before ultimately moving to the Cardiovascular Catheterization Lab. “Cox College provided me and many other students the chance to explore career possibilities we may not have thought of before,” said Kallie. “The faculty was really wonderful and made a big impression on students.”

No one ever said nursing school would be easy. Aside from the difficult workload, the time and dedication the program demands

of its students can also be overwhelming. Students may forget the way time moves outside of school, as was the case with Kallie. Once she completed her education, she found herself with more time on her hands than she'd had in a long while. But in the spirit of a true healthcare professional, Kallie decided this extra time would be best spent helping others.

With that in mind, she began looking for volunteer work, and crossed paths with Rescue One. Rescue One is a local organization dedicated to rescuing dogs who have been abandoned by their former owners or are currently housed in kill-shelters. The objective is to find these dogs a loving, permanent home—but this is no small task, and the facility itself has limited space.

Hello, convenience.

PRIMARY CARE

VIRTUAL VISITS

This is where Kallie comes in, providing a temporary home for dogs who have yet to be found by their forever-family. Alongside her husband, Kyle, Kallie has fostered more than 100 dogs in two years. The duration of stay fluctuates—some dogs might be guests for a few days, others for several months, but all are welcome. So far, two of Kallie’s fosters have permanently joined the family, reaping the benefits of a loving home with an endless supply of playmates.

Kallie & Kyle Campbell

WALK-IN CLINICS

This is health care on your schedule, and on your terms.

417-269-INFO or coxhealth.com

22 The Pulse • Summer 2019

URGENT CARE

EMERGENCY ROOM

At one point, Kallie’s home was the refuge of 19 dogs. A mother and her puppies were in need of emergency shelter, and Kallie welcomed them into her home, in addition to the seven dogs already under her care. “It was very temporary,” Kallie says.

“And it was chaos. It probably won’t ever happen again.”

Kallie’s background in nursing made her a natural at caring for others—even if these patients came with four legs rather than two. One of Kallie’s charges was a three-pound puppy whose nose had been half-bitten off by another dog. The puppy’s nose became infected, and with her immune system compromised, she developed pneumonia and demodectic mange. Two nose reconstructions and many months of care later, the puppy found her forever home, where she thrives today.

“My favorite thing about fostering is placing dogs with awesome adopters,” said Kallie. “There is nothing better than helping a dog who has been let down by humans work through their issues, and then finding them an amazing home. Without foster homes, some of these dogs wouldn’t have had any chance in the world.”

For Kallie, serving those in need is a vital part of who she is—both at work and at home.

Check out Rescue One’s website—and all of their current adoptable pets—at RescueOneSpringfield.com.

Author’s note: My wife and I adopted Mira, one of Kallie’s fosters, in November of 2018.

Rescue One was very thorough in its application process, in making sure that we would be a good fit for Mira. We are thankfu l for Rescue One and for great people like Kallie who provide safe places for these dogs.

Nightingale Ceremony

This semester's Nightingale ceremony was a wonderful evening of celebrating the accomplishments of these soon-to-be nurses!

Spring Commencement

Another Commencement in the books. Sara Forhetz, anchor and reporter for KY3/KSPR TV, was the guest speaker and challenged the almost 170 graduates to use their knowledge to help heal AND comfort. Congratulations to our Spring 2019 graduates as you enter the next chapter in your lives.

student

Fitness Special!!

Cox College students, you can join CoxHealth Fitness Center North for a special yearly rate. You will have access to: • 3 floors • 24/7 access • Functional training room • Full strength circuit

• Free weights • Locker rooms • Saunas

For more information, call 417-269-8882

23 Cox College • Springfield, MO

EXCEPTIONA

faculty

Cox College is committed to excellence by meeting the educational needs of students and the health care community.

Representing Cox College at the Occupational Therapy Australia 28th National Conference and Exhibition 2019 this July in Sydney, Australia, Dr. April Swanson along with Dr. Tara Boehne (Missouri State University) and Kacie Sims (Ozark Technical Community College) will be presenting their research work titled “Emotional Intelligence: The Catalyst for Successful Personal and Professional Relationships."

"Dr. Boehne submitted our proposal to the Occupational Therapy Australia conference committee and we received official acceptance on my birthday last November."

"This opportunity came about during one of our meetings in our yearlong preparation for our presentation for the Missouri Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA) state conference," April stated. The presentation was a collaborative effort between the three area academic fieldwork coordinators for occupational therapy programs in Springfield.

2018 Health Care Champions Nurse: Amanda Cole STORY BY GEOFF PICKLE. Republished with permission from the Springfield Business Journal.

Amanda Cole is a lifelong learner, and she brings that passion to work by teaching medical students at Cox College.

Cole, a registered nurse who’s currently pursuing a doctorate in educational technology from Walden University online, in August was promoted to Cox College’s lead nursing research faculty member. In the role, she’s in charge of improving outcomes in a variety of health care settings by establishing the college’s research standards in its master’s in nursing program.

“I like to think that I help my colleagues in the CoxHealth system and my students at Cox

24 The Pulse • Summer 2019

College feel encouraged and empowered to never give up their pursuit of education and higher training,” Cole says. “With the nursing shortage affecting all levels and areas of health care— from home health to nurse education to nurse practitioners —it is more important than ever that nurses feel empowered to leverage their academic skills into dynamic careers.”

Using her expertise, Cole has taught all levels of nursing students, including a preprogram in anatomy and physiology, associate, bachelor’s and master’s degreelevel studies, and courses for family nurse practitioners. Her teaching methods involve

Photo Credit: ABOVe, mike wingo; opposite page: amanda cole

Dr. Swanson was influenced to pursue an international level opportunity by other Occupational Dr. Boehne & Kacie Sims Therapy professors with this experience. "When offered the opportunity to take our work to Australia, I immediately jumped on board and knew I would find a way to make it happen," Swanson said.

Their presentation represents Dr. Swanson's favorite research area which relates to recent neuroscience findings surrounding the function of the vagus nerve and its role in emotion and decision making.

In addition, she hope to learn how other cultures and health care models are addressing the health care needs of their population and the education models they are using to teach occupational therapy. "I hope to grow my understanding of occupational therapy education and delivery of service by expanding learning to Australian methods. As a result, I hope to bring fresh perspectives back to our students at Cox College.

