LIFESTYLES
*
OPPORTUNITY
*
EDUCATION Issue 2.1
FABULOUS NURSE www.fabulousnurse.com
Weeding out Pain:
The Cannabis Dictum
Nurse Profile: Mission to Ecuador & Beyond!
Chief Nursing Officers Accounting for a Better Future for Nurses
W
G
AR AW D
IN NIN
Issue 2.1 January 2014
Nurse Profiles Real nurses share stories to inspire & educate.
Job Opportunities FN Mag features job postings in every nursing specialty.
Living Well
Professional Development
Holistic treatment trends/options for your health & wellness.
Scholastic programs, newsworthy content and work place tools for advancement.
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Fabulous Nurse Magazine
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Issue 2.1
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Fabulous Nurse Magazine
Elsie Ekwa
Editor-in-Chief
riters W
The vision behind Fabulous Nurse Magazine, Ms. Ekwa saw the need for a lifestyle magazine that all at once serves as a celebration of nurses, a guide for better living, a resource for career development, and a guilt-free escape from the sometimes grueling shifts that nurses work. Ms. Ekwa’s distinguished career as a commercial model, college newspaper editor, and intensive care nurse informs and influences the creative and intellectual direction of Fabulous Nurse Magazine. This is evidenced by the magazine’s fresh approach to home life, dynamic content, inspiring stories about real nurses, and professionally relevant editorials. Ms. Ekwa is also the managing editor for the Pacific Writer’s Corner online magazine. She writes as Sonya Justice and speaks on health and wellness issues, the business of writing, and entrepreneurship.
Zee Nickerson Writer
Zee Nickerson has a B. S. in Psychology and has owned several successful Businesses. She is currently a writer, fashion consultant, and public speaker. Ms. Nickerson has taught English in Japan, Communist China and state side. As a thrifty world traveler, she can travel for as little as a $1.00 a mile. Along the way, she taught herself spoken and written French, German, and Japanese. She has traveled in all 49 states and would like to add Alaska to her collection. Her watercolor paintings are currently displayed at the Creator’s Gallery in Jacksonville, Oregon. Ms. Nickerson is pleased to announce she is just starting to twitter at HelloZee! A play on the French words for Let’s Go!
Olusegun Iselaiye Editor & Writer
Olusegun is seasoned freelance writer, researcher, and entrepreneur. He taught nursing students Human Anatomy in his home country of Nigeria before going into fulltime writing. Olusegun, whose mother happens to be a respiratory nurse, is also a huge fan of the nursing profession. His ambition is to offer a meaningful contribution to Africa and his home country. When some give his country a bad reputation, it is good to see that there are many who live by higher standards. It is thanks to Olusegun that Fabulous Nurse Magazine will be bringing you its rating system.
Angela McCaskill, RN Contributor
Angela McCaskill, MA, RN, CHPN is a second career nurse who combines her passion for helping others with her love of travel and intercultural experiences. Having lived in Spain for 10 years and traveling throughout the world, she currently resides in Dallas, TX and works as a Medical Surgical RN. She is bilingual and uses her language skills to reach out to diverse populations. Always seeking to increase her knowledge of nursing, she is working on an advanced degree. 4
Masthead/Contributor Publisher Sony Publishing Corporation
Editorial Sonya Justice
Art & Graphic Design To submit artwork / ad creative Email: ads@fabulousnurse.com
Advertising & Marketing For advertising opportunities Email: ads@fabulousnurse.com Contact our Sales Director, Email: ads@fabulousnurse.com
Writers To submit articles for publication Email: editor@fabulousnurse.com
Reach Us By Post Fabulous Nurse Magazine 12819 SE 38th Street Ste. 173 Bellevue, WA 98006 info@fabulousnurse.com www.fabulousnurse.com
Issue 2.1
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Fabulous Nurse Magazine
Margaret Smith Writer
Margaret Smith is a native Texan who loves God, family, country, and writing. She has a variety of interests, and has worked in diverse fields from retail to education. Although she is not a nurse, she has done volunteer work in hospitals, where she has always admired the dedication and skill of the nurses she has seen in action. She recently made the decision to become a fulltime writer. Margaret enjoys the process of discovery and development in each new project.
Sara Caldwell Writer
Sara Caldwell is an award-winning writer and the author of three entertainment industry books published by Allworth Press. She has written projects for many healthcare organizations, including the American Hospital Association, the Joint Commission, and the American Optometric Association. Sara is a professor of Media Entertainment Arts at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, CA and a frequent workshop leader. She is represented by the ADA Management Group.
Mindy Carney Writer
Mindy Carney has been a professional copywriter for over fifteen years, working primarily as a freelancer. While not a nurse, she grew up the daughter of a Radiologist and an RN. Mindy’s niece is an RN in a neurology ICU as she pursues her goal of becoming a nurse practitioner. Mindy is the single mom of two daughters, both adopted as infants in China. Mindy and her family have travelled back to China several times. Much of her writing has focused on adoption, parenting, and cultural balance. She holds both a B.A. and M.A. in Communication, having focused first on journalism and then on education. She believes in a lifelong journey of learning, and her favorite aspect of freelancing is delving into new topics and material.
Carol Sowell Writer
Carol Sowell has been a writer and editor for more than four decades. She has edited books for more than a dozen publishers on topics ranging from global economics to mystical sex. In addition, her articles have appeared in Today in PT, National Catholic Reporter, Modern Maturity, and other national publications. As national director of publications for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, she edited MDA’s prize-winning magazine, Quest, and wrote and edited educational materials about medical conditions, caregiving, health care services, and other aspects of living with a chronic disease. She lives in Tucson, Arizona.
Karen Kalis Writer
Karen Kalis has ten years of experience as a professional copywriter. She has worked in industries such as education, real estate, healthcare, technology, and with non-profit organizations. With an M.A. in Creative Writing, Karen’s clients include: Fabulous Nurse Magazine, RMS Technologies, Lincoln Electric, Multi-Care Management, and The EPIC Group. An entrepreneur at heart, Karen focuses on helping businesses communicate what they have to offer with precision.
Matthew Fowler Writer
Matthew Fowler, founder of A Sodality of Wordsmiths, is currently a professional writer for the US government, namely, the US Department of Labor, where he adjudicates claims and writes formal decisions regarding labor issues. He got his start in the career field of language arts as an active duty soldier, civil affairs division, writing press releases and the like. As an active duty soldier he traveled, literally, around the world in various capacities and including combat operations in Bosnia, the Philippines, and Afghanistan to deliver the Army story. His practical experience is bolstered by considerable education, a B.A in Communications and an M.P.A in Public Policy 6
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Fabulous Nurse Magazine
ditorial E
Yes!
Updating the Image One Project of Nursing at a Time!
Fabulous Nurse Magazine is back! Thank you for your patience, your continued support, and many emails. We are humbled, so many nurses wrote in requesting that we resume monthly issues of Fabulous Nurse. It is always wonderful to know that you believe “Fabulous Nurse Magazine is a must-have complement to (your) specialty based nursing magazines.” Quick housekeeping information: You will notice some changes in future issues of Fabulous Nurse. To make the magazine more compact and reader friendly, some sections have been edited out. The magazine sections which did not make the final cut now have a new home on the Fabulous Nurse website. These are Beauty Secrets, Breakroom Discussions, Attitude Re-Defined, and Poetic Voice. We know how much you love these sections and will update the website periodically. Fabulous Nurse 2.0 features The Nurses Station I, which focuses on professional development – education, finance, management, and communication skills; The Nurses Station II where we rate nurse employers (hospitals and staffing agencies), institutions of learning, and electronic medical records; inspiring nurse profiles are featured in Walk in My Clogs; workplace destinations are highlighted in Travel from a nurse’s perspective for the travel nurses amongst us; find mandatory humor in LOL, and of course Resources for information on books to read, upcoming conferences, job opportunities, and more… The prevailing theme is one of renewed advocacy and reverence for the Nursing profession. We love all things nursing and aim to be one of the many beacons that shed a positive light on this noble profession. With that in mind, we have added a television show to our repertoire. Reel Nurses Television – RNTV In light of the many negative nurse stereotypes in the media, RNTV was founded with the sole aim to produce television programs and shows which feature a professional and accurate depiction of nurses. Enter The Reel Nurses Talk Show. With television as its primary medium, The Reel Nurses Talk Show features only nurses as guest experts. We are happy to announce that this is a television first. As a renowned physician succinctly stated, “It’s about time!” 8
When viewers tune in, they will see nurses doing what nurses do best, educating the public on health and wellness issues. Patient education is something we do readily, frequently, and instinctively at work. Isn’t it time a TV show was created to showcase nurses’ training and the numerous of opportunities for growth available to those who enter the profession of Nursing? In a nutshell, we created The Reel Nurses Talk Show to say loudly and clearly, “Nurses Rock!”
Sonya Justice
Editor/Publisher FNM Founder RNTV
January Contents 2014 Issue 2.1
Table of
COVER ARTICLES
FEATURES
P.22
Weeding out Pain: The Cannabis Dictum
P.43
Diamond Nursing Education Rating
P.11
Chief Nursing Officers: Accounting for a Better Future for Nurses
P.32
Joyce E. Johnson: Rx for Change
P.36
Nurse Profile: Mission to Ecuador & Beyond!
P.26
2014 Clog Trends!
EDITORIAL
P.8
Updating the Image of Nursing One Project at a Time...
