XCHANGE NEWSLETTER February 2014 Volume 26 Issue 1 Distance Nursing Programs Continuing and Distance Education 2175 Varsity Drive, MacDonald Hall STFX University Antigonish, Nova Scotia Canada B2G 2W5 Toll-Free: 1.800.565.4371 FAX: 1.902.867.5154 E-mail: distance.nursing@stfx.ca http://sites.stfx.ca/continuingeducation/distance_nursing I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E 1 Fall Convocation 1 Study Awards 2 Program Office Contact Information 3 Income Tax Forms 4 Online Registration 7 Convocation Information 11 Library Services 12 Master Schedule FALL CONVOCATION 2013 Congratulations to the following students who received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree on December 7, 2013. Shelley Lynn Debison Barrie, ON Suzanne T. Koehler Hammonds Plains, NS Loretta Mae Kroker Lethbridge, AB Terri. I. Mills Calgary, AB Tammy Lynn Rogers Bradford, ON Susan Maire Sollis West Vancouver, BC Heidi Maria Stewart Ottawa, ON STUDY AWARDS Thanks to all of you who applied for the Distance Nursing Study Awards. From the large number of applications received, the following students were selected to receive this award: Trephena Chin Pasadena, NL Joyce Dobbin Heatheron, NS Jacqueline Hartley-Langille Hammonds Plains, NS Sean Hopkins Windsor, ON Daniel Maure Sarnia ON Katrina Niemi Thunder Bay, ON XCHANGE 1
Katherine Wdowiak Memorial Award In memory of the work of K. Wdowiak. Two (2) $500.00 awards based on demonstrated community involvement, academic ability and commitment to continuing education. Deadline: February 28 th, 2014. These forms may be downloaded from our website. http://www.sites.stfx.ca/continuingeducation/distance_nursing/awards CGNA 2014 SCHOLARSHIPS The Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association is proud to offer the following scholarships. These scholarships are offered yearly by CGNA for studies commencing in September of the current year. Anne C. Beckingham Scholarship The Anne C. Beckingham Scholarship is provided to support outstanding Registered Nurses undertaking further education in a graduate degree program relevant to career development, preferably in the field of gerontological nursing this includes Nurse Practitioner programs that focus on the care of older adults. Memorial Scholarship Memorial Scholarship is awarded to an outstanding Registered Nurse, Licensed or Registered Practical Nurse, or Registered Psychiatric Nurse who is undertaking further education in a post-basic undergraduate nursing degree program with a gerontological nursing focus. For more information on how to apply, please click here. CHANGE IN PROGRAM OFFICE CONTACT Please be advised that our toll-free lines have been reduced to just one line. See below. Any and all inquiries pertaining to your courses and general information should be directed to the Program Office. DISTANCE NURSING PROGRAM Continuing & Distance Education P.O. Box 5000 St. Francis Xavier University Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada Phone: 1.800.565.4371 FAX: 902. 867.5154 E-mail: distance.nursing@stfx.ca http://sites.stfx.ca/continuingeducation/distance_nursing Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday (AST) Location: 2175 Varsity Drive, MacDonald Hall (2 nd floor) XCHANGE 2
INCOME TAX FORMS T2202A T2202As for income tax purposes are available at the Banner portal at the end of February each year. To access your forms visit your Banner online account and enter your student ID and PIN number. CLICK ON REGISTRATION XCHANGE 3
SELECT Newsletter CANADIAN Title TAX FORMS ON THE NEXT PAGE YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE OPTION TO SELECT THE TAXATION YEAR. We recommend you print off several copies for your records. Receipts for other purposes may be obtained by calling the StFX Business Office at (902) 867-2123/3738. TUITION FEES 2013-2014 The Board of Governors of St. Francis Xavier University approved fee increases effective August 1, 2013. Tuition for courses beginning in September 2013, for the 2013-2014 academic year will be as follows: Three-credit course ($716.00 + $35.00 tech fees+ $14.61 student union fees) $765.61 NOVA SCOTIA STUDENTS PAYMENT: (-$128.28 Nova Scotia Tuition Bursary) = $637.33 OUT OF PROVINCE STUDENTS PAYMENT: (-$26.10 Nova Scotia Tuition Bursary) = $739.51 Six-credit course ($1432.00 + $70.00 tech fees + $29.22 student union fees) $1531.22 NOVA SCOTIA STUDENTS PAYMENT: (-$256.56 Nova Scotia Tuition Bursary) = $1,274.66 OUT OF PROVINCE STUDENTS PAYMENT: (-$52.20 Nova Scotia Tuition Bursary) = $1,479.02 XCHANGE 4
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN The following course registration information is for Post RN, Certificate and Non-Degree (students doing one course or students visiting from another institution). SPRING COURSES May June (TERM 201430) Registration Deadline: April 17 th, 2014 SUMMER COURSES May August (TERM 201440) Registration Deadline: May 22 nd, 2014 COURSE DATES DESCRIPTION April 21 - June 27 DNUR 202.77 Community Mental Health Nursing II CRN 14684 M. Thompson DNUR 245.77 Aging of the Older Adult CRN 14683 D. Vandewater DNUR 405.77 Nursing of Adults CRN 14685 D. Vandewater DNUR 497.77 Computers in Nursing CRN 14686 S. Bowman Online Nursing Elective for degree students April 21 - June 27 Online 19 th Cycle degree students and Certificate in Gerontological April 21 - June 27 Online Nursing Elective for degree students April 21 - June 27 Online Nursing Elective for degree students and nondegree students This course examines the theory of and concepts in mental health nursing principles to specific clinical disorders. As a subsequent elective course DNUR 202 builds on the foundations explored in DNUR 201. Practice components. Three credits. Requires a preof DNUR201. This course addresses issues of health and wellness important to an increasingly aging population. Many psychological, social and physical factors affect one s health