Photo CreditS: above left, Eric Baker/immediate left,april swanson,

Dr. April Swanson to Co-Present at Occupational Therapy Conference Down Under

Photo CreditS: left, EUGENIA TODIRASH/BELOW, TAD MORRIS, KYLE DEVRIES, AND ERIC BAKER

Daniel Edwards Speaks at District Conference

Professor Daniel Edwards gave two lectures at the 5th district Radiologic Technologist Society for continuing education units this past March. The topics were a comparison of today's clinical setting vs. past with regards to the relationship with the technologists and the students, and technology change in the departments over time. He also attended two Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) conferences (Orlando and Chicago) to become a site visitor for our accrediting body. So, next year he will get to visit other programs across the country in Xray and MRI.

real-world applications and creative lessons to drive a point home.

Cole recalls taking associate-level students last year to two sides of a hallway at a trauma unit.

A patient on each side had been in a motorcycle accident, though only one had worn his helmet.

“The simple act of walking students from one side of the hallway to the other was enough to provoke strong conversations about community education and safety advocacy,” Cole says.

Tad Morris Lectures at Area Conference Professor Tad Morris spoke at the annual Missouri Society of Radiologic Technologists conference in April. He gave two lectures to an audience of 300 on "The Future of Diagnostic Imaging" and "Top 5 Myths About Radiation Safety."

Dr. Amy Vaughan Contributing Author On Autism Book Dr. Amy Vaughan (above, center), chair of Cox College's Occupational Therapy graduate program, was a contributing author for a brand new book entitled Autism - What Schools Are Missing. Pictured above is contributing author, Elizabeth Obrey (left) and the primary author of the book, Dr. Linda Barboa (right).

Kris Williams Receives Doctorate Congratulations to Kris Williams upon receiving her doctorate in December 2018. Dr. Williams is the department chair for the Nutrition Diagnostics program at Cox College.

Cole is quick to shine the spotlight on others.

She encouraged CoxHealth leadership to bring the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses to Cox College, and in May, its first recipients were recognized.

“It’s extremely gratifying to see students and faculty recognized for their excellence and

Her community work also focuses on health care.

Cole’s the leader of Team WYAO, a local group that raises money for the national nonprofit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation where the group holds walkathon fundraisers for the cause.

“CF is classified as an orphan disease, since it affects so few people. Any chance I have to increase awareness and help the foundation, I am thrilled to do so,” Cole says.

In another instance, Cole created a puzzle game for her clinical students, requiring them to put together a patient’s chart one piece at a time.

“Watching the lightbulbs go off as each group reached their conclusion was so satisfying,” she says.

to be a driving part of that has been such an honor,” Cole says of the award that recognizes compassionate care.

Cole with nursing students

25 Cox College • Springfield, MO

She also is a volunteer for the No One Dies Alone program at Cox Medical Center South, (continued on next page)

EXCEPTIONAL

2018 Health Care Champions Nurse: Amanda Cole (continued on from previous page)

through which she visits with near-death patients when no family members are available.

“I cherish the times I have the opportunity to participate in this program,” she says.

Help Support Our Students You can help support our students when you make your online purchases through Smile.Amazon. com. It's the same online shopping experience you are accustomed to, but Amazon will donate 0.5% of the proceeds to a non-profit of your choice. Select Cox College as your preferred non-profit on Smile.

Amazon.com and all of the money generated will benefit our student emergency fund!

UPDATE: Professor Amanda Cole received her PhD from Walden University at the end of May. Her doctorate is in Educational Technology and her dissertation was on the experiences of adult students with disabilities in online classes.

Congratulations Dr. Cole!

Spring 2019 Daisy Awards Honors Eight Faculty Members

We hosted medicine and health care students from GO CAPS (Greater Ozarks Centers for Advanced Professional Studies) Branson in March for a tour of our simulation center and virtual hospital.

These students have bright futures ahead of them!

Smith

Bishop

Cox

Pittman

Jones

Morris

Stewart

Williams

Photo Credit: Kyle devries

This Spring, eight inspirational faculty members and one adjunct professor were honored with nominations for the Cox College DAISY awards! The nominated faculty were Coby Smith, Tracie Bishop, Helena Cox, Kathy Pittman, Cinnamon Jones, Zola Morris, Darla Stewart, and Amanda Comfort (adjunct professor, not pictured).

Kristen Williams won the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty due to her inspirational influence with her students this spring.

Awards are presented to faculty each Spring. You may nominate any faculty member by sending an email to daisyaward@coxcollege.edu. Questions can be directed to the committee at acole11@coxcollege.edu.

Congratulations to all of the DAISY award winners and nominees!

26 The Pulse • Summer 2019

Photo Credits: mike wingo and laurica marriott

GOCAPS Branson Visits Cox College

Halfway Party Tradition for BSN Students story by Kristen williams

It was ten years ago that my mother, Cozi Bagley, taught the OB nursing course that I currently teach. She created the Halfway Party we have for our BSN students after realizing that her class fell at the halfway point of the students’ nursing education.

When my mom was at this halfway mark herself, she’d hit a point where she wanted to quit nursing school, so she knew that her future students would need encouragement to make it through.

When I was six-months-old, my Mimi and aunt threw me a half-birthday party. We had half decorations, half a cake, half presents and other things along those lines. This was a tradition that continued in my family, so my mom decided the students deserved a half party too. For the last ten years my mother, Tammy May (who taught the course in between my mom and me), and I have given the students a halfway party celebration during week four of our eight-week course. The half party contains half decorations, half cake, half

Photo Credits: eric baker

ice cream sandwiches, and so forth. We celebrate the students being halfway through nursing school and our class!

So she wanted the pastor to tell people at her funeral to, “Keep your fork, because the best is yet to come!”

I also give the students a fork and read a story of encouragement. The story speaks of a woman making her final arrangements for her funeral. She requests to be buried with a fork in her hand.

I talk to students about the fork serving as their motivation to push through because the best—their nursing degrees—is yet to come. We also share stories of our halfway experiences and how we wanted to quit then ourselves. I challenge all of my students to tape their fork somewhere they can see it and remember that when they are struggling to push through that “the best is yet to come!”

The woman talks about church socials, where someone would inevitably say, “Keep your fork.”

This meant that something yummy and amazing was coming.

Forbes RECOGNIZES CoxHealth as one of America’s Best Employers in 2019. as reported by Kaitlyn Mcconnel on june 7, 2019 on coxhealth.com

The first-ever ranking by Forbes of the top employers by state has CoxHealth as No. 18 in Missouri out of all industry types, the No. 3 health system in Missouri out of 156 hospitals in the state, and the No. 1 best health care employer in southwest Missouri.