THE NURSE’S STATION I Professional Development
P.14
Male Nurses: Working in an Estrogen Cloud
P.16
Online Education to Stay Ahead of the Curve
P.18
An Examination into Ageism in Nursing
FASHION WATCH
P.26
2014 Clog Trends!
WALK IN MY CLOGS
P.30
360 Nursing: An Insider View – Zoom Harb
THE NURSE’S STATION II Facility Ratings
P.45
Hospital Rating : Haywood Medical Center, NC
P.46
Staffing Agency Rating: Continental Nurses
P.47
Nursing School Rating: Oregon Health & Science University
LAUGH OUT LOUD
P.50
Nursing Humor
TRAVEL
P.50
General Humor
P.36
Medical Missions: A Personal Message of Passion in Practice
RESOURCES
P.52
Book Review – Inspired Nurse
LIVING WELL
P.53
Job Opportunities – Perm & Travel
P.54
2014 Nursing Conference
P.56
Nursing News – Press Releases
P.40 Obesity: In Search of a Root Cause
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Fabulous Nurse Magazine
www.fabulousnurse.com
The
Nurse’s tation I S Professional
Development
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Chief Nursing Officers
Issue 2.1
Accounting for a Better Future for Nurses
T
he Chief Nursing Officer position continues to advance with more responsibility, and better remunerations. However, as expected, this development has its attendant challenges and concerns. Chief Nursing Officers are indispensable in health care because their duty is to oversee the delivery of patient care, the only end-product in health care sector. Their extended accountability echoes the significance of patient care delivery. Consequently, Chief Nursing Officers must have appreciable level of influence in strategic decisionmaking processes/issues at the executive level. Therefore, this article is an attempt to discuss how CHIEF NURSING OFFICERs account for a better future for nurses.
Nursing Profession Nursing profession has continued to conquer sociocultural barriers since the days of Florence Nightingale, when she demonstrated her invaluable, selflessness, skills and knowledge to help the wounded soldiers. Ever since then, Nursing has continuously ranked among the top issues in the health sector.
Nursing Challenges The health care sector unarguably currently faces unprecedented challenges. Nurses need to play a commendable role in overcoming these challenges. In spite this critical need, nursing profession has to take care of its own challenges first and foremost.
By Olusegun Iselaiye
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) have elaborated some of these nursing challenges in their Quarterly Journal in Winter 1992 volume. The first challenge concerns the inability of many health care institutions to jointly develop nursing education, practice and management. The second is the “need for nurses to take responsibility for caregiving wherever it may take place,� said Contance Holleran, former Executive Director of ICN. The third is the need to develop and practice nursing and midwifery with continuous discourse with the individuals and populations for whom the services are intended. Apart from the three challenges stated above, WHO and ICN identify that nursing management has a major responsibility in the area of development of knowledge, skills, schemes, as well as structures that will engender quality and cost-effective health care provision. Nurses will continue to remain less relevant in the health care sector if these challenges are left unattended. And the only way to properly
address these concerns is for health care organizations to have a competent nursing management, which cannot be achieved without strategically involving the Chief Nursing Officers at the management level.
Chief Nursing Officer, Future of Nursing and Health Care Today, the Chief Nursing Officer is expected to strategically lead as the senior executive staff taking responsibility for all nursing and other designated caregiving roles and services within the health care facility. Essentially, the role is expected to assume responsibility for a facility-level assessment, planning, coordination, implementation and evaluation of nursing practice. The role takes on a 24/7 responsibility, accounting for the provision of high quality, safe and suitable nursing care, clinical staff capability, and proper management of caregiving related resources. The Chief Nursing Officer’s duty is to represent nursing concerns and interests on the governing board as well as at medical staff management meetings. 11
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
The future health care is incomplete without the nurses. This is the reason health care reform is never discussed without mentioning the future of nursing together with the roles of nurses. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, a 2010 report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), examines what it will take nurses, hospitals, health administrators, government agencies, and others in the health care team to meet future demands for health care. The report made some recommendations, encouraging the senior leadership of health care organizations to appoint Chief Nursing Officer’s (or nurse executives) to positions that contribute meaningfully to strategic decision-making issues and processes. The IOM/RWJF report underscores the importance of nurse leaders’ active involvement in the acquisition and implementation of ICT and quality improvement processes. Another report by the IOM, The Future of Nursing: Focus on Scope of Practice, acknowledges that nurses will play a more heroic role in health care. The report states that “Nurses have a considerable opportu-
12
nity to act as full partners with other health professionals and to lead in the improvement and redesign of the health care system and its practice environment.” But this depends largely on the Chief Nursing Officers.
Future Challenges Persist Ballein Search Partners’ study, Why Senior Nursing Officers Matter: A National Survey of Nursing Executives, reveals that 95 percent of Senior (Chief) Nursing Officers have established collaborative robust relationships with the executive team as they get support from them for the implementation of needed changes. However, these Chief Nursing Officers have ranked the following as the top three challenges they face today according to the Ballein Search Partners’ survey: 1. Recruitment, retention, and/or staffing; 2. Provision of training/leadership into the future; and 3. Acquisition of technology to make care more efficient.
Conclusion The Chief Nursing Officer, who should have a minimum of master’s degree as the nursing officer who interacts with other department heads in the hospital organization, is a professional player. This officer is faced with the responsibility of accountability for a better future for the nurses in general. No wonder RWJF’s Gallup poll of health care officials in March 2012 that examined how nurses might galvanize a change reveals that “Opinion leaders feel [that] society, and nurses themselves, should have higher expectations for what nurses can achieve, and that nurses should be held accountable for not only providing quality direct patient care, but also health care leadership.”
Issue 2.1
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MaleEstrogen Working in an Cloud Nurses
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
By Karen Kalis
Y
ou’d think that public speaking
AllNurses (July 4, 2009), “Public speaking
Skills,” (June, 2005). “Nurses frequently
wouldn’t be a job requirement for
is such a powerful form of communication
have to give presentations, whether as part of
nurses, but that isn’t true.
With
that almost every profession requires it.
a job interview, as feedback from a course or
more and more nurses involved in research,
The reluctance to get up in front of an au-
conference or simply as part of a profession-
teaching, and leadership positions, having
dience can be a major impediment to career
al development program. It can be daunting.
exemplary public speaking and presentation
advancement.” Indeed, public speaking –
However, giving effective presentations is a
skills is a virtual must in the nursing field
whether to another group of nurses, a com-
skill everyone can learn.”
today.
munity group, physicians or business people
Public Speaking Is Necessary For Nurses While most people don’t love public speaking, nurses who avoid it can slow down their career. According to Vicky, an RN and author of “Tips for Effective Public Speaking” 14
– can open doors, as well as, provide new career opportunities for you.
How To Prepare If you are asked to do a presentation, here
The good news is that despite the fact that
are some key considerations to keep in mind
many people cite public speaking as their
when preparing. First, ask good questions
number one fear, it is a skill that can be
of the people that are asking you to speak.
mastered, according to Gillianne Meek in
How long do they want you to speak? What
her article “Enhancing Nurses’ Presentation
Issue 2.1
topic would they like you to cover? Where
While scrubs may be appropriate for on-duty
That is sage advice. As a nurse you know
will you be speaking? Is it a formal speech
hours, public speaking may require a change
that no matter the interruption or distraction,
or a casual Q & A format? Will anyone else
of dress. What you wear will change how
you must stick to your job. Public speaking
be speaking? Who will you be addressing?
you feel, so choose carefully, always select-
is no different. Completing your message
Having all of this information provides you
ing the most professional appearance.
is critical and will help you develop your professional image and reputation. Beverly
with critical information as you prepare. Secondly, Vicky suggests that you, “Know your subject material thoroughly, including the purpose of the presentation. Know it so well that you generate enthusiasm. Preparation is one of the most important factors for oral communication success.”
Finding Your Niche While you may not enjoy public speaking now, you may learn to enjoy it. Public speaking was a skill that Karon White-Gibson, an RN and host of her own television show, “Outspoken with Karon,” developed
Malone, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., the National League for Nursing Chief Executive Officer said, “It’s nice that you’re brilliant but, if you can’t pass it on, it’s for naught.” (“Future Academic Nurse Leaders Hone Presentation Skills, April 23, 2009, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Speech).
A good deal of practice is the key to becom-
along the way. “I was terrified of public
ing at ease when doing public speaking. Try
speaking. Never took it in high school. I
As a nurse, you may never have considered
to vary your pitch, remember to speak loudly
was asked to go to colleges and universities
public speaking a professional requirement,
and look at the people you are speaking to.
when [my book was published]. The bigger
but as more and more nurses work outside of
Maintaining eye contact keeps your audi-
the crowd, the better I liked it. I was asked
the medical community, complete research
ence paying attention to you. You may even
a lot of questions that weren’t in the book.
that needs to be presented, and become nurse
pick up subtle body language as you speak.
What I learned is that you have to say what
educators, those public speaking skills be-
you have to say no matter what they ask you.
come critical. With a little practice, no mat-
You have to get a message across,” she said.
ter how daunting speaking in front of a group
Another area where nurses may need coaching on public speaking is on what to wear.
may seem, you can master it.
