The Journal. Victor Valley College. Welcome Back!! Fall The Nursing School and Allied Health Newsletter

Transcription

1 Victor Valley College The Journal The Nursing School and Allied Health Newsletter Article By: Dawna Scott September 2014 Volume 5 No. 1 Welcome Back!! Fall 2014 Welcome Back! We are excited to begin this new semester!! We hope that everyone enjoyed their summer break and are ready to (as Lisa Crouch always says) embrace the academic burn! As we begin a new semester we also would like to look back at some of the wonderful things that happened last semester. We would like to congratulate the graduating class of RN s for Spring 2014!! There were thirty nine graduates last semester and the ceremony was beautiful! We know that this group of grads will also excel as they go on to take their NCLEX. There have already been reports of passing the NCLEX from a couple of these graduates!! VVC Top 5% Every nurse remembers the big day when the they took their board exam, or the NCLEX. Sometimes there was another question, such as How many questions?. Older nurses may have been asked what percent they earned in one of the six exams that everyone took. But for everyone there was only one question that mattered did you pass? From the point of view as a nursing program, the question is often what percentage of the people from your school who are taking the NCLEX for the first time passed. The VVC nursing program wants to stay above 85% at minimum, and preferably above 90%. That has been accomplished for the last several semesters. Lately there has been talk about the VVC nursing program being in the top 5% of all the nursing programs in the country. How is that calculated, since the schools receive only a list of the names of the students who passed, and those who don t? It is done statistically, and then published. The first part of the process is the most complex. It puts all the scores on a standard, so

2 The Journal Victor Valley College that they can be compared. A candidate can pass at 75 questions, or at 265 questions. The candidate who passes at 75 questions is probably better prepared than the candidate who needs 265 questions to pass. Next the statistical manipulations consider difficulty of individual questions taken by each candidate, and then reported as groups representing each school. Next the schools are ranked from highest to lowest. The final reports are published comparing groups of schools. One reports all the programs in our state. For the most recent report VVC ranked 15 out of 135 schools, or in the top 11%. The second report compares all associate degree programs in the country. VVC ranked 65 out of 1188 associate degree programs, which is in the top 5%. The last report includes all of the registered nursing programs in all the states. VVC ranked 105 out of 1985 schools. That is in the top 5% of all the registered nurs- out of 1985 schools. That is in the top 5% of all the registered nursing programs in the country! There are many people who contribute to this success. First are all the students. They are the ones who studied, passed nursing school and then passed the NCLEX. Right behind the students are the faculty and staff, who guide the educational progress and provide support. We should not forget the alumni and the nurses at our clinical facilities who provide hands on learning in the real world. We are an excellent program, and we plan to continue our record of excellence. Article By: Diane Cline Fall 2014 Page 2 Charity Challenge *Attention all 246 and process nursing students: We all have an opportunity this semester to give back to our community in an easy, but huge way. This Fall, CNSA challenges us all to bring one canned food every time we come on campus to be donated to our in-need community members. All contributions will be donated to the Victor Valley Rescue Mission. Cans will be collected in containers placed in each lecture room, including the lab. CNSA President Lori Sherrie Wells-Guttierrez welcomes students to accompany her on the day of deliverance of all our donations to see how much we have truly helped our community. In addition to our generous charity, Cardenas Market has made a kind donation to us This is a fantastic way to assist our struggling community members and make the public aware of what the Victor Valley College Nursing Program is all about! Please take part in this awesome charity every time you come to campus to help provide relief to our disadvantaged population of the High Desert. By: Alexa Libby Test Your Knowledge (Questions from KAPLAN Nursing QBank) The nurse reviews discharge instructions with the client recently diagnosed with a myocardial infarction due to coronary artery disease (CAD). Which statement BEST indicates to the nurse that the client understands the disease process? A) I ll probably have CAD because my father dies of a heart attack. B) My heart muscle did not get enough oxygen which resulted in the pain I experienced. C) I will have to be on medication for the rest of my life. D) Since my diet will have to change, I m glad I like salads with salad dressing.