Forbes recognized 2,500 U.S. companies with 500 or more employees on the “best employer in America” list that is based on results of an independent survey of more than 80,000 employees across the nation.

Employees were asked about their willingness to recommend an employer to family and friends, and about work-related topics such as working conditions, salary, professional development and company image.

27 Cox College • Springfield, MO

Alumni

BREAKING NEW GROUND Story by Dr. Anna Quigg

Occupational Therapy Alumna Creates Role, Fills Need of Low Income Families Jordan Valley Community Health Center (JVCHC) approaches patient care using an integrated care model. Dr. Barbara WachtelNash, Psy.D., JVCHC’s Director of Behavioral Health Integration, through her clinical experience and previous collaboration with occupational therapists (OTs), recognized the value of adding occupational therapy services to the JVCHC integrated care team in Springfield, MO. The integrated care model is a response to the changing health care landscape in which the demand for comprehensive services in primary care is increasing as access to specialty areas and behavioral health services is declining (Robinson & Reiter, 2016). Integrated care is relationship-centered and focuses on “the whole person, [it] is informed by evidence…makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches…to achieve optimal health and healing” and is best-practice in medical care (p. 1; Esparham et al., 2018).

JVCHC and the Cox College Masters in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program are partnering to establish the first occupational therapist role in an integrated care program in Springfield, MO. Cox College MSOT graduate, Nell Gillen, is the first to serve in this groundbreaking OT position. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has promoted

From left to right: McKenzie Matlock, PA; Jessica Demoret, BHC; Nell Gillen, OT; Dr. Barbara Wachtel-Nash; and Dr. Clint Strong the role of OTs in primary care, stating OTs have “addressed health management, wellness, and prevention…as generalists or specialists since the early years of the (OT) profession.” (p. 2; Halle, Mroz, Fogelberg, Leland, 2018). One challenge for OTs in primary/integrated care sites is clearly describing

occupational therapy’s unique value and impact on health. The partnership between JVCHC and the MSOT program addresses this challenge through collaborative efforts. AOTA emphasizes the importance of OTs using their trained skillset of understanding the roles of other professionals to enhance team

Gillen’s journey with the MSOT program and role with JVCHC is a beautiful illustration of Cox College’s mission to meet the needs of the health care community by working together, taking reasonable risks, and daring to change.

28 The Pulse • Summer 2019

performance and integration (Halle, Mroz, Fogelberg, Leland, 2018).

JVCHC is a Federally Qualified Health Center, where an OT is integrated into a team rather than an ancillary service. In integrated care, providers of many disciplines (e.g., medicine including obstetrics, vision, pediatrics, and psychiatry; behavioral health including behavioral health consultants and psychologists; dental; vision; radiology; nutrition; and physical and occupational therapy) are each valued for their unique role in providing a holistic approach to the patient’s health and wellness.

“I feel highly valued in this role,” states Gillen, “I am another set of eyes on the team. For example, if the physician or nurse practitioner suspects a need during a well-baby check I can be there within minutes, screening the infant or child from an OT perspective. I check reflexes, sensory, motor, or other development to inform the team, including the caregivers.”

Gillen credits her experience-rich education and close connection with her professors in helping navigate the exciting challenges of developing this new role and finding her place in communitybased health care. “Cox College provided me with the advantage to really see diverse opportunities for therapists and to see what it will really be like to work as an OT,” states Gillen. “We learn all of the hard science, human mind and

New therapy gym

body course work, but maybe more importantly, we practice our therapeutic use of self, professional development, from a diverse set of professors.

We have opportunities to participate in a great deal of service work. All of this equates to a very solid set up for a successful career.”

Professor Michelle Jackson, faculty in the MSOT program who taught Gillen for two years, described Gillen as an “excellent student with a huge heart for service”. Professor Jackson added that she is not surprised

by Gillen’s fearless display for leadership. “Nell actually was a part of the group in my Leadership and Entrepreneurship class that developed a detailed business plan for a communitybased OT role. It is no surprise that she would be a part of creating a role that can allow her to continue to serve low income children and families.”

Before applying to Cox College’s MSOT program, Gillen spent seven years as a missionary in Latin America, teaching women skills that would help bring food to the table. Crafting, sewing, and up-cycling products to sell allowed the women to thrive in their community. Gillen, her husband, and their four children returned to the United States to re-acclimate to US culture before pursuing educational opportunities. She discovered OT when her youngest daughter received services and knew a career in OT would allow her to help people while using her creative skill set. Gillen envisions her role as an integrated care, communitybased OT will continue to grow while remaining team-based and collaborative.

29 Cox College • Springfield, MO

Gillen’s journey with the MSOT program and role with JVCHC is a beautiful illustration of Cox College’s mission to meet the needs of the health care community by working together, taking reasonable risks, and daring to change. It also embodies the MSOT program’s mission to collaborate with community partners in order to meet the needs of clients while advancing the practice of occupational therapy.

Partnering with passionate community partners whose vision for meeting the evolving needs of health care consumers allows Cox College’s MSOT program to contribute to emerging practice areas; respond promptly to the evolving landscape of medical care; and implement practice recommendations. OTs are trained to use flexibility to adapt to cutting edge technology and respond to evidence as it informs best practice in applied settings. The MSOT program is grateful for the open dialog and collaboration with Dr. Nash and the JVCHC Integrated Care program in developing new roles for OT in a primary care and integrated care that strive to meet the needs of the health care community.

References Esparham, A, Misra, S., Sibinga, E., Culbert, T., Kemper, K., McClafferty, H., … Rosen, L. (2018). Pediatric integrative medicine: Vision for the future. Brief report. Children, 5, 111.

Halle, AD, Mroz, TM, Fogelberg, DJ, & Leland, NE. (2018). Occupational therapy and primary care: Updates and trends.

Health Policy Perspectives. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72.

Robinson, PJ and Reiter, JT. (2016).

Behavioral consultation and primary care: A guide to integrating services, Second edition. Switzerland: Springer.

BURGE SCHOOL OF NURSING

Alwilda Scholler-Jaquish, PhD, RN, Burge ‘60 In 1960, the class motto for the Burge Hospital School of Nursing was “Have pin will travel.” I have lived this motto throughout the course of the nearly 60 years I have spent in the nursing field. Nursing has taken me across the country more than once, both vocationally and as I completed my studies. I went from completing my Master’s at UCLA in Los Angeles to working in a hospital in Delaware, before landing in Baltimore, Maryland to help to establish a residential hospice program.

