Moore Healthy

Collaboration Creates OU College of Nursing at Norman Regional

Anew partnership between Norman Regional Health System and the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is training more nurses while also giving students hands-on experience.

The partnership will create a satellite location of the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at Norman Regional’s two hospitals, Norman Regional Hospital and the Norman Regional HealthPlex. It will be called OU Nursing at Norman Regional Health System.

“The innovative partnership between Norman Regional Health System and Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing is an example of how we can positively impact the future of healthcare by providing new and additional opportunities to grow the nursing profession,” said Brittni McGill, Chief Nursing Officer for Norman Regional. “Our program will begin offering a traditional BSN program in August 2022. Our hope and desire is that this becomes a partnership model that can be replicated in other healthcare disciplines.”

Oklahoma and the nation are experiencing a severe nursing shortage. According to The American Nurses Association (ANA), more registered nurse jobs will be available through 2022 than any other profession in the United States. According to an article in the Nursing Times, The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that 11 million additional nurses are needed to avoid a further shortage. Employment opportunities for nurses are projected to grow at a faster rate (15%) than all other occupations through 2026.

“Academic-practice partnerships are key to meeting the unprecedented demand for more nurses at all levels. OU College of Nursing looks forward to collaborating with Norman Regional Health System to prepare more nurses, lay the path for practicing nurses to advance their education, and leverage innovate strategies to address the nurse faculty shortage,” Julie Anne Hoff, Dean of the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, said.

This new program is an innovative way to battle that shortage by educating new nurses and quickly preparing them for their role in a hospital setting, McGill said.

Students entering into this program will not only get clinical experience at the hospitals, they will also attend class in the Norman Regional Hospital Education Center. Norman Regional also has unique hands-on training such as its simulation lab featuring life-size mannequins.

Applications for all Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing programs are now open. Students interested in applying to the BSN program should visit the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing website for instructions: https://nursing.ouhsc.edu/Academics/ Bachelors-Programs/bsn/Application-Process

Applications are due no later than February 1, 2022 for the Traditional BSN program at Norman Regional Health System.

The Most Versatile Vegetable – But Make It Sweet

It is a known fact that potatoes can be eaten in a wide variety of ways; there’s baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, French fries, potato chips, hash browns, tater tots, potato soup, the list goes on. Not only can potatoes be salty, but they can be sweet. The month of November is the month of Thanksgiving, where everyone gathers with their families to eat until their pants no longer fit. On the Thanksgiving table, more often than not, are some form of sweet potatoes and along with Thanksgiving, November is a month that brings awareness to their wide variety of forms and benefits.

Sweet potatoes are starchy vegetables that contain a high amount of healthy vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, C, and potassium. Just as regular potatoes, sweet potatoes can be mashed, loaded, roasted, fried, etc. They are low in calorie at about 160 calories each, almost completely fat-free, have 4 g fiber, and 3.6 g protein. Some might be thinking well, aren’t they high in carbohydrates? The answer is yes, as it is a starchy vegetable, and contains about 37 g CHO in one large sweet potato. Diabetics, have no fear – the American Diabetes Association considers sweet potatoes a low Glycemic Index food that fits well into a healthy eating plan for diabetes management due to its high vitamin and fiber content.

Other health benefits of sweet potatoes include eye health from beta carotene, and anti-inflammatory effects to reduce heart disease from anthocyanins. Additionally, the fiber in any vegetable reduces cholesterol, while high potassium levels of sweet potatoes keep blood pressure down. It is best to store potatoes in a cool, dry, dark place and not in the refrigerator unless cut up or already cooked. It is important to scrub the skin under running water, and recommended to eat the skin for the additional fiber.

Some ways I love to eat sweet potatoes are simply cut up and roasted in the oven with either spicy or sweet seasonings, or in a crockpot lentil soup or Dahl with plenty of other veggies. On Thanksgiving, you might find a sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Some might find this out of the ordinary, but I treat my sweet potatoes just like a regular potato and top them with sour cream, cheese, and jalapenos. Everything in moderation, as us dietitians say! So, with all that being said, I highly encourage everyone to branch out this holiday season and see how many ways you prefer to eat your sweet potatoes.

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