3 The Journal Victor Valley College Article By: Dawna Scott FALL 2014 Page 3 RN Externs There are two hospitals that work with the Victor Valley College Nursing Program to provide an externship for current students involved in the Nursing Program. Desert Valley Hospital and the Barstow Community Hospital begin hiring RN externs after they complete nursing process two. I had an opportunity to talk to one of the RN externs currently working at Desert Valley Hospital, Monica Vasquez. Here is a short Q&A How many VVC RN Externs are there currently at Desert Valley Hospital? There s around 12 working in different areas of the hospital: ICU, L&D, ER, Med/Surg and surgery. Monica Vasquez NP 4 What was the process to become an Extern? I filled out an application and resume, applying online. I was called in for a panel interview. At the interview, punctuation and appearance are very important. After hired there is a drug screening and extensive physical. The position of an RN externs have recently become highly competitive, there were 46 applicants, 20 interviewed and only 8 hired for the summer. VVC does require you to be enrolled in a CO-OP Ed class, where you need to turn in your time card and do some extra work such as a portfolio and research paper. How was your first day? I work in surgery and I m the first RN extern to work in the surgery department. It was kind of challenging because I didn t know what to expect. I was very nervous but I just worked hard as I could and tried to catch on as fast as possible. The start were really good about telling me what needed to be done to prep each patient for surgery. I ve heard that a day as an RN Extern is like a regular clinical day, do you agree? No you get more out of an extern day than in clinical. I work hard doing all the Pre-Op Where are they now? Jennifer Vitha VVC School of Nursing Class of 2011 checklist before the pt goes into surgery. Would you recommend other student nurses take advantage of this opportunity to work as an RN Extern? Absolutely! It will benefit you and give you confidence. I feel that I ve been able to keep up my nursing skills while learning even more than in clinical alone. Things that are more specific to the hospital that I m working at. I feel that those of us who are externs won t feel as nervous about working as a nurse after we graduate. It s only a benefit to you as you are in nursing school. Jennifer got her first nursing job at Barstow Community Hospital working the night shift on the medicalsurgical/telemetry floor. She worked at Barstow for almost two years, before transferring to the telemetry floor at St. Mary's. Jennifer says that, "the college has a good program that prepared me well for nursing practice. We have great instructors like Sally and Renate who were always very patient, encouraging, and knowledgeable." Jennifer received the obstetrics clinical award at graduation and would like to work in labor and delivery someday. Article By Shawna Simpson

4 The Journal Victor Valley College FALL 2014 Page 4 Article By: Dawna Scott 2014 CNSA Convention We are so excited that the CNSA Convention is in Pomona, CA this year!! The Convention will be October at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel in Pomona. Attending this convention will provide you limitless opportunities available in the nursing profession. There will be keynote speakers that will inspire you and breakout sessions offering a wide variety of topics to enhance your success and professional growth. Please take advantage this incredible opportunity of build your skills and obtain tools to enable you to secure your first job as an RN. You can register online at there are registration fees posted on their site. This opportunity is open for CNSA members and non-members as well. Make sure you sign up on our interest list as soon as possible if you are thinking of attending. WHY SHOULD I JOIN CNSA? CNSA embodies the spirit of nursing. The culture of nursing is changing. Future employers are looking for more than just academics. Hospitals are looking for the total package. Hospitals are changing to a more customer service driven environment, they are looking for nurses who are willing to the extra mile. CNSA gives you a chance to develop your soft skills. The core values of CNSA focus on leadership and advocacy. There are many bebnfits to being a part of a professional organization like CNSA. These organizations give nursing students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate leadership skills while impacting their communities in many positive ways. By attending CNSA meetings and conferences, students are able to network with other nursing students and faculty from around the country, as well as with their representatives from potential employers and graduate schools. Other benefits of joining NSNA include: Career planning Discounts on NCLEX-RN review courses and study guides. Reduced rates at Barnes & Noble.com Discounted Malpractice insurance Free subscription to the Imprint magazine sub Eligibility to thousands of dollars in scholarships CAN I HANDLE MY ACEDEMIC WORK- LOAD & CNSA? Academics will always come first. Please know you can participate as much or as little as you feel you can handle. CNSA operates as a team effort and we all support each other. By participating in community service efforts you remind yourself of why you chose this career path. Come to our bimonthly meetings and check it out. Networking with upper classmen and other nursing students can help you learn to manage your time better and create a support system. Mentoring is a big part of CNSA, consider joining our CUBS program where an upper classmen can help you beyond the scope of school. HOW DO I PAY MY DUES TO NSNA? Visit org follow instructions there (The link is also on the VVC CNSA Facebook page). Once you ve paid your dues, there is no need to contact us about it. NSNA will inform us of your membership application and you will be recognized as a member. You do not need to be a member to participate in CNSA events. You re always welcome. Article By: Lori Sherrie Gutierrez