Valerie Peterson Baker, Burge '91

Worked for Cox South Labor and Delivery from 1991-1996; at Manor Care from 19962001; at St. Johns (Mercy) Burn Unit from 2001-2008; at Mercy Outpatient Burn Unit from 2008-2016; and Mercy Skin and Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Team from 2016-present

DeAnna Clarke, Burge '91

Has been in NICU for most of her career.

Currently living in Los Angeles, CA, she works on the Neonatal Transport Team

Kim Robinson Cochran, Burge '87

Received her BSN from Southwest Baptist University, and her MSN from University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). Worked at Cox Labor and Delivery from 1987-2009.

Currently works at Ferrell-Duncan as a OB/GYN Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

Shannon Eaton, Burge '95, MSN '13 Faculty '11-'15

Currently working as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) at Burrell Mental Health

Christy Linder Joy, Burge '94

Pediatric Certified. Patient Care Manager of Adult & Pediatric Urgent Care

Connie (Thomas) Knight, Burge '92

Received her BSN from Southwest Baptist University in 2007. Currently attending the University of Cincinnati's distance learning program for MSN with a midwife certification (graduating Fall 2019) and works in Labor and Delivery at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, MO

Sherry Brooks Lee, Burge '90

Currently splits her time at CoxSouth in both Labor and Delivery and Same Day Surgery Carol Eggerman Schriver, Burge '86 Has worked Post Partum/Women and Newborn from 1986 to present

Clarke

Weise

While that was in development, I worked in an acute care hospital as a part-time instructor at the University of Maryland, where I helped establish a walk-in health care program for the homeless. I changed positions within the college as programs were phased in and out and I completed my graduate studies and started my doctoral studies. I published several articles over that time, as well as multiple chapters in Community Health Nursing textbooks, and began writing for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing textbooks.

While I was completing my doctoral program, my husband retired, and I found work as an Associate Professor at Texas Tech University School of Nursing. I continued to teach community health nursing and nursing management and had my first experience with online courses. After my husband died, I accepted a position as an Associate Professor at the University of Nevada at Reno. During my doctoral studies, I began working with a colleague on the publication of a book based on phenomenological research, which went on to receive a national award. I eventually moved back to Baltimore, retirement on the horizon.

Seeking a part-time teaching position, I was hired as an Associate Professor at the Graduate and Professional Studies Nursing Program at Stevenson University, an online program. After a year, I was offered a full-time position. While my strength was community health nursing education, I was hired to teach Informatics, something I had to learn on-the-job. I spent ten years at Stevenson University, helping develop and coordinate programs before I retired a second time. But for me, retirement doesn’t take.

Today, I am an adjunct professor for Stevenson University Online, teaching two courses a semester. In 2018 I received the Outstanding Part-Time Faculty award. I love student interaction and learn something new almost every day. In the nearly 60 years of nursing, I have encountered many changes and embraced most of them while adapting to others.

I have embraced lifelong learning

John Scroggins, Burge '81 Currently the Vice President, Editor-In-Chief for The Food Channel (www.foodchannel.com), a national consumer food website. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Integrated Communications for 28 years at Noble & Associates, a national food-marketing agency in Springfield, MO. Scroggins worked in the agency’s Chicago office for 10 years before returning home. During his time at Burge, he struggled with addiction and remembers that with the love of his classmates and tough love from instructors he was able to graduate. He found a 12-step recovery program and was able to get clean. The process forced him re-evaluate his life and career path and that led to pursuing his first love, writing. Now as food editor, he's able to combine his love of writing and his nursing education. He's thankful for that education because it's given him a deeper understanding of food and its impact on the mind and body.

"In life, I follow the principle in The Dash poem. It's not the years on your headstone that will matter. It's the dash in-between

30 The Pulse • Summer 2019

Michele Alexander Spering, Burge '93 Board Certified Pediatric Nurse for over 20 years. Currently the Staff Educator & Patient Follow-up Nurse at Cox Urgent Care Brooke Wilson Warner, Burge '94 Triage nurse at Cox Health Pediatric Center Mindy Wiese, Burge '91 Faculty 2010-2015 Volunteers as nurse for a summer camp.

Just returned as a short-term missionary to Samoa in the South Pacific and plans to return next year for another two-to-three year tour

COX COLLEGE

Emily Adams, BSN '17 Works at the NICU at Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando, FL McKenzie Adamson, ASR '18 Works as a Radiologic Technologist at Mercy Joplin Hospital. Currently in the BSDI program/Sonography track, at Cox College Jessica Aguilar, BSN '17 Works full-time at the Pulmonary-MedSurg floor (3 West) at Cox Medical Center South Elizabeth Angelhow, BSN '18 Recently hired for the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, MO Cayla Albee, BSN '17 Works at Cox MedSurg Cardiac department Lauren Argo, BSN-A '14 Started in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at Cox South. Was an ICU travel nurse for a year. Came back to Cox South as Intensive Care Unit (ICU) CARE nurse.

Graduated with Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree from Maryville University in August 2018. Joining CoxHealth's clinic in Shell Knob, MO Brian Armstrong, BSN '13 Graduated with Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Fall of 2018. Studying for boards and teaching Melanie Baker, BSN-A '14 Works at Cox North ER Katie Bakerink, BSN '17 Works at Neuro Trauma ICU at Cox South Jannie Balista, BSN '15 Works at HCA Healthcare Clear Lake in Houston, TX, in Surgical Intermediate, as a Charge Nurse, and Preceptor Tori Banderet, BSN-A '16 Was working at Cox South ER until the birth of her baby and moved back home to St. Louis. She now works at the ER at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and at St. Louis Children’s Hospital ER Adena Benton, BSN '17 PRN Postsurgical MedSurg at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, Kansas and full-time at Cox South Neonatal Intenstive Care Unit (NICU) Yvonne Biggs, BSN-A '14 Moved to Knoxville, TN, working in the OR and Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit (TSICU) and NICU at Univeristy of Tennessee (UT) Medical Center. Currently working in Chattanooga, TN, in the OR for HCA Working on FNP at Southern Adventist University.