15
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
by Margaret Smith
Online Nursing Programs
to Stay Ahead of the Curve
C
heryl B. was a highly successful
presence had a calming influence, and she
sociate’s degree in nursing. She felt it was
advertising executive. She spent
could see that they were making a differ-
the best decision she ever made. She loved
her mornings in meetings, drink-
ence, making her parents more relaxed and
her new career as an RN but, also like others
ing coffee and pitching big ideas to bigger
hopeful. Of course, the doctors were a vis-
before her, she wanted to broaden her career
clients. She spent her afternoons drinking
ible presence, too, and they did their part
possibilities. So she decided to kick it up a
martinis at three-hour-lunch meetings. And
to analyze and treat; but it was the nurses
notch.
she was making a whole lot of money. Her
who lingered an extra moment, making sure
life was full of energy, vitality, productivity,
needs were met, questions answered, and
A blueprint for change
and meetings. She should have been deliri-
fears calmed.
ously happy, and she thought she was. Then cancer struck.
Eventually, thankfully, Cheryl’s mother was cancer-free, but Cheryl continued brooding
Watching her mother go through the diffi-
about the experience. Those wonderful nurs-
cult processes of realization, then treatment,
es had taken a dire situation and channeled
Cheryl felt impotent. Her attempts to cheer
the focus to comfort and assurance. Their
her mother with trivial conversation just
efficiency, skill, warm smiles and cheer-
bounced off the distraction and fell flat. Her
ful attitudes had brought about the changes
father was already grieving, completely in-
that Cheryl had not been able to accomplish.
consolable in his anxiety. Cheryl hated feel-
This was what she needed in her own life:
ing so helpless.
the power to make a difference. Cheryl knew
In the hospital, she began to notice scrubs-
that it was time to change careers.
clad miracles striding briskly from room
Like others before her, Cheryl decided to get
to room in their whisper-quiet clogs. Their
on the fast track to a new career with an As-
16
In order to maintain a high level of proficiency and stay on the cutting edge of the field, nurses can explore opportunities for advancement through professional development.
According to Discover Nursing
6/29/11, when ADNs raise the bar by going for a BSN, they instantly open more doors and find greater flexibility in specialties and locations. Nurses with a BSN can apply for positions as nurse managers or hold titles such as assistant director of nursing. By obtaining an advanced degree, nurses have even more options as to how they make their contributions. As Find Nursing Schools
Issue 2.1
7/2/11 reports, nurses with an MSN can be-
gate the complexities of discussion boards
than brick- and-mortar institutions, and
come nurse practitioners, where they’ll be
or chat rooms, as well as upload, download,
some may be less expensive. This is where
able to offer primary care, make diagnoses,
and email assignments. And some people re-
a little caution is required. While there are
and prescribe treatment. They may also opt
ally do need the face-to-face interaction with
a multitude of reputable programs out there,
to become a researcher or a nurse entrepre-
faculty and peers.
according to Discover Nursing 6/29/11,
neur. Moreover, MSN degrees enable nurses
Other than those considerations, there are
there are also some charlatans, sometimes
to meet the continually increasing demand for nurse leaders, educators, or executive positions, such as policy advisers and innovators. The choices are almost limitless.
Who has time? Unfortunately, nurses are extremely busy. It’s difficult to find time to commute to a site, sit in a class taking notes, and commute back to job or family. Unless, of course, the professional development is part of an online nursing program, the answer to a prayer for many nurses.
many advantages to obtaining advanced degrees through online courses. The major benefits are the convenience and flexibility they provide. Students can locate and enroll in programs that address their personal interests without ever having to drive to the
Working with a laptop computer, they can participate from virtually any location. According to Accelerated Nursing Guide, most RNs can complete a bridge course to an MSN degree in under three years, and BSNs can earn their MSN in approximately two
the student’s convenience. They can log in to classes early in the morning, late in the evening, or at random opportunities. Moreover, lectures can be interrupted, then continued—
obtain a list of accrediting bodies from the Council for Higher Education, and see if the program you’re considering meets the proper standards. Another way to make sure the program is genuine is to verify that it leads to the NCLEX exam, which is required to obtain a nursing license. It’s also a good idea to check out the pass rates for the exam, the
ment. Again, this aspect may not be in some
failure rate of students in the program, the
students’ comfort zone. The pace may be too
cost, the demand on your time, and credit
intense and the assignment deadlines too
transferability. But students should beware
tight for some, but if a student is up to the
of programs that offer credit for life experi-
challenge, the time necessary to graduate
ence; according to an article on Ezine 7/2/11,
will be reduced.
this is not usually legitimate, and employers
Danger, Will Robinson!
won’t accept it. By keeping their eyes open,
will pay off with higher-level duties, a
will find that some may be more expensive
Sounds tempting, but . . .
a recognized accredited program. You can
advantage to online professional develop-
In researching online programs, students
three years is a minor investment of time.
a waste! But if you do your homework, you
The accelerated nature of courses is another
years. Considering that a higher-level degree better pay rate, and more options, two to
not recognized by potential employers. What
The only sure way to a degree is through
cific times, most lectures can be attended at
anything.
MSN, and sometimes even PhD degrees.
that the online “degree” they’ve acquired is
require some online classes to meet at spe-
sional instruction of the traditional class-
RNs can advance their careers with BSN,
invested their time and money only to find
can avoid swindlers.
or revisited, if students feel they’ve missed
constraints. Through online bridge programs,
your money. Many prospective nurses have
campus. Although there are programs that
Good online programs provide the profesroom, but without the time or geographical
referred to as “diploma mills,” just out to get
students can avoid the pitfalls. In many cases, employers will even pick up the tab! Online professional development programs can be the answer for RNs who want to remain employed and continue their education. Many outstanding in-
Are online nursing programs really a
stitutions offer excellent online nursing
viable option, or is the idea too good
programs:
to be true? The truth is, they’re not for
University, University of Phoenix, and
everyone. According to Find Nursing
Jacksonville University are some of the
Schools 7/3/11, online students need to
better known names. With such excep-
be highly disciplined self-starters, able to
tional online programs, along with the
regularly dedicate part of their schedule
commitment and drive to go the dis-
to the courses and study. Additionally, if
tance, aspiring nurse leaders will be ex-
students are uncomfortable with comput-
ceptionally well-prepared to help guide
ers, there may be a problem with online classes. A working knowledge of computer technology is necessary to navi-
Drexel University, Keiser
America’s health care system to a new vitality. 17
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
R – E – S – P– E – C –T . It wasn’t long ago that being an older person
meant you got your due share of it. Younger generations actually appreciated and respected the wisdom and experience of their elders. In nursing teams that could include four generations, older nurses were especially revered for their longstanding expertise,
and younger nurses would seek out their ad-
monster. Some of them were a little slow to
vice and use them as role models.
pick it up. While there are few specific stud-
Then the age of technology came along. As changes in professional and personal methods occurred almost daily, older nurses were left out of the loop unless they made conscious efforts to battle this new technology
ies that address the issue, there is a great deal of anecdotal evidence that demonstrates that younger nurses became disrespectful toward older nurses in both words and attitudes. Recognizing that they suddenly had an edge over their elders, some members
An Examination into
Ageism in
By Margaret Smith Older Nurses: Aged to Perfection
Nursing
18
Issue 2.1
19
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
of the younger generations gradually began
berate with calls for Dr. So and So or Nurse
streamline the process of patient care. For
to exhibit signs of loss of respect for their el-
Whatsis, the overhead PA system has been
nurses who didn’t cut their teeth on technol-
ders. In the workplace, this change in levels
replaced with handheld mobile computers
ogy, the learning curve can be pretty steep.
of respect can lead to conflict, resulting in
that enable nurses to make and receive calls.
a negative impact on the efficacy of a team.
Keeping up with the technological develop-
Beyond that, according to Nurse Zone
ments, not to mention new practice guide-
Challenges faced by older nurses
10/11/11, these same devices also facilitate
lines and advances in science and medicine,
For nurses in the Silent Generation (born be-
identification confirmation with bedside
can be difficult for older nurses. While there
scans of patient wristbands, retrieval of med-
are courses and workshops available, it be-
ical record and lab order information, and
comes an additional demand on time and
verification of administration of meds. In
energy. Although older nurses still have the
some cases, the devices are also used to take
drive and the spirit, their physical stamina
photographs to document patient progress.
isn’t what it used to be.
tween 1925 and 1945) and the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it’s been a very long time since nursing school graduation. The profession has undergone a metamorphosis, and the changes go far beyond the shedding of the all-white uniform and nurse’s cap. Now just about everything depends on technology. Where hospital corridors used to rever-
20
Moreover, computerized charting, computers on wheels, smart systems, and even smart phones are being used in hospitals to
The information age has added an unexpected element to the mix: as the nurses from
Issue 2.1
Generation X and Millennium Generation
the atmosphere will be more conducive to
policies and procedures. It all takes
are able to access the newest information
professionalism and compatibility.
some extra effort, but it will prove to
through technological research, they are no longer turning to older nurses for help and advice. They perceive their older colleagues
Other ways to ensure that older nurses will want to remain in the work force are to im-
be worthwhile to the nurse and to the profession.
prove working conditions. There could be
Gray hair and a few wrinkles have never
more opportunities for work that is appro-
been a sign of incompetence. In a field as
priate for their energy level and physical
vital as health care, every nurse is an asset.
abilities. Developing schedules with flexible
By finding ways to overcome the ageism and
working hours, providing equipment that is
disrespect that are driving many older nurses
It’s a shame that older nurses are facing
ergonomic and safe, and providing pools of
from the profession before they’re ready, we
this sort of attitude when more experienced
nurses for short-term needs are further ways
can all be assured of a brighter future.
