Victor Valley College. The Journal. The Nursing School and Allied Health Newsletter. October 2015 Volume 5 No. 12. Welcome Back Luncheon

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1 Victor Valley College The Journal The Nursing School and Allied Health Newsletter Rosa Edith Nolazco-Jauregui S.N. NP4 October 2015 Volume 5 No. 12 Welcome Back Luncheon The annual Welcome Back Luncheon hosted by the Nursing Department and CNSA was a hit! The excitement, hope, and energy was palpable everywhere. The best time for nursing students is without a doubt, the beginning of the semester. We feel we can conquer anything. Perhaps, not without tears, exhaustion, and momentary defeats somewhere along the way, but we will. Don t ever give up. Adding to the joy of this event was the completion of the new Dr.Prem Reddy Health and Sciences building, a beautiful 29,000 square-foot state of the art facility. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Prem Reddy and Measure JJ Bond, nursing students will be able to benefit from high fidelity manequins, expansion of simulation rooms, and additional technology.we will be well prepared to become the nurses of tomorrow. This event could not have been done without the support, donations, time, and collaboration of so many wonderful friends of VVC. The list is too great to name everyone individually, but you should know our reputation as one of the best nursing programs in the nation inspires many to help VVC nursing students succeed. A wonderful part of this event, was the opportunity to help our community through our partnership with the Victor Valley Rescue Mission. CNSA challenged all students to bring a canned good or hygiene item to benefit the homeless community. As future nurses, the desire to help those in need is present in all of us. Nursing students rose to the challenge, exceeding the goal. This event is the largest fundraiser for CNSA, making it possible to fund local charities and provide scholarships to nursing students. The students benefited from this event by visiting various educational, academic resources, and organizations committed to student s success.

2 The Journal Victor Valley College October 2015 Page 2 Rosa Edith Nolazco-Jauregui S.N. NP4 Where are they now? Nicole Koel, RN Nicole is an alumni of the Fall Class of She is employed at Victor Valley Global Medical Center in the Cath Lab. After graduation she was hired and started her career on the med-surg / telemetry floor. Recently she was part of a team to help build and implement the electronic charting base for the transition from paper to computer charting for the entire hospital. She is working towards her BSN at Western Governors University, with the ultimate goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Her decision to become a nurse was influenced by her experience working with the mentally disabled. I realized nursing was where I was supposed to be. Of the nursing program at VVC, You give up your life for the moment but you are creating an even better life for you and your family, you really are. Tip to nursing students in the program, Once you get in, it is going to be really hard, but the end goal is the best. Don t give up. She is a mom to Bronson 11 mos, and expecting a girl. Congratulations! Helen Franco, RN Helen is an alumni of the Spring Class of She is employed at Desert Valley Hospital in the ICU, receiving recognition as Employee of the Month in May. Her first job as a nurse was in the Med Surg area at DVH. She was previously employed as a monitor tech for many years. She is now working towards her BSN at Azusa Pacific University, with the ultimate goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Ever since she was a little girl she knew she wanted to be a nurse, she used to play being the teddy bear s nurse. Her motto is: If you love something, you ll do even the smallest thing to the best of your ability. Of the nursing program at VVC, Live, eat, breathe nursing and you ll survive. Don t give up, study hard, you cannot fail if you keep trying. She advises students to stand out during clinicals because students are remembered, clinicals are your interviews.

3 The Journal Victor Valley College October 2015 Page 3 Dr. Prem Reddy Health Sciences Building Unveiling Dr. Morris welcomes attendees. Faculty and alumni gather at the event. Clinical instructor, Tracie Ballinger, gives students a tour of the new facility. Sims lab includes OB simulation pod. New graduates also returned to tour new facility. Students admire new Fundamentals Lab.