Tara Sutton Billingslea, BSN '14 Behavioral health nurse with Citizen's Memorial Hospital, and a clinical care coordinator. Also worked ICU for two years. I'm

Adamson

Christman

Cox

Hoping to come back to Cox College to get MSN degree as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Calli Black, BSN '18 Working at Neuro Trauma ICU at Mercy Haley Bluto, BSN '15 Assistant Nurse Manager of the Progressive Care Unit at Cox Medical Center Branson Christopher Bowers, BSN-A '16 Currently the Assistant Nurse Manager of F200 and F300 at Cox North Kaitlyn Bowles, MSOT '18 Works for Incite Rehab in Springfield, MO Drew Boyts, BSN '08 Works as Peds/Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), ICU, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Mercy kids medical transport Maggie Bradley, BSN '18 Works in the Bone Marrow Transplant/ Oncology department at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO Erika Brewington, BSN '15 Works at Labor and Delivery at Cox South Stephanie Brown, BSN '15 Worked as an ICU nurse at Cox in Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) while attending FNP Courses at Cox college. Graduated with Family Nurse Practitioner (NP) degree May 2018 and now works at Ferrell Duncan Clinic Nephrology Tonya McManus Brunk, BSN '17 Works full-time on 800 Jared Neuroscience Center at Cox South in NeuroOrtho Conzy Mitchell-Burns, ASN '98 Crestwyn Behavioral Health Nursing Supervisor Memphis, TN Leanne Burns, BSN '15 Works in the ER at Cox North, is a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), and SANE educator for CoxHealth Carter Campbell, BSN-E '17 Currently a BSN, RN as an oncology nurse in Bolivar, MO Jamie Carlile, BSN '13 Case Manager Intrepid Hospice out of Springfield, MO Tori Carr, BSN '18 Works at the OR at Cox South Alexis Desiree Cheek, BSN '17 Currently at Women and Newborn department at Cox South Ali Christman, BSN-E '13 Employed full-time on 400/500 at Cox South Devon Clark, BSN '17 Works full-time in the Labor and Delivery department at Cox South Katie Colford, MSOT '18 Works in pediatrics at Allied Therapy in North Little Rock, AR. Megan Roy-Cox, LPN to BSN Bridge, '13 Works in at Baptist Healthcare in Lexington, MO, on a telemetry floor. She is MedSurg certified

31 Cox College • Springfield, MO

Ermey's

A. Frazier

Gannon

Jessica Crouch, BSN '16 Works in Cox South ER, and just started her FNP program Fall of 2018 Chelsea Crow, BSN '14 Works ER at Mercy Springfield and hopes to get her MSN degree in the near future Shannon Crumpton, MSOT '18 Works at Alphapointe in Kansas City (nonprofit organization that specializes in all things low vision). She also performs home assessments/ home health Zach Dampier, BSN-A '18 Works full-time at Cox Urgent Care at the Turner Center. Currently in the Bachelor of Science-Doctorate of Nursing Practice (BSN-DNP) program at Missouri State University Jessie Jo Daniels, BSN '14 Works in Cox’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). I'm also a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Maranda Davis. BSN '14 A Neonatal ICU travel nurse currently working at Hillcrest South in Tulsa, OK Taylor Day, BSN '18 Works at Medical Intensive Care Unit/ Critical Care Unit (MICU/CCU) at Cox South.

Starting prerequisite classes for Certfied Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) school Kate Davis, BSN '14 Works in Cox's Neuro Trauma Intensive Care Unit (NTICU) for 4 years. Now a transfer center coordinator at Cox. Jenna Decker, BSN '17 Works at Mercy Lebanon Hospital in the Labor & Delivery department Sophia Denning, BSN-E '18 Full-time travelling nurse and "pro re nata" (PRN) at orthopedic hospital pre-op. Finished her BSN in May Mandy Kelsey Dewitt, ASN '98 Received her BSN at Southwest Baptist University in 2008, her MSN in 2012 from Norwich University, and is currently CoxHealth Assistant Nurse Manager for Women and Newborn Care Unit

(continued on next page)

stay in touch

We want to hear from you!

Send all submissions (including photos!) to: alumni@coxcollege.edu.

Hendrix

Hudson

Iacob

Where are they now? (continued from previous page)

Crystal Dickerson, ASN '17 Labor and Delivery at Cox South Jordon Dimos, BSN '18 Works at the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis, IN Christin Dionne, BSN-A '14 Works as a transport RN (received her Certfication in Neonatal Pediatric Transport (C-NPT) for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and Pediatric patients for Mercy. She is also a student at UMKC obtaining her Neonatal Nurse Practitioner degree Brad and Laurie Ermey, ASN '18 Brad works in neuro trauma ICU and Laurie works in the OR at Cox South Emily Flickinger, BSN '17 Currently at the neonatal ICU at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis Stephanie Franklin, ASN '14 BSN '15 Graduated with MSN in 2018 from Walden University. Her specialization as a Nurse Practitioner is adult gerontology acute care medicine. She currently works at Mercy Cardiology with Dr. Robert Merritt as a board certified acute care nurse practitioner in interventional cardiology.

Ali Frazier, ASN '18 Currently in RN-BSN through Cox College Mercy Emergency Department

Julian

Kelley

Kluhsman

Samantha Garriga Frazier, BSN '17 Worked in Labor and Delivery after graduation, then made the move to home health at Intrepid, and is currently working on getting her Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree from Chamberlain University Nancy Frye, BSN '17 Work full-time in Cox Urgent Care overnight Raul Fuentes, '12 Currently a Medical Dosimetrist at Sarah Cannon HCA Midwest in Independence, MO Raul Fuentes, ASR '12 Went to SW Florida to further her education in radiation therapy, then through Dosimetry school; is now certified in all three.

Thelma Feuerborn, BSN '12 Nurse Manager at HPS-AIC Kelly Gannon, BSN '18 Works at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s hospital on the Hematology/ Oncology floor Hailey Gasser, BSN '18 Works in Critical Care float pool at St. Luke’s East in Lee’s Summit, MO Josie Greeno, BSN '16 Works at Medical Intermediate Unit at Saint Luke’s East Hospital in Lees Summit, MO Jennifer Groh, ASN '13 BSN '07 Faculty '08-'16 Received her MSN in 2011, PhD in 2018, was Director of Nursing in Eureka, KS, and is currently House Supervisor at Select Medcial. Jennifer also was a professor at

Jade Manczuk, DI '12

Currently works at Jordan Valley Community Health Center (JVCHC) as a Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Education Program Coordinator. JVCHC is a Federally Qualified Health Center that has locations in six Southwest Missouri communities with nine clinics offering medical, dental, behavioral health and optometry services. She is the only dietitian employed through JVCHC that covers all of those areas. Manczuk's job is unique in that no two days are exactly alike. She does anything and everything in regards to nutrition therapy in an outpatient one-on-one setting for a variety of chronic conditions. The most common conditions she sees are patients who suffer with hypertension, diabetes, weight management (under or overweight), and overall heart health issues. Her patients range in ages from infant to elderly. Manczuk feels this helps keep her on her toes and she wouldn’t have it any other way. As coordinator of the American Diabetes Association Recognized program, she provide diabetes education in group and one-on-one sessions. She also teaches a variety of education classes from pain management and nutrition to diabetes prevention. One of the best parts of her job is that her services are absolutely free of charge for all established patients at Jordan Valley. So cost is not a barrier to JVCHC's patients. "I am thankful I made the decision to go into this field, as I get to do what I enjoy and love every single day."