nurses should be considered an asset to the
to make the job more tolerable for older
profession. Patients regard them with trust
nurses.
as old-fashioned and resistant to technological advancements. They become frustrated with their co-workers who need a little more time to absorb the intricacies of technology.
because, although they may have issues with technology, their care for patients is just as
Breaking the age barriers
important to them now as it was before tech-
Once the workplace has become more
nology “simplified” everything. And older
practicable, it’s up to the nurses to
nurses are happy to team up with doctors
fine-tune their skills and underscore
and help them with the smaller tasks that
their relevance to the institution they
their young counterparts often dislike doing.
work for. One obvious way to stay
Consequently, they’re perceived by doctors
current with the constantly chang-
as more desirable to assist on medical teams.
ing profession is to take continuing
Reality check
education courses to learn about new procedures, techniques, and
In light of the nursing shortage that is pre-
medications. Studying profes-
dicted to continue until 2020, older nurses
sional journals and taking
who wish to continue in the profession
advantage of conferences
should be supported in their objective rather
that offer concentrated
than discouraged by an undesirable work
learning opportuni-
environment. When the differences be-
ties in a short pe-
tween multiple generations create conflict
riod of time will
and disrespect, professionalism declines and
help nurses stay on
the quality of care is affected. According
the cutting edge.
to Nursing Profession News, August 2007,
Finally, if older
nurse leaders have begun to recognize the is-
nurses want to
sues and are taking steps to improve levels
safeguard
of mutual respect and understanding among
jobs, it’s a good
colleagues of multiple generations.
idea to join com-
The most important step to institute is open communication and the recognition that each generation has something worthwhile to contribute to a team. If all parties listen to other viewpoints with respect and openness,
their
mittees to stay informed,
es-
pecially
com-
mittees
that
determine
21
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
Weeding Out Pain:
The Cannabis
Dictum By Olusegun Iselaiye
U
ntil recently, marijuana was known to a limited medical use because different amounts of various compounds are contained in different strains of the plant. The most commonly isolated substances from the plant are cannabinoids, which can be administered in specific doses either alone or in combination with other drugs. THC or chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is the most potent cannabinoid. While other marijuana extracts are still under test, the US Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has approved some cannabinoid drugs to control vomiting/nausea, boost appetite in cancer and AIDS patients. Cannabis sativa, also called weed, marijuana, pot, cannabis, grass, hemp, marijuana (marijuana), hash, ganja, and smoke, etc. is an annual flowering plant that grows wild in tropical and warm climates and is often cultivated commercially, though illegally in many countries. There are two other species of cannabis apart from Cannabis sativa: Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderalis.
Why Cannabis?
Cannabis has a long history of medical use. The US Federal focal point for research on drug abuse and addiction, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), states that “The use of cannabis for purposes of healing predates recorded history. The earliest written reference is found in the 22
to be useful reducing the severity of asthma crises. It has also been argued that marijuana is effective in controlling seizures and muscular spasms in individuals with 15th century BC Chinese Pharma- epilepsy and injured spinal cords. copeia, the Rh-Ya.� The U.S. law, Bloggers and medical writers, as since 1970, has classified mari- of 2012, also reported that marijuana in Schedule I controlled juana oil (or hemp oil) can cure substances. In other words, there a wide range of diseases includwas no generally accepted medi- ing cancer, diabetes, ulcers, mical use for the substance, particu- graines, arthritis, infections, and insomnia, etc. larly when smoked. Today, THC and marijuana are promoted as pain relievers, in addition to the uses already identified above. Experts also report that THC lowers intraocular pressure, the reason it is believed to be useful in managing glaucoma. Marijuana, as also argued by some promoters, has anti-bacterial properties, is an inhibitor of tumor growth and a dilator of the airways – believed
Cannabis Misuse Around The World
According to the World Drug Report (WDR) 2013, cannabis is the most widely consumed illicit substance in the world; about 180.6 million people, aged 15-64, joined the population of illegal users of cannabis in the world between 2009 and 2010 alone. Cannabis cultivation seems to have gone up in the United States in
general. Cannabis herb seizures in South America rose by 46% in 2011. Many African countries reported high level of cannabis herb seizures, with Nigeria having the highest figures in the region. WDR 2013 could not provide accurate numbers for European countries because its cultivation varies widely across the continent. The regions with the highest prevalence rate of cannabis use are Central and West Africa (12.4%); Australia and New Zealand (10.9%); North America (10.7%); and Central and Western Europe (7.6%). About 10 million people in the UK admit to having tried cannabis. Over a 33 percent of people aged 16-24 have taken cannabis at least once in their lives. In the UK, more than 2 million people smoke the substance. Legalizing Cannabis
Cannabis use, sale, and/or possession is illegal in the United States. However, the Federal Government has declared that states reserve the right to pass laws to legalize cannabis for recreational use. The Federal Government advised further that states should have cannabis laws in place to guide the use of the substance.
outrightly exempted medical cannabis, and many others have come up with both proposals to decriminalize and pass medical laws. Colorado and Washington states have both legalized the cannabis for recreational use via state referenda approvals in 2012 elections, while Oregon’s attempt to do same failed.
Basically, cannabis legality for recreational or general use varies from country to country, though many countries are beginning to decriminalize its possession in small quantities and accepting its consumption for medical purposes. Does Cannabis Weed Out Pain?
Issue 2.1
as well as the District of Columbia. Surveys have shown that pain is one of the major reasons medical marijuana is prescribed by doctors. But researchers testing the pain relieving properties of cannabis have reported dichotomous results. Some maintain that it works much like mild opioid/narcotic pain relievers such as codeine, while others have revealed that there are possibilities of the drug worsening the pain instead of reducing it. Despite the mixed results, pain relief remains one of most established benefits of medical marijuana. Actually, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Public Health Association (APHA), and the American Nurses Association (ANA) have all endorsed medical marijuana’s use in treating severe chronic pain. In fact, the New England Journal of Medicine also supports its use for severe chronic pain. Cannabis has also been reported as an effective treatment for nerve injury (chronic neuropathic pain). Medical marijuana was tagged the most promising neuropathic pain treatment by a group of pain research experts who convened at a MedPanel summit in 2006.
In terms of pain treatment with cannabis, both pill and puff forms work well according to a carefully controlled, small-scale, For more information, scan the new research study. The pill has a QR code below to view pain But how well have the individual longer pain relief effect than puff, management video. state laws proposals complied but may not cause high-feeling with the Federal standard on can- effect like puff form. nabis use? It has been a mixed result. While a number of states A non-profit group ProCon. have successfully permitted the org reports that cannabis, called psychoactive substance to some medical marijuana, has now been varying degrees, others have made legal in 18 American states 23
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
24
Issue 2.1
FASHION Watch
www.fabulousnurse.com
25
Clog Trends
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
Kayla - Good Vibes
Footwear Trends for 2014 come as varied as the nursing population itself…
2014
By Alegria - Kayla Collection. This slip-on shoe features a mild rocker outsole to reduce metatarsal
Revive
pressure, stain resistant upper, and a footbed
By Landau - Mens. Enhanced slip-resistant all rubber
loaded with cork, memory foam; compat-
outsole and longer lasting EVA footbed provide
ible with custom orthotics. Priced
extra support. Moisture wicking Poliyou sock-
starting at $119.99
liner; extra thick insole provides more shock absorbing comfort & support. Priced starting at $44.99
Blue Caiman
Austin By Klogs- This versital clog features a polyurethane sole is slip resistant, oil-resistant and nonmarking. The removable footbed is latex-free,
By Dansko – Professional XP collection. Provides the same down-curve and rocker movement of the classic Dansko stapled clog in a lighter weight con-
antimicrobial, odor-resistant and orthoticfriendly. Heel height: 1 3/4”. Priced
struction. Features a removable triple density EVA footbed with memory foam.
starting at $111.99
26
Priced starting at $149.99
White Smooth Shayla
Dove
By Dansko - This lightweight shoe features stain resistant
By Nurse Mates - This easy slip-on shoe features a tum-
mesh uppers, durable slip-resistant outsoles, cushion-
bled leather upper with stain-resistant finish and ultra-
ing underfoot for comfort and odor control. The
lightweight flexible construction including rubber
removable multi-density footbed features
inserts for slip-resistance and longer wear.
superior arch support. Priced start-
Heel height: 1 4/8”. Priced start-
ing at $69.99
ing at $69.99
Issue 2.1
Lewiston By Alegria - Mens - Lewiston Collection. This ankle high slip on shoe features double-sided goring for comfort, removable footbed with cork & memory foam; hand sewn leather lining, arch support and a roomy toe box. Priced starting at $149.99
Debra By Algeria. The Debra slip-on features a handcrafted sole and a 1.5 inches heel, leather for durability, contrast stitching edges, foam footbed for comfort, elastic goring for easy slip-on and slip-off. Priced starting at $68.99
Professional Lindsey By Koi (Sanita) - This shoe features a patent upper, rocker bottom, skid resistant outsole, reinforced padded instep, absorbent insole, and roomy toe box for comfort. Priced starting at $129.99
27
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
28
Walk inMy
Issue 2.1
Clogs
www.fabulousnurse.com
29
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
360 Nursing: An Insider View ZoomHarb
Introduction
tions of the culture. As an American woman
they don’t violate the rules of society.” Be-
T
living in Saudi Arabia, Harb had to wear a
cause Harb arrived in Saudi Arabia already
covering whenever she went out. “You can-
married, she was allowed to live outside the
not move around in normal dresses. I had to
hospital compound.