5 The Journal Victor Valley College FALL 2014 Page 5 Article By: Lori Sherrie Gutierrez Injuries sustained during violent crimes and accidents happen frequently. When they do happen, most patients will be transported to their local emergency room to be cared for. Patients may be transported via ambulance and others may require transportation via helicopter to a trauma center. These patients need emergent specialized care or they will succumb to their injuries. Waiting and ready at the trauma center will be a team of elite, specialty trained nurses; trauma nurses. Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, California is the closest trauma center to our high desert region. This facility receives a vast array of trauma cases that range from motor vehicle accidents, stabbings and gun shot victims, and motorcycle accidents. Trauma nurses normally receive a patient who is unconscious, unable to provide important information pertinent to their care. The team performs their roles as rehearsed. Maintain a patent airway; Insertion of Multiple IV s; Administration of blood; Searching a person s wallet and Trauma Nursing finding clues about who they are important to finding clues, contacting next of kin and possible medications; and documenting the overall process. Close assessment is needed to decipher the needs of the patient and if the interventions performed are essential. Trauma Nurses need to possess certain attributes. One of the most important skills is the ability to work long hours in a physically and mentally demanding atmosphere. Dan Alexander, a trauma nurse at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and VVC alumni states A trauma nurse should demonstrate; the ability to be assertive while still working as a team; the ability to rapidly assess a situation while implementing interventions and anticipating your next intervention if the current one does not work. Dan Alexander also states, As a trauma nurse you will need to be accustomed to seeing horrific injuries and not be deterred by them, and be able to work in a systematic manner Johnson & Johnson s discover nursing website outlines the educational path as follows. In order to become a trauma nurse you will need to earn your ASN or BSN and earn your licensure. You will need to work within an emergency room for a minimum of two years. You can then obtain your Emergency Nursing Certification then take your Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) from the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). After you are certified, recertification and continuing education credits will need to be obtained every few years. For more information on trauma nursing visit specialty/trauma-nurse UPCOMING CALENDAR EVENTS SEPTEMBER: Bi-monthly meetings: Sept. 12:30-1:30pm Room 6 Sept. 12:30-1:30pm Room 6 Sept. Meet in front of the library for the displaying of the flags in remembrance of all the lives lost on 9/11 WORKSHOP: Moving Forward Sept. 6:00-8:00pm Room 5 OCTOBER: Bi-monthly meetings Oct. 12:30-1:30pm Room 6 Oct. 12:30-1:30pm Room 6 WORKSHOP Professional Preparation Oct. 6:00-8:00pm

6 The Journal Victor Valley College FALL 2014 Page 6 We would like to thank High Desert Alarm for their donation towards a scholarship for a VVC Nursing student!! The other businesses listed below have given donations to support our CNSA Welcome Back meeting. If you would like to donate to CNSA and VVC students please contact Nursing Department at Test Your Knowledge Answer: B Rationale: the pain the client experienced resulted from myocardial ischemia

7 FALL 2014 Page 7 The Journal Victor Valley College Acknowledgments This section is to thank those that worked hard to help create and promote this newsletter. Director: Dr. Joseph Morris, CNS, GNP, PhD Supervising Instructor: Prof. Sally Thibeault, RN Editor: Dawna Scott SN NP4 Alexa Libby SN NP3 Story Writers: Diane Cline RN Lori Sherrie Gutierrez SN Np4 Shawna Simpson VVC Alumni Graduate Nursing & Allied Health Special Thanks to: Dr. Joseph Morris For your encouragement and continued support. Prof. Sally Thibeault Your words of encouragement and guidance. NP4 class of Fall 2014 Thank you for your continued teamwork as we work toward our end goals! We re almost there!! Laura Katnic Your are always willing to lend a hand whenever asked and we thank you. Victor Valley College Bear Valley Road, Victorville, CA ph: (760) fax:(760)