32 The Pulse • Summer 2019

Monrotus

Moyer

Paulsell

Cox College from 2008-2016, and worked at many locations in the CoxHealth system from 1995-2016 Kimberly Hackler, BSN '16 Works at Cox South ER Shelli Chaney-Hancock, MSOT '18 Currently at Choice Rehabilitation (skilled nursing facility) in Springfield, MO Jess Harley, BSN-E '18 Transferred from Mercy ER to the Psychiatric Intervention Team at CoxHealth.

She is planning to start her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree program within the next year Kelsey Hawkins, BSN '17 Working at the Boston Medical Center in Surgical and Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit Lauren Hays, BSN '16 Worked in the NICU at northwestern in Chicago after graduation for 2 years, but moved back to Kansas City, MO, and is currently working in Pediatric Hematology Oncology at Children’s Mercy Jessica Hendrix, BSN '18 Working on 7E at Cox South and had a baby earlier this year Ashley Henley, BSN '15 Worked at Cox South NICU for 6 months after graduation and then moved to Savannah, GA, still in the NICU. Recently certified to do PICC lines in neonates Michelle Hinze, BSN-A '14 Works in the NICU in Omaha, NE, at Methodist Women’s Hospital Ashley Holt, BSN '16 Works as Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) at Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock. Plans on starting the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia (DNAP) program at MSU Chris Hopkins, MSOT '17 Currently at Spectrum Health in Southwest Michigan (acute care rehab and sub-acute rehab–he is also adding inpatient pediatrics at Helen Devos Children's Hospital) Kim Taylor Horton, BSN '17 Works at Cox South Surgery (OR) Emily Hudson, ASR '18 Works as a X-ray Technologist at Legacy Health in Oregon Erica Hutchinson, ASN '13, BSN '19 Works at Mercy in medical ICU Tamara (Voorhis) Iacob, BSN '15 Worked for over two years in the MICU at Cox South before moving to Anchorage, AL. Currently working at an Intensive Care Unit at a local hospital Courtney Johnson, BSN '17 Moved to Liberal, Kansas where her fiancée was living and has been working the last year-and-a-half in Labor and Delivery (LDRP) Shelby Jones, BSN-E '18 Works at St Lukes Hospital in Kansas City

Amy Baril Julian, BSN '07 After working at Mercy in their Peds/Neo transport team, she moved to Cox South and works in the Peds/PICU. Has received her Pediatric certification as well as Certified Neonatal Pediatric Transport (C-NPT). Will graduate with her MSN as an Family Nurse Practioner (FNP) in May 2020.

Currently also serving as a missionary performing health and community development seminars world-wide and is in the application process to be a medical missionary to the islands of Vanuatu where she has been asked to set up a clinic Brianna Nicole Justis, BSN-E '18 Works in Trauma Surgery at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO Makina Kelley, MSOT '18 Works at Greenhouse Pediatric Therapy in Broken Arrow, OK, and "pro re nata" (PRN) at St. Francis Hospital Acute Care in Tulsa, OK Ivy Kerns, BSN '14 Has had numerous nursing experiences since graduation and is currently working Medical Intensive Care (MICU)/Critical Care Unite (CCU) and ER, and as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Rob Kinney, BSN-A '18 Works full-time at Cox North ER and tutors in spare time Jason Kirby, BSN-A '17 Has worked in Medical, Critical Care, Cardiovascular, and Surgical Intensive Care units. Currently is a travel nurse in Boston Emily Kleinsorge, BSN-A '15 Employed at Mercy Cardia Cath lab Regan Kluhsman, BSN-A '17 Works at Labor and Delivery at Cox Monett Julia Kraines, BSN '18 Currently in the Neuro Trama Intensive Care Unit (NTICU) at Cox South Larra Kubinski, MSOT '18 Works at Choice Rehabilitation (skilled nursing facility) in Springfield, MO Katie Landis, BSN '18 Neuro Surgical ICU at Saint Luke’s in Kansas City, MO Shannon Lee, ASN '03, BSN '13 Nurse Manager at the Christian County Jail Katlin Liles, BSN '14 After graduation, she worked a year at a ER in Kansas City, MO, and is now working in pediatrics Betty Ann Linton, BSN '16 Works as a Oncology Nurse at Lake Regional VaNessa Kay Loftis, BSN-A '15 Traveling nurse in her second year of MSN program for Nurse Practitioner degree Gabrielle Marie, BSN '15 Moved to Houston, Texas and works at Houston Methodist Willowbrook in the ICU Heather Maring, BSN '18 Works in the Emergency Department (ED) at Cox South Trudi Marbough, MSN '18 Works at Cox Monett ED as an Family Nurse Practitioner Allison Martin, BSN-A '15 Currently at the NICU at Mercy Chelsy McCall, BSN-A '15 Works at Cox South Emergency Department. Graduating with a Family Nurse Practitioner degree in May