wear an abaya (head scarf) if I had to go in
While things in Saudi Arabia may not al-
2004. We asked her some pointed questions
hair with a cap. It is the law in the society.
ravel nursing is becoming more and more popular as an option for nurses. Zoom Harb, R.N., spent time as
a travel nurse in Saudi Arabia from 2002about her time living and working in the Middle East.
the street. In the hospital I had to cover my Otherwise the religious police or regular police would send us to jail,” she explained.
ways make sense to us, they are improving. “There are a lot of European and American women, so they are making concessions. At the large shopping malls in Riyadh we didn’t
Culture Shock
In addition to appropriate coverings, single
wear the abaya. It was bad for business if
When she found out she was going to Ri-
travel nurses in Saudi Arabia are required to
they made us wear it while shopping. Oth-
yadh, Saudi Arabia as part of her husband’s
live in hospital provided housing within the
erwise, if I had to go to the marketplace, or
work, she was concerned about how it would
compound. “If you are single you stay in-
the normal places, I had to cover my hair,
be to work abroad. “At first, I didn’t really
side the compound where everything is regu-
because the police might be lurking,” said
want to go there, especially based on the sto-
lated,” Harb said. That includes shopping as
Harb. Other areas were not as progressive.
ries I was told,” she said, “When I got there,
a group with a designated drop off and pick
I had culture shock.” Culture shock for trav-
up time. “When they go out, if they are late
el nurses is usually softened by the hospital-
and miss the bus, they can be penalized for
provided orientation. “The first thing they
that,” said Harb. Being penalized might in-
did when I got there was orient us as to what
clude being stuck in the compound for a day
we could not do in Saudi Arabia. I had to
or two. Single nurses are required to move
carry my marriage certificate with me. Any
in a group because, according to Harb, there
policeman could have asked us why my hus-
are cultural concerns, “It’s a safety issue be-
band and I were together. It’s really a very
cause [Saudi Arabian men] don’t have any
different type of society. It’s a bit extreme,”
access to women and although I’ve heard of
said Harb.
prostitution going on, it is underground. Sin-
Working as a travel nurse in Saudi Arabia can be a challenge because of the restric30
gle women cannot date freely. But, men can go around as much as they want as long as
At Work Harb said that in terms of technology, working as a nurse in Saudi Arabia was fairly similar to being in America. “In the hospital, I worked in CCU. We worked using the normal bypass. It was pretty similar to an American hospital. What we learn and have here, they implement it there,” she said. Luckily, all the hospitals orders are written in English, so language wasn’t a barrier in the professional setting. As a travel nurse, Harb’s experience with
patients was pretty similar to here in the US. “The locals are very friendly to nurses and they still have the bad apples. It’s the same as here,” she said. One custom that was completely different in Saudi Arabia is tipping the nurses. Harb ex-
In Her Spare Time
tients are Royal family or family members
Off duty, Harb spent time with Amer, her
of the Royal family. They were nice,” said
husband, and her young family. She has
Harb.
The only complication in dealing
two daughters, Reham, who is currently 17,
with patients could be with language. While
and Rowan, who is currently 14. While they
some of the people spoke English, not ev-
were in Saudia Arabia, they did a minimal
eryone did. Harb said, “I didn’t have a hard
amount of travel. “There are some museums
time except for the language. My mind is
in Riyadh. In the summertime, we drove
resistant to the language. Some of the locals
across Jordan. That’s how we got away. We
only speak Arabic, but most people who are
went to Petra and the Acaba resort. Not a lot
educated speak English.”
in Saudi Arabia,” she said.
Harb’s co-workers were one of the bright
For fun, Harb would go shopping or to the
spots in her time in Saudi Arabia, she said,
park, but per Saudi customs, she was never
“The people I worked with were really
alone. She said, “My husband has relatives
nice. We were really a melting pot because
there and we went to the parks for a BBQ.
people were from everywhere.” Among her
Sometimes I went out with my co-workers.
co-workers, Harb discovered those holding
They have a waterpark and entertainment
American passports get the highest pay. The compensation has encouraged many people to make a career in Saudi Arabia. The majority of the medical centers in Riyadh are run by Americans and accord-
“There are resorts on the
ing to Harb, some stayed for
Persian Gulf but you have to
quite a long time because of
otherwise they might be of-
go swimming in your jeans
the compensation. “I would
fended. They have a practice
and abaya. ”
ask them why they stayed. It
plained, “They like to give tips. You have to accept it,
to give money – they see it as charity.” Nurses can get tips for even the most mundane things. “When they brought the baby from the nursery the nurse would get a tip, but that was a bit ridiculous,” she said. Working in the hospital gave Harb ac-
Issue 2.1
cess to some Saudi elites. “Some of the pa-
was because the compensa-
centers. No movies or theaters. Women are
tion was very good. They would be given
not allowed to watch soccer games. Only
tickets to fly home every three months-- and
men are allowed to go in the stadium.”
housing, food, and transportation were free,” she explained. Saudi Arabian hospitals do this primarily to attract people from other countries.
Harb said that there are all types of food in Saudi Arabia, but it isn’t particularly healthy. She explained, “Their food is very fattening. They have a lot of bake shops in the city. It’s a mixed thing. In a normal city, you can find anything.” After spending several years in Saudi Arabia, Harb learned a lot about the culture, but said she would not go back, except to visit. “I was amazed to see how people could stay for 20 years!” While offering excellent compensation and many financial allowances, there is a trade-off for women interested in travel nursing in Saudi Arabia – excellent compensation, but less freedom. For those considering travel nursing in Saudi Arabia, knowing Harb’s story may be a helpful voice in the decision making process. 31
Joyce E.A Johnson Prescription for Change
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
by Margaret Smith
I
t was July, 2000, and the patient was critical. Eyes glassy, complexion pasty, pulse thready and weak…The situation looked hopeless. Actually, this is a case with symptoms that are metaphorical—the patient wasn’t flesh and blood, but a body of medical professionals
about to expire because of severely declining morale and trust. What was desperately needed was a metaphorical heart transplant. Georgetown University Hospital had been languishing for several years. According to gumc. georgetown.edu 6/23/11, the facility had lost approximately $250 million in the years between 1996 and 2000. Almost at the last minute, a partnership was formed with Medstar Health, which provided the necessary infusion of funds for the hospital to continue to function. With the fiscal health of the institution bolstered, at least for the time being, it was time to do what nurses do: address the needs of the whole patient. Enter Joyce E. Johnson, RN, P hD, FAAN, NEA, BC. Joyce imparted new life into the hospital when she stepped in as Senior Vice President for Nursing. Within two weeks, she had implemented a strategy to rebuild a strong Nursing Division, which is the heart of any hospital.
Creating a line of attack Joyce had a specific series of tactics for making the heart of Georgetown Hospital beat strongly again. First step: more nurses! According to Nursing Management (NM) 1/2011, within two weeks of taking the position, she was aggressively recruiting nurses under a plan called “100 nurses in a hundred days.” Once she had acquired the nurse-power, she began to address the problems of low 32
employee morale. One obvious cause of
nurses had a strong framework of support. It
gloomy spirits had to be the fact that salaries
started with gradually adding sixteen educa-
had been stationary for several years before
tors to the three who were there when she
Joyce arrived on the scene. In her first two
arrived. This created a strong educational
months she remedied that particular problem
and training support system on site. Then, as
by delivering two significant pay raises for
further stated in NM, she took educational
staff nurses, and since then, according to
support up another notch, by managing to
NM, base salaries have climbed a whopping
acquire funding at a time when Georgetown
160%!
Hospital and many other hospitals were still
But, as anyone can tell you, money alone doesn’t buy happiness on the job. So Joyce set about building a system to ensure that all
losing millions. These funds, which amounted to approximately $400,000 per year, were dedicated to the establishment of the hospital’s tax-free nursing scholarship.
Issue 2.1
Inspiring to aspire The next goal: national certification of all qualified nurses throughout the organization. Joyce established programs to facilitate certification for anyone who wanted to pursue this opportunity. Under her direction, the hospital provided financial support for review courses and exams, opportunities for celebration and recognition, and bonuses. NM reports that she even modeled the process by sitting for the Nurse Executive, Advanced exam. The power of open communication Continuing on her mission to return Georgetown nursing to its former place in national prominence, Joyce maintained a vigorous campaign to communicate her own understanding of the profession’s greater purpose: caring for the whole person. Every decision she made considered the welfare of the patient. Her philosophy basically encapsulates an important premise—taking care of nurses is essential to providing the best care of the patient. Never one to sit on a crystal throne and delegate responsibility, she maintained a participatory style of management, providing an open-door policy for nurses at every level to share their ideas and concerns. This practice created a high level of responsiveness among nurses. Problems were heard, then addressed. Every nurse was part of the whole, and every nurse was a participant in each success achieved by the nursing division. The validation of Joyce’s policies could be seen in the continually improving nursing care and in more and more positive outcomes. Giving nurses a break One improvement that Joyce made at Georgetown University Hospital is quite likely the move that most endeared her to the staff, and that is the addition of the famous Georgetown Nurses Lounge. Realizing that hard-working nurses were just as deserving as physicians of a place to relax and regenerate on breaks or off duty, she conceived the idea for the creation of a well-appointed lounge for nurses. As NM reveals, the nurses of Georgetown now have a roomy, relaxing haven where they are free to check e-mail or relax, watch the big-screen TV, and enjoy a cappuccino from the complimentary coffeemaker. For ultimate relaxation, an adjoining room offers massaging reclining chairs, low lights, and relaxing music. Under the guidance of a caring, sensitive, sensible woman, Georgetown University Hospital has made a miraculous recovery, and the prognosis is positive. Because of the wisdom and efforts of Joyce E. Johnson, Georgetown nurses can be assured that they are among the best in the profession, and the patient will continue to thrive.