4 The Journal Victor Valley College October 2015 Page 4 The Importance of Minorities In Nursing Boma Briggs S.N. NP3 A group of people living in the same area generally defines a community. Nurses are a part of the community. Nurses comes from all walks of life and very diverse backgrounds, coming from many different cultures, races, and ethnicities. The nursing community should reflect the diversity of its surrounding community to meet their patients needs. In the same manner, a nurse has a status in the community to care for the sick and unable. Diversity in the medical field helps to provide a better reflection of the community. Also, minorities in the nursing field help to expand cultural awareness, provide role models for youth, and provide individuals an opportunity to overcome adversity. Nurses are educated people that serve as an important professional resource in the hospital. They are a component of a team that assesses the response to an illness and provides a plan of care. By having a Latino nurse in a predominantly Latino community, this may help communication barriers such as language which is needed to expedite the process. In addition, that same nurse may be aware of the religious beliefs and why some families make their decision. Their presence helps to create a bond of trust and respect that may be unattainable otherwise. Lastly, having more minorities helps to promote healthcare. Individually, nurses that are minorities use their education to provide an opportunity for self-enhancing. They can use their passion of helping others to advance their lifestyle. While nurses may not be rich, it gives them a financial opportunity to fulfill their dreams. Furthermore, it creates a voice that can relate to certain groups and people in a medical setting. It essence, it helps to overcome disparity. Role models are people that we look up to and aspire to become like or attain to. Minority nurses provides the community with role models in each healthcare setting. Their presence shows that hard work and dedication will birth success in the medical field. It provides a status for young children to aspire to and promotes higher education in the same token. It provides hope for peace and respect for an advancing multicultural society. Modern medicine is a changing field, as well as patients. To aid those changes, diverse nurses are essential to connect patients and their medical problems. Through their presence and communication they help to promote the community and inspire others. NP3 students having fun and taking advantage of the photo booth! NP1 students ready for their first semester!

5 The Journal Victor Valley College October 2015 Page 5 MEN IN NURSING Richard Pretzer S.N. NP3 I recommend men to go into nursing. You can never get bored with the limitless broad opportunities the nursing field has to offer. You can ride helicopters and be a flight nurse, and work with little kids in pediatrics, to working with the mentally ill in psychiatric nursing, to a scrub nurse in the surgical setting (you get to see cool surgeries) and much more. Advanced degrees in nursing open the doors to greater opportunities in specialties such as CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesists) to FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner) to informatics in nursing or even a nursing professor. Also, the female to male ratio is about 4:1. If that s not a reason to join then this is: nursing is a trusted career not just another job. Nursing is very well respected in the community. Plus, the feeling I get when I see someone in public or that same person comes back to thank me, makes me feel good. Like I did a great job. HOLISTIC NURSING Amanda Garcia S.N. NP2 As nursing students we know what the concept of healing is, right? We are taught everyday that nurses treat illness. What does this mean? We administer medications? We change their wound dressings? Provide comfort? Follow doctors orders? The answer most likely ranges depending on the individual beliefs of the nurse providing care. So I challenge each and every one of my fellow nursing students to ask themselves, what is healing? Florence Nightingale herself believed in holism. What is holistic medicine? It is treating patients as a whole. Each individual patient is different from the next, regardless if they have the same diagnosis. Treating patients with the importance of knowing how powerful the mind, body, and spirit connection is can make a all the difference in the way we approach our nursing care. Holistic medicine can include nutrition and diet, breathing, yoga, acupuncture, deep tissue therapy, and even sound energy. Holistic medicine uses preventative healing modalities and targets the root of the problem and not just the symptoms. What if we prevented disease with different healing techniques instead of waiting for patients to develop so many debilitating diseases. What if we give a patient a message or pressed on some acupressure points instead of giving them medications for pain? I urge all of us as nursing students to obtain optimal health ourselves. This includes knowing about the food we eat and knowing that food is medicine. Knowing our mind is powerful and so is our spirit. Let s be frontiers in this ever evolving field of medicine. There is a major shift in medicine happening right now. Let s not only educate ourselves but be examples of healthy holistic living starting now. Interested in applying for a fun and exciting career in nursing education? Go to:

6 The Journal Victor Valley College October 2015 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

7 October 2015 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: Rosa Edith Nolazco-Jauregui SN NP4 Story Writers: Rosa Edith Nolazco-Jauregui SN NP4 Boma Briggs SN NP3 Richard Pretzer SN NP3 Amanda Garcia SN NP2 Nursing & Allied Health Special Thanks to: Dr. Prem Reddy Your generosity and commitment toward promoting education. Dr. Joseph Morris For your encouragement and continued support. Prof. Sally Thibeault Your words of encouragement and support for all our efforts! 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)