Kristin McChesney, BSN-E '13 Works in Radiology (CT/MRI) and Interventional Radiology Taya Meehan, BSN '14 Was a traveling nurse for two years and ended up in Salt Lake City, UT working on Acute Cardiovascular Unit Devin Strasheim Melton, BSN '14 School nurse for Springfield Public Schools Taylor Merritt, BSN '18 Employed at Cox South Neuro Trama Intensive Care Unit (NTICU) Kaysha Michaele, BSN-A '18 Works full-time on 700 East at Cox South Megan Miller, BSN '18 Works in Pulmonary/Neuro at Saint Luke’s in Kansas City, MO Kristin Mitchell, BSN '17 Works at Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains, MO. Started Cox College's Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program January 2018 and will be graduating May 2020 Sarah Mize, BSN '14 Works Labor and Delivery at the Army Hospital at Fort Leonard Wood Amelia Montgomery, BSN-A '17 Employed at Cox South in Medical Intensive Care Unit(MICU)/Critical Care Unit (CCU) Quinton Monnig, BSN '18 Works at Cox South ED Steven T. Monrotus, BSN-E '14 The Staff RN/Charge RN on 900 MedSurge at Cox South and Clinical Faculty Adjunct for the Cox College ASN Program Kati Wilson Morgan, BSN-A '15 Currently enrolled in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist/Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Program (CRNA/DANP) at Missouri State University Johnna Mortensen, BSN '17 Works full-time at Pulmonary MedSurg at Cox South 3 West Joshua Moyer, BSN '15 Started out in the ER at Level 1 Trauma Center at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, OK. He later transitioned to ER travel nurse. This summer, he will be switching over to Surgical/Trauma ICU at Duke University Medical Center in Raleigh, NC with the intentions of going to CRNA school Maria Rose Moyle, BSN '17 Works in Cardiovascular ICU at Cox South Charlene Nadela, BSN '16 For the last two years has worked at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California as a stroke tele nurse and is finishing up MSN in education and leadership this year Brittany Nicole, BSN-A '15 Works at the Emergency Department at Summitt Medical Center in Hermitage, TN, and teaches clinical for Adult Health II students at Cumberland University. Starting Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program in April at Walden University Meghan Neely, ASR '14 Currently lives in Leesville, Louisianna, working as a x-ray tech in Lake Charles, Louisianna Nicole Nemec, BSN '18 Graduated May 2018. Working at Mercy's Eye Surgery Center in Springfield in preand post-op, soon to learn the OR Marlee Noskowiak, BSN '18 Works at Pediatrics/PICU at Cox South

33 Cox College • Springfield, MO

Jamie Nunez, BSN-A '15 Works in Labor and Delivery at Cox South Taylor Elizabeth Oberle, BSN '17 Gynecology Oncology at Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO Morgan Odean, BSN '16 Works at the NTICU at Cox South Grishma Patel, BSN '18 Works at the MICU at Mercy Carrie Paulsell, BSN-A '18 Hired to Labor and Delivery in October 2017 for June Graduate Nurse Residency program but gave birth in June so residency moved to August 2018 Tonnie Peoples, BSN '15 Works at North Kansas City Hospital (just received Magnet) starting out as an RN on a Med Surg unit for three years, then moved to the Mother/Baby unit Amber Perkins, ASN '05 Received her BSN at Colorado Technical University, is currently working at Mercy ICU float pool, and has received her Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) certification Shauna Perry, BSN '18 Works at Mercy ER since June 2018 Jenell Pickering, BSN '15 Works at Denver Health at Acute Center for Eating Disorders full-time and Eating Recovery Center PRN (continued on next page)

Matthew Younger, ASR '13 BSDI '15

After graduation, Matthew moved to Cape Girardeau, MO, for a short time before making his home in Middle Tennessee.

In 2018, he began a new career with Medtronic, working with the Stealth Station Navigation and O-arm Advanced Imaging system.

His training and instruction during his tenure at Cox College enabled him to take the leap from an operating room radiologic technologist to the role of clinical support healthcare vendor for Medtronic, a global leader in medical technology. He feels his education prepared him for opportunities he has been afforded.

"Cox College didn't just teach me how to succeed, it taught me how to teach others to succeed. That is the real gift Cox College gave to me. I am so honored to be called an alumni of such an outstanding organization."

Sien

Simms

Williams

Where are they now? (continued from previous page)

or the last five decades of the radiography program, the CoxHealth radiology departments have graciously allowed Cox College to use their equipment to perform necessary labs. Students learn how to use radiologic equipment, patient positioning skills, and proper radiation safety skills.

In March 2018, Dr. DeMelo and I discussed the need for our own Radiography Simulation Lab where we had ample space, up-to-date equipment, and access to use the labs for educational purposes 100% of the time.

After months of research and planning, we now have a wing of the 4th floor dedicated to the RSI department where all of the offices for the ASR and BSDI faculty are housed, as well as the two Radiography Simulation Lab rooms featuring brand new x-ray machines.

One room is non-energized (does not produce x-ray) and the other is an energized room equipped with digital radiography (we can produce real x-rays on a positioning phantom

and instantly see the images pop up on a screen.

Having a dedicated lab with digital radiography puts Cox College at an advantage over other programs.The amount of labs we are able to accomplish, even in didactic courses to visually show more abstract concepts, has doubled since the rooms have been installed. This new addition of the Radiography Simulation lab will not only give faculty the chance to incorporate more hands-on experiences for our students, but our students will graduate our program even more prepared for their future employment!

UPDATE:

The ENTIRE Cox College ASR Class of 2019 passed their registry with FLYING colors! We had 9 students score in the 90s and a class average of 87.32%!!!

34 The Pulse • Summer 2019

Regina Pierson, BSN '17 Works full time at Cox South Emergency Department and PRN at Urgent Care in the Turner Center Carrie Ann Grace Pilman, '18 Works at Cox Labor and Delivery Amanda Pleming, BSN-A '16 Started at Cox neuro trauma ICU but ended up moving for husband's career. Was in an accident that caused significant trauma to her leg. After over a year of multiple surgeries and physical therapy she was able to learned how to walk, then jog, and started the job search to get back to nursing. Earlier this year she recieved an offer from a hospital in her area and will be working in the Cardiovascular ICU on days Katie Powell, ASN '15 Works for the Federal Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield Nichole Porter, BSN '13 Works at neuro trauma ICU at Mercy. Is a preceptor as well as a back up charge nurse and has multiple certifications. Might one day obtain my NP or CRNA—still undecided Katie Price, BSN '15 I am a staff nurse at Cox South in Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU)/Critcal Care Unit (CCU). Applying to DNP school to start this summer Toni Reeves, BSN '17 Worked in MedSurg at Cox South for over a year and now works in Pediatric home health for Bayada Home Health Care Kelsey Rhoden, BSN-E '17 Formerly at Pulmonary MedSurg at Cox South, now at Integrity Home Care & Hospice Sydney Ringen, BSN '16 Working at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Cox South with her PMHNP this May Rachel Roerick, BSN '16 Travel nurse in Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) and Critical Care Kreslee Ryser, MSOT '18 Works at Mercy Joplin Hospital (Acute care, CVICU and NICU) Eva (Davis) Sandusky, ASN '14 Works at MedSurg at Mercy in Lebanon, MO and PRN MedSurg at TCMH in Houston, MO Lacey Sanazaro, BSN '18 Employed at Surgical Intermediate Cardiac Leah Schmidt, BSN '13 Just graduated FNP program from Maryville University December 2018, currently finishing travel contract in PACU. Austin Schneider, BSN-A '16 Works in Neuro Trauma Intensive Care Unit (NTICU)

Christie Schultz, BSN-E '18 Works neuro trauma ICU at Cox South Zachery D. Sien, ASR '12 Is currently in Kansas City and working as the Radiology Supervisor of Children's Mercy April Michelle Sims, BSN-A '17 Working at Cox South ER Charleen Sims, BSN-A '16 Currently working day shift on the Medical Oncology unit at Centerpoint in Independence, MO. She plans to graduate with her MSN-FNP in December. She finished first semester serving in a clinical adjunct faculty role for a Population Health course, both through Research College of Nursing in Kansas City, MO. She also teaches for the Pain Ambassadors program and has her ONS Chemotherapy & Biotherapy certifications.