33
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
34
Issue 2.1
Travel www.fabulousnurse.com
35
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
A Personal Message of Passion in Practice by Angela McCaskill, MA, RN, CHPN
A
s nurses we are blessed with the op-
outlet that renews my excitement about be-
After my first year of being a RN, I packed
portunity every new shift to make
ing a nurse, and reminds me of the unique
my bags and headed to Kenya for my first
a positive difference in someone’s
set of education, skills, and talents I have to
medical mission trip. Nervous, yet excited to
offer society.
explore the world of medical missions, I met
life. We may touch the life of a patient, their family, or even our own coworkers. Unfor-
tunately, with the stressors and time constraints involved in our challenging profession, it is easy to feel like you are just going through the motions. Frustrations about what you could not do often overshadow what you did accomplish. When I decided at the age of 36 to become a nurse, I was optimistic, yet naĂŻve regarding the reality faced by nurses in our complex healthcare system. Shortly after becoming a nurse I became disenchanted and frustrated by what I saw as a lack of respect and appreciation for the critical role played by the nurse. Fortunately, I found an 36
Medical Missions
Issue 2.1
over 600 people. Major health issues included bacterial and skin infections, malnutrion, respiratory issues, and vision problems. Just like in the Unites States, many had pain issues; however, most of their pain was related to hard labor out in the jungle, carrying jugs of water while walking for very long distances, or wearing infants in cloth slings tied around their necks. While it is a joy to greet and treat the patients, the lack of resources up with a group of healthcare “strangers� who would soon become cherished team
and supplies we can offer is disheartening. Being involved in medical missions requires
who do not have access to medical services. It is imperative that prospective volunteers do research to find an organization that best fits their goals and objectives, that has a need for their specialty, and that is an established entity that is fiscally sound and legit. Importantly, it is not selfish for a volunteer to want to go to a specific country or serve a certain culture. Therefore, prospects should explore whether the organization has outreaches in their preferred location.
members. During the next ten days, our team was able to address the health concerns of over 300 patients located in remote areas. The patients were so appreciative, but I was the one who was truly blessed. I was not only able to give of my skills freely and without the pressures of the hospital setting, but was also inspired by the kindness and expertise of my fellow healthcare workers. It was a truly energizing experience, igniting in me a desire to serve as a nurse through volunteering my time and resources. This past January, I joined a team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and college students headed to the rain forest in Ecuador . These truly were hard to reach communities, as we even had to take a canoe to reach areas inaccessible by road. During this medical outreach, we were able to evaluate and treat
resourcefulness and creativity. Frequently, other nurses ask me about how they can get involved with medical mission work. First, let me share that it can be expensive, as the volunteer customarily pays his or her airline ticket, room and board, and fees that are designated to setting up the healthcare delivery facilities. Most medi-
The internet is a good place to start your search for medical mission opportunities. When contacting an organization, I always ask them to describe a typical day of work in the field, the kind of healthcare services provided, the usual makeup of the healthcare team, the living and eating arrangements, and the costs involved in the trip. The success of any venture is often dependent on
cal supplies come from generous donations from hospitals and doctors’ offices in the United States. Some resourceful nurses are able to raise financial support from donors, while others obtain grants or scholarships from their place of employment. Although the trip can be pricey, the cost does not compare to the rewards felt when helping those 37
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
one’s expectations. Therefore, try to ask as
7 days to 2 months. For those who want a
many questions as you can think of before
longer commitment, placement is available
you go. Nonetheless, part of the mystery
from 3 months to 2 years.
and adventure in medical missions is the unknown. Flexibility is a must, as situations
Many ask the question, “Why do you have to
change quickly, providing one with opportu-
travel around the world to help people when
nities for growth on both personal and pro-
there are needs in your own backyard?� I
fessional levels. A sense of humor is a must
understand this point of view and I encour-
on the medical mission field!
age every nurse to find their own niche for volunteering. Just as there are many differ-
There are a variety of trip lengths to accom-
ent types of nurses, there are many different
modate volunteer availability, ranging from
opportunities to serve. If your desire is to
help in a community clinic, then go for it. On the other hand, if you want to provide medical care in the mountains of Nepal, you are needed there as well. Medical missions work is an intercultural experience that continues to renew my passion for nursing. It broadens your mind, challenges your preconceived notions, and requires sacrifice. I would not have it any other way!
38
Issue 2.1
39
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
Living
Well www.fabulousnurse.com 40
Issue 2.1
Obesity In Search of a Root Cause By Olusegun Iselaiye
O
besity remains a complex prob-
of hormones, and/or metabolic activity inter-
obesity are responsible for approximately
lem in many parts of the world
act to cause rapid and simultaneous changes
one in every 10 American deaths, draining Americans of about $223 billion yearly.
today, which many people and ex-
in millions of people may be difficult to un-
perts are still trying to understand. Genetics
derstand. Like in every other industrialized
seem to be the culprit in some cases while
country, obesity has become epidemic in the
in others, a wide range of factors may be re-
U.S. Within the last 40 years, obesity preva-
sponsible, including behavioral, hormonal,
lence in the U.S. has risen above 50 percent
and metabolic factors. However, more often
in adults, and is fast infiltrating the children
than not, determining the exact cause of obe-
population, too.
sity is difficult. Why Obesity and Overweight? For a prospective provider, it is often difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of excess body fat accumulation in a patient. But something certainly is responsible for obesity epidemic in the country. How human genetics, levels
Most times, obese people are at higher risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, than non-obese people. Obesity also predisposes people to other diseases such as arthritis, cancer, depression, liver disease, kidney stones, and erectile dysfunction. Generally speaking, overweight and
Is Work Life Responsible? Though the concept of obesity has not been fully understood, researchers have applied the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data to conduct decades of studies to assess the connection between workplace physical activities and obesity. As at 1960, about 50 percent of private sector jobs demanded at least reasonable physical activity, on the other hand in 2010, not up to 20 percent demanded this much physical work. Due to the globalization and mechanization of manufacturing and agriculture, there has been a decline 41
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
physical activities with lei-
was a longitudinal research conducted over a
sure-time exercise would not
period of 30 years, 1977 to 2006, a time dur-
cause weight gain. But this
ing which national girth continued to widen.
rarely happens in the U.S.
America’s average daily caloric intake rose
Findings have shown that less
increasingly during the period of study,
than 5 percent of American
though the causal factors changed over time.
adults get enough daily exer-
Swelling portion sizes was responsible for
cise, which a 30-minute walk
the caloric splurge during the first half while
a day can provide.
unchecked excessive snacking and eating
Average
American
adults
rarely work out in their spare time. They prefer to sit idly by; more often than not, they spend more than half of their waking hours sitting down. in human energy needed at work. As excellent as the news sounds for a man’s back, it is not good for his girth/belly. In reality, this kind of reduction in expenditure of occupational energy implies that the average man in America now burns fewer calories (about 143 calories) daily than he did about 50 years back. An average sized man in U.S. weighed 169 pounds in the early 1960s, and this has increased to about 202 pounds by 2006. According to another study conducted in Europe in 2011, the effects of inactivity are seen more around the girth, in the ab-
Implication For Health Care After tobacco, obesity causes the greatest damage to America’s collective health. Its
They do not films. A study
involving
123,216 adults (average age 63) was conducted by American Cancer Society (ACS). The study revealed that sitting can damage our health. It was reported that men who spent the bulk of their time sitting had 17 percent higher death rate than that of their counterparts who spent lesser time sitting. A similar result was
Lack Of Exercise Contributes
study specifically targeted at
reported in a 2011 European TV watching. consequences on general health are deep,
Eating Habit
wide ranging, and real – leaving a lasting
For the most part, deskbound work and lazy recreation habits, if any, are the
impact on communities, and most notably, on individuals. According to the article, The
reasons for obesity epidemic. Still,
Preventable Causes Of Death In The United
modern eating habits also play a
States: Comparative Risk Assessment Of Di-
fundamental role in predisposing
etary, Lifestyle, And Metabolic Risk Factors,
people to overweight and obesi-
obesity, after tobacco, is responsible for the
ty. Researchers at the University
highest number deaths in adults under age
of North Carolina have proved
70 every year. In 2012, Reuters reported that
this. They based their research on
nationally
representative
data from four large surveys that comprised of 44,754 Americans (from 19 years and above). It 42
from the 1990s precisely.
only sit down, they watch
dominal region.
Counterbalancing a decrease in workplace
habits became the culprit in the second half,
obesity cost the U.S. an estimated $190 billion a year. More on healthcare implications in part 2 of this article…Your thoughts?
Issue 2.1
www.fabulousnurse.com
The
Nurse’s tation II SFacility Ratings
43
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
44
The 5 Star Hospital Rating System
Issue 2.1
Fabulous Nurse Rating Summary Here is the summary of the Fabulous Nurse tenpoint rating system for Haywood Regional Medical Center, Clyde:
Rating Parameter
Points
Quality of Nursing Care
8
Nurse-Patient Ratio
0
Accessibility 8 Staff Quality & Welfare
8
Mortality Rate
8
Financial Base
8
Patient Volume
10
‘Green’ Factor
0
Academic Activity
0
Management Style
8
Total 58
Haywood Regional Medical Center, Clyde, North Carolina Profile
Center is the same as the national average.
Established as Haywood County Hospital in December 31, 1927, Haywood Regional Medical Center (HRMC) was the first county hospital in North Carolina to be built by taxation approved by the people. HRMC is a District Authority owned 161-bed hospital located in Clyde, NC. It is accredited by the Joint Commission. In October 2009, HRMC and WestCare Health System, which includes Harris Regional and Swain County hospitals, entered into an affiliation agreement. The new joint operating company is known as MedWest Health System. MedWest Health Systems, located in Western North Carolina, provides quality healthcare in Haywood, Jackson, Swain, Macon and Graham Counties. MedWest is affiliated with Carolinas HealthCare, the largest healthcare system in the Carolinas.
Nurse-Patient Ratio:
Quality of Nursing Care: Indications from patients as well as other details sourced from rating agencies including US News, FindTheBest, and Medicare reveal that nursing care quality at Haywood Regional Medical
Accessibility: Of all the 12 hospitals available within 50 miles of Zip Code 40207, Haywood Regional Medical Center is the closest i.e., at 10.1 miles. Staff Quality &Welfare: Retirement benefit at HRMC is based on North Carolina Local Governmental Employee Retirement System. Other benefits apart from salary include medical insurance, voluntary insurances (i.e., dental, vision, life, etc.), paid time off accrual, sick leave (12 days/year), tuition reimbursement ($1,500/year), free fitness center, nursing clinical ladder, free parking, direct deposit payroll checks, urgent care center’s employee sick care, Employee cafeteria discounts, bereavement, education & military leave, check cashing & ATM services, and health & wellness programs. Mortality Rate: According to reports, overall in-patient mortality rate at HRMC is no different than US national average.
Financial Base & Related Information: According to Mac McCrary and Al Byers’s report, “A Tale of Two Hospitals,” in September 2010 issue of Trustee magazine, HRMC operated profitably and had a strong balance sheet with about $20 million dollars in unrestricted reserves. Patient Volume: Admissions:
5,750
Inpatient surgeries:
1,527
Outpatient visits:
168,944
ER visits:
24,709
Births:
375
‘Green Factor’: Academic Activity: Management Style: Testimonies from employees and reports reveal that the management of Haywood Regional Medical Center involves nurses at the leadership level. With a total of 58 points, Haywood Regional Medical Center, Clyde is rated 3 Stars. 45
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
5
The Star
Staffing Agency Rating
Fabulous Nurse Rating Summary Here is the summary of the Fabulous Nurse ten-point rating system for Continental Nurses, Mooresville, North Carolina:
Rating Parameter
Points
Insurance Coverage 25 Retirement Package 20 Education Opportunity 8 Incentive Programs 8 Earnings 15 Logistics Support 10
Total 86
Continental Nurses, Mooresville, NC
Profile A winner of Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of ApprovalTM, a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards, Continental Nurses is nurse-owned and nurse-operated travel nursing agency with 25 years of operation. Insurance Coverage: Health, life and disability insurance are available. Retirement Package: 401(k) plan is available—eligibility is immediate, vesting is immediate, there is 100% company matching and one of the nation’s largest service brokers is utilized. Education Opportunity /International Placements: As part of an initiative to support nurses in maintaining and improving clinical performance, a number of nursing continuing education services are presented within Continental Nurses’ website. Conti46
nental Nurses’ online continuing education courses are highlighted on additional pages, as well as courses specifically for Registered Nurses, LPNs, and Nurse Practitioners. Incentive Programs: In addition to competitive salaries, incentives offered at Continental Nurses include assignment bonuses, referral bonuses, licensure, CEU reimbursement, paid travel allowance to and from each assignment, Per Diem, free housing and utilities are also offered at Continental Nurses. Earnings: Continental Nurses offers top
hourly pay rate, assignment bonuses and referral bonuses. Logistics Support: Staff professionals are available 24 hours a day, to help travel nurses with any problems or concerns they may have. Travel nurses are assigned personal recruiter to help them prepare for new assignment and adventure in the most knowledgeable and efficient manner. With a total 86 points, which gives 4.3 when divided by 20, Continental Nurses is a 4-Star travel nursing agency.
Oregon Health & Science
University (OHSU) Portland Profile The OHSU School of Nursing is among America’s best, according to the 2010-2011 U.S. News & World Report ranking of graduate schools. The OHSU School of Nursing is ranked 7th in the country. Academic Standards: The OHSU School of Nursing is one of America’s best and the world’s leading schools. Programs offered in the nursing school ranked highly according to 2010-2011 U.S. News & World Report ranking of graduate schools— 1st in Nursing-Midwifery, 6th in Family Nurse Practitioner, and 7th in Masters in Nursing.
in nursing, Master of Science (MS), Master of Nursing (MN), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs. Further information on accredited programs at OHSU School of Nursing is available at http://www. ohsu.edu/xd/education/schools/school-ofnursing/about/accreditation.cfm.
Issue 2.1
Fabulous Nurse Rating Summary Here is the summary of the Fabulous Nurse tenpoint rating system for OHSU, Portland:
Rating Parameter
Points
Academic Standards 10 Student Quality & Turnover 9 Financial Aid 10 Accreditation 10 Peer Review 10 Quality of Teaching Staff 10 Academic Facilities 10 Students’ Reviews 9 Affordability 9 Job Prospects for Students 10
Total 97
Student Quality and Turnover: OHSU offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across five campuses throughout Oregon. With rigorous academic programs, engaged in the learning process with renowned faculty, OHSU has more approximately 800 students enrolled in its nursing programs. Financial Aid: OHSU School of Nursing has different categories of financial aids: • scholarships- considered gift aid (they do not require employment or repayment) • grants- considered gift aid (they do not require employment or repayment) • loans - referred to as self-help • employment - referred to as self-help OHSU School of nursing awarded over $200,000 in scholarships to incoming and current students between the 2010 - 2011 academic year. All students are eligible to apply. Get information on how to apply for a scholarship. More detail available at http:// www.ohsu.edu/. Accreditation: The Oregon Health & Science University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCU) and has been re-affirmed accreditation until 2015. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has accredited the Bachelor of Science (BS)
Peer Review: OHSU School of Nursing is rated very high by other schools, indicating OHSU’s high standard. Quality of Teaching Staff: OHSU School of Nursing not only endeavors to create a comfortable learning environment for students, but it also strives to create one that allows both faculty and staff to enhance and enrich their own experiences at work as well. Academic Facilities: OHSU School of Nursing applies latest technology in teaching, learning, and research. All facilities to provide world-class standards are available
through the Academic Technology Department. Students’ Review and Affordability: High standard with competitive fees. Job Prospects: OHSU is a key economic and social force in the Northwest. With an annual budget of $1.4 billion and more than 13,600 employees, OHSU is Portland’s largest, and the state’s fourth largest employer (excluding government). So, graduating students from OHSU stand high chances of being absorbed directly. Therefore, with total of 97 points,OHSU School of Nursing is rated 5 Diamonds. 47
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
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Issue 2.1
www.fabulousnurse.com
Laugh Out
Loud 49
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
General Humor A traffic cop stopped a young man who was going 90mph on a 65mph highway. “Do you know how fast you were going, the police offer asked.” “Fast,” the young man replied. “Well, then I have been waiting all day for you,” the officer said with a sarcastic smile. With aplomb the young man said, “Great, I was driving as fast I could to get here!”
Nursing Humor
Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions a Nurse will never keep 1. I resolve to be far less perfect this year. 2. I resolve to take up smoking and quit the gym. 3. I resolve to start wearing aprons over my scrubs. 4. I resolve to freak out during a code. 5. I resolve to stop patient care and re-tweet something funny. 6. I resolve to stay off Facebook for good, this time around. 7. I resolve to be slower and less effective with my time. 8. I resolve to tattoo DNR on my face, chest, and biceps. 9. I resolve to never use the spellcheck option in my nursing notes. 10. This New Year I resolve to be meaner and angrier at my patients and co-workers. 50
Issue 2.1
Resources
www.fabulousnurse.com 51
Inspired Nurse Fabulous Nurse Magazine
Nurse is an inspiration in and of itself. Rich shares his personal experiences in a way that flows naturally within the text and highlights moments which would easily be visceral to
Book reviewed by Matthew Fowler
anyone (like me), not just nurses; he tells an utterly human tale. Beyond the spiritual journey, however, Rich brings the reader back down to earth by offering practical exercises and other techniques to address the doldrums nurses may experience resulting from performing repetitive daily duties. The nursing industry agrees. Nurse Connect, a website about nursing of-
A
fers “While many educational materials exist
s part of our continuing series of
to foster nurses’ growth as clinicians, Rich
book reviews, we now take a look
Bluni, RN, found little to help him reaffirm
at Inspired Nurse by Rich Bluni.
the reasons he became a nurse. So he sought
Summarily, Nurse is a passionate book, and
to discover some techniques and compiled
the passion Rich brings to his discussion of
them in Inspired Nurse, a book filled with
how to remain “inspired” comes from his
thought-provoking exercises—called “spiri-
direct experience. After seeing how nurses
tual stretches”—that are designed to sustain
changed his father’s life while he was fight-
nurses’ energy and passion.”
ing cancer, Rich became a nurse in 1993. “I saw the great and small things nurses accomplished in their day and realized that there was no higher calling, for me, than to become a nurse.” Since then he has worked in Pediatric Oncology, Pediatric Intensive Care, Flight Nursing, and Trauma Intensive Care. He has also served as an emergency department manager for a large community hospital. Finally, to spread his message of inspiration, Rich joined the Studer Goup (a health care consulting firm and publishing house) in 2007, published numerous works about nursing, and has become a motivational keynote speaker for nursing seminars around the country. 52
Gina Mangini-Snyder, BSN, RN, CSN, of Advance Editorial Review opines “Inspired Nurse, a soul-probing, self-help workbook can help the caregiver recapture the essence of nursing as well as coping with life’s challenges and changes. The author offers an abundance of spiritual/emotional exercises that enable the reader to incorporate the rewards and disappointments of nursing into everyday experiences. Though he tends to focus on the most heart-wrenching and negative events that he encountered, he does draw the reader in with these compelling accounts while allowing them to recall their own enlightening moments as a nurse.”