Kelly Siplinger, ASN '14, BSN '15 Employed as a traveling ER nurse currently assigned in Laguna Hills, CA Allison Smith, BSN '14 Worked neuro/ortho med surg for a few years; now works in the OR as a circulator/scrub Susan Smith-Hall, BSN '14 Was managing the Cedar County Health Dept until going on medical leave in July last year. Still working PRN Brianne Spell, MSOT '18 Works for Access Potential Therapy Services focusing on Carthage School District and the Leffen Center for Autism Katey Stafford, ASN '13 Received her BSN from University of Central Missouri in 2015 and plans to graduate with PMHNP this May Cheri Nall-Stevens, ASN '07 Works at Mercy on the Pediatric/Neonatal transport team and has her Certfication in Neonatal Pediatric Transport (C-NPT) Emma Stevens, BSN-E '18 Works at a skilled nursing facility in Oregon and is planning to go back to college for Masters in Public Health Administration next Spring Lacey Stephens, BSN '18 Works at the Neuro Trauma Intensive Care Unite (NTICU) Cox South Felecia Stewart, BSN-A '12 Initially worked Medical Oncology but has moved onto Radiation Oncology Cox South.

Shelby Strauch, BSN '13 Works ER in Bates County MO. Enrolled in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at University of Missouti-Kansas City with anticipated graduation 2020 Cory Sugg, ASN '14 Has worked in Outpatient Dialysis for Cox for two years and is currently a Correctional Nurse at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, MO Tawnya Susan, BSN-A '17 Works at Cox South ER Stephanie Tate, BSN '18 Works in the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) at St. Luke's East in Lee's Summit, MO Vanessa Taylor, BSN '15 I work at Cox South Women & Newborn, I'm currently in the MSN Nurse Educator program at Cox and will graduate Dec 2019

Kelly Teeple, MND/DI '17 Began working for Mercy as an outpatient dietitian and am now serving as the coordinator for both Mercy’s Nutrition Center and Diabetes Educational Resource Center. I plan to continue working towards obtaining my Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) credentials in the next five years.

Amy Vance, BSN '16 Works in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) at Saint Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, MO Ellisia Waterman, BSN '17 Was working at ER at Cox South, but now on the MedSurg floor at Mercy Lebanon Hospital Brittany Waterworth, BSN-A '15 Working on a post surgical floor and plans to graduate with her Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree in November Kaylie Weltsch, BSN '13 Works as the Assistant Nurse Manager of the Stepdown Unit at Cox South Heather Marie Weston, BSN-E '13 Currently in Neonatal ICU as a traveling nurse Aime White, BSN '17 Works Maternity at Cox Branson Katlyn Willard, BSN '14 Was a traveling nurse. Currently works in the ICU at Key West, FL Emma Willey, BSN '18 Employed at Cox South MICU Cybil Wilkes, BSN-A '17 Works at MICU at Saint Luke's East in Lee's Summit, MO Rose Ullerich, BSN '18 Works at Cox Branson Critical Care Unit (CCU) Care at Saint Luke’s in Kansas City Aubrey Jane Wilkinson, BSN '18 Works in the ICU at Citizens Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Boliva. She recently started orientating the new hires and feels this is a big honor Hillary Woods, BSN-A '17 Was at the Critical Care float pool at Saint Luke's East but now in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Cox South Katie Woodworth, BSN-E '16 Works at Labor and Delivery at Cox Branson Rachel Young, BSN '17 Was working in the 8-bed ICU at Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg, MO, but moved to Jonesboro, AR. Currently working at ICU of NEA Baptist (36-bed) Ciara Zick, BSN '17 Employed in the Women and Newborn department at Cox South

stay in touch

We want to hear from you!

Send all submissions (including photos!) to:

alumni@coxcollege.edu.

35 Cox College • Springfield, MO

Carey

Krueger

Deborah Stumpff Carey, Burge '84 Passed away on February 23, 2019 Janice Lamar Keller, Burge '70 Died on December 3, 2018 Kay (Gillette) Krueger, Burge '63 She lived in Plano, Texas. Passed away July 3rd, 2018

Send all In Memoriam submissions (including photos!) to: alumni@coxcollege.edu.

Misc.

Spanish for Healthcare Workers is now being offered during the Spring and Summer Semesters.

This course introduces students in health care fields who have little to no formal background in Spanish to various ways of communicating effectively with the Spanish speaking population. By the end of this eight week course, students will have a Dr. Nichols store of memorized, relevant dialogue and vocabulary with which to communicate in basic terms with Spanish-speaking patients and family. This class is taught by the Spanish Chair at Drury University, Dr. Elizabeth Nichols, and is fully online.

Students use video to make a recording of themselves practicing a health care related conversation.

1423 N. Jefferson Avenue Springfield, MO 65802

Cox College One of Several Sponsors for Relay for Life Staff, faculty, and students volunteered at this year’s Relay for Life event at Jordan Valley Park! Our awesome team of volunteers helped with registration and serving dinner for the cancer survivors who participated in the memorial walk.

I was nearing the end of my first clinical day (for the my 2nd semester) at Cox South and I walked into my patient's room to tell them goodbye and thank them for letting me care for them. When I walked in, the patient was laying down in bed with the lights off. I walked over to the bed side to say goodbye and he began excessively coughing. As he coughed I saw bright red blood spew from his mouth; it was a lot of blood. I ran and got the nurse who was overseeing me for the day and we both ran back into the patient's room. The nurse immediately sat the patient up and turned the lights on and began looking into the patient's mouth with his pen light. While he was doing this, I look over to the patient's side table and see three empty cups of strawberry Jello. I instantly turned bright red. The patient had just finished the Jello and was laying down for a nap. I was extremely embarrassed and I will never forget this memory. This was the craziest thing that happened to me this semester. I hope you get a laugh out of it like my clinical professors did.

2019