Inspired Nurse is genuine and comes across as such through the simplicity of the story telling. Rich’s personal stories directly and powerfully remind nurses their chosen profession is fraught not only with challenging work, complicated by dire circumstances and the bludgeoning emotions that accompany those circumstances, but with the pitfalls of complacency and desensitization that can sap motivation. Additionally, because Inspired Nurse is not for the faint of heart, non-health care professionals who have read some of the stories could easily be daunted by what it means to be a healer. Ultimately, Inspired Nurse escapes the bonds of the cheesy selfhelp genre by being powerful and true, and in that regard, truly inspiring.
Job Opportunities
Issue 2.1
Perm & Travel Fabulous Nurse Job Board has over 2,000 job opportunities in all nursing specialties. Scan the QR Code and
Get started...
High paying travel nursing positions all over the country!
Emerald currently provides travel nurses to hundreds of hospitals and currently is offering assignments in every major specialty (ICU, L&D, ER OR, TELE PACU, PICU, NICU, and PEDS). Contact Emerald at any time at 1-800-917-5055, or respond to this message via E-mail or you can also visit us on the web at www.emeraldhs.com
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Nightingale, a nationally recognized leader in travel healthcare professionals, has Immediate and Exclusive needs for all Nursing Specialties with excellent pay. If you are available for consideration, please reply to this email and a recruiting specialist will contact you as soon as possible. Call us immediately: 800-591-7860 or scan the QR code To complete a full application, please scan the QR code 53
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
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Fabulous Nurse Magazine
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Eric B. Gordon Executive Director of Marketing and Communications 207.992.4925 GordonEr@Husson.edu
Husson University to Hold the Second Annual Interprofessional Evening of Conversation for Aspiring Healthcare and Education Professionals BANGOR, MAINE – January 17, 2014 – On January 30, more than 250 students from the Husson University Schools of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Pharmacy, Education, and Mental Health Counseling will participate in the Second Annual Interprofessional Evening of Conversation from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Gracie Theatre. This event, structured in a manner similar to “grand rounds” includes a simulated case presentation with a student actor representing a patient with a chronic health condition. Husson University is one of only a few institutions of higher education in Maine, and the only one in central and northern Maine, that is using this cutting-edge method of education for their healthcare and education programs. During the event, a student actor will portray a client being interviewed about his chronic health condition. Students will observe the interview and then engage in small group discussions from an interprofessional perspective. Twenty-five faculty members will help engage the more than 250 Husson students participating in this event. Once completed, students from the various healthcare and education disciplines at Husson University will have gained insight into drawing out information from patients, identifying treatment options and the potential for various healthcare disciplines to contribute to a plan of action that improves patient outcomes. “Participating in this event will help students gain the skills they’ll need to be effective in today’s team-oriented healthcare delivery system,” said Peg Olson, PT, MEd., NCS, a faculty member within the School of Physical Therapy at Husson University. “This includes the medical home models of healthcare delivery that demand interprofessional evaluation and consultation.” Why is Interprofessional Communication Important? Communication is an important key to eliminating medical errors. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, medical errors caused by inadequate communication are one of the leading causes of death in the United States, ahead of accidents, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as AIDS, breast cancer, and gunshot wounds.[1] Educating aspiring healthcare and education professionals in the importance of good communication is an important step toward improving patients’ clinical outcomes and safety. More About Husson University For more than 100 years, Husson University has prepared future leaders to handle the challenges of tomorrow through innovative undergraduate and graduate degrees. With a commitment to delivering affordable classroom, online and experiential learning opportunities, Husson University has come to represent superior value in higher education. Our Bangor campus and off-campus satellite education centers in Southern Maine, Wells and Northern Maine provide advanced knowledge in business; health and education; pharmacy studies; science and humanities; as well as communication. In addition, Husson University has a robust adult learning program. For more information about educational opportunities that can lead to personal and professional success, visit Husson.edu. 56
Issue 2.1
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA UCF College of Nursing Receives $1M from Florida Hospital for Endowed Chair ORLANDO, January 22, 2014 – The University of Cen-
of Nursing, and the second chair that Florida Hospital has
tral Florida College of Nursing has received a $1 mil-
endowed at UCF. The first is in the College of Medicine.
lion grant to establish an endowed chair for healthcare simulation. Research professor Gregory Welch, Ph.D., a computer scientist and engineer, has been appointed to the chair.
“Dr. Welch brings significant education and experience in simulation from a culture outside of health care, and we believe he will challenge our thinking about medical simulation in all the right ways,” said Sheryl Dodds, chief
The Florida Hospital Endowed Chair in Healthcare
clinical officer at Florida Hospital. “We feel his work will
Simulation will support the research and development of
have a positive effect on both health care education and
enhanced simulation technology to improve health care
our clinical operations. We are excited to be working with
education.
Dr. Welch, UCF and other professionals as we explore
“We are grateful to our partner, Florida Hospital, for its
new opportunities and expand the Florida Hospital ap-
great generosity,” said Mary Lou Sole, Ph.D., interim
proach to simulation in health care.”
dean of the College of Nursing. “This new endowed chair
Sole also welcomed Welch to his new appointment, say-
underscores the College of Nursing’s commitment to be-
ing that he brings both a record of technological innova-
coming a national leader in developing and testing inno-
tion – he is the co-inventor on multiple patents – and a
vative technologies to enhance nursing and health care
longstanding interest in health care.
education as well as patient care delivery. Ultimately, patient outcomes will be improved.” This is the sixth endowed chair established in the College
“With the endowed chair for healthcare simulation, Florida Hospital has demonstrated once again the impact that giving to UCF can have on real world problems,”
57
Fabulous Nurse Magazine
said Robert J. Holmes Jr., CEO, UCF Foundation. “In its generosity and partnership with our university, Florida Hospital is ensuring that health care education meets the needs of our communities in Central Florida well into the future.” While a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned his Ph.D. and is still an adjunct professor, Welch led research efforts to develop three-dimensional remote health care consulting technology, which would allow physicians to “look over the shoulder” and coach emergency medical personnel through necessary emergent procedures while responding to motor vehicle crashes and other emergencies. Prior to academia, he worked on the Voyager Spacecraft Project at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and on airborne electronic countermeasures at Northrop-Grumman’s Defense Systems Division. His primary focus now is improving the simulated patients that are used in the education of nurses and other health care professionals, as well as other uses of technology for patient care. His research interests include virtual and augmented reality, human tracking systems, human surrogates for training and telepresence, computer vision, and the capture of human movement for simulation and training, particularly related to health care. “Computer scientists don’t exist to develop technology and conduct experiments in a vacuum,” he said. “As one of my mentors, Fred Brooks, says, we are tool smiths who support the work of others. Health care professionals help other people and so supporting them appeals to me personally.” The tenured chair includes appointments to the UCF nursing faculty, the Institute for Simulation and Training, and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
58
ners and organizations so that UCF can develop the next generation of health care technology. —UCF— Contact: Carolyn Petagno, College of Nursing, 407-8231665, carolyn@ucf.edu Educating Nurses Since 1979: UCF College of Nursing offers several high-quality academic programs (BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD, Specialty Certificates), growing research and scholarship opportunities, and a long-standing commitment to clinical excellence and community service. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked the college’s online graduate tracks among the nation’s 25 best nursing programs. UCF’s nursing students are highly sought after by employers for their demonstrated academic excellence—scoring well above the national and state averages on nursing board certification and licensure exams. For more information, visit http://nursing.ucf.edu. America’s Partnership University: The University of Central Florida, the nation’s second-largest university with nearly 60,000 students, has grown in size, quality, diversity and reputation in its first 50 years. Today, the university offers more than 200 degree programs at its main campus in Orlando and more than a dozen other locations. UCF is an economic engine attracting and supporting industries vital to the region’s future while
Welch expects the multi-disciplinary nature of his ap-
providing students with real-world experiences that help
pointment to allow him to generate collaboration between
them succeed after graduation. For more information,
computer scientists and health care educators, practitio-
visit http://today.ucf.edu.
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