potential. Students will examine the impact these factors have in making the older adult who he or she is today. Through interaction with a senior in the community students will learn how the older adult defines and promotes his or her own health. Three credits. Nursing 405 is a nursing practice and theoretical course designed to provide the senior Part-time Post RN, BScN student with opportunities to render comprehensive nursing care, and explore concepts related to adults who are experiencing, or at risk for complex health problems. Students will be involved in learning experiences by using Moodle, which will enable them to apply the nursing process during interactions with fellow students and sharing practice experiences from diverse settings (acute, chronic, rehabilitative, community and/or ambulatory care, long term-care etc.). Cultural diversity, competency and safety, the consequence of an altered immune system, infection, symptom management, women's health, and palliative care will be studied from a nursing perspective in this course. This course is designed to provide an introduction to the field of Nursing Informatics and to enhance the use of the computer as a tool of effective information management in the practice of nursing. No previous computer skills are assumed. Three credits. XCHANGE 5
COURSE DATES DESCRIPTION May 26 - August 1 BIOL 105.77 Introductory Cell and Molecular Biology CRN 14750 Lab CRN 14751 V. Karunakaran BIOL 115.77 Microbiology CRN 14752 Lab CRN 14753 V. Karunakaran Online Required Science for degree students and non-degree students May 26 - August 1 Online Required Science for degree students and non-degree students This course will focus on the structure and function of cells, cell division, patterns of inheritance and the molecular basis of inheritance. Restricted to nursing students. Three credits. An introduction to microorganisms from a human perspective, this course deals with viruses, bacteria and fungi. Topics include bacterial structure and function, bacterial genetics and antibiotic resistance, and viral structure and infection. Restricted to nursing students. Prerequisites: BIOL 105, completed or concurrent. Three credits. **(see November newsletter for online registration instructions)** Please Note: Although there are no lab components with any distance nursing courses, some courses require students to enter a CRN for the course as well as a CRN for the lab. i.e. Biology 105/115. PAYMENT OPTIONS All tuition fee payments are due the day before the course begins. All payment or receipt inquiries are to be addressed to the Student Accounts Office at (902) 867-2123/3738. Payments may be made online by setting up St. Francis Xavier University as a Payee and the account number is your StFX student ID number. Cheques are to be made payable to St. Francis Xavier University and please indicate your student ID number on the cheque. Details on all these options, including step by step instructions for online banking, are available on the Accounting Services website at: http://www.mystfx.ca/campus/admin/accounting-services/ Checking your account balance: 1. Go to the StFX student home page http://sites.stfx.ca/welcome/ 2. Select mesamis 3. Log in using your Student ID as your user name and your six-digit numeric password as your PIN. 4. From your homepage under Look-Ups and then click on Tuition and Fees Information 5. For student account inquiries, please contact the StFX Business Office directly at (902) 867-2123/3738 Look-Ups Degree Application Status: Check your application status for the Fall 2013 convocation. Tuition and Fees Information XCHANGE 6
CONVOCATION INFORMATION As per section 3.15 of the university academic calendar, you must complete an application for degree when you are within 18 credits of completing your degree program. You may complete the on-line degree application on the StFX website via MesAmis. If you do not complete the application, you will not be able to attend spring or fall convocations or X-ring ceremonies in December. Please note a recent change in policy by the Registrar s Office will require students to apply for a specific graduation. For example, if you have applied for Fall 2013 graduation and did not complete degree requirements in time, your name will not be automatically carried forward to Spring 2014 graduation. For spring graduation on Sunday, May 4, 2014, these applications should have been submitted by October 12 th, 2013. STUDENT EMAIL ACCOUNTS Your StFX student email account is used for all communication between you and StFX. It is vital that you check and maintain your account regularly. Accessing webmail (your personal StFX email account): 1. Go to the MyStFX homepage http://sites.stfx.ca/welcome/ 2. Select the Webmail link and enter your user name (e.g., x2012abc) and your applicable password as outlined on your PIN letter. XCHANGE 7
Changing your Password: 1. Go to the MyStFX homepage 2. Click the Webmail link (as noted above in the screenshot) 3. Click on the Change Password link on the left side of the page XCHANGE 8
To view and reset your original password: 1. Go to MyStFX homepage http://sites.stfx.ca/welcome/ 2. Click on mesamis 3. Log into the system by using your Student ID as your user name and your 6-digit numeric password XCHANGE 9
4. Select myaccounts 5. Select the Reset Original Password at the bottom left side of the page All students are required to check their StFX email accounts on a regular basis and keep the inbox open for deliveries by deleting unnecessary emails and changing passwords as required. All information coming from the Program Office, as well as other university offices will be sent to your StFX email account only. If you are unable to access your StFX email account, please contact the Technology Support Group at tsg@stfx.ca or phone (902) 876-2356 or toll free at 1-888-560-2356. The Program Office sends out PIN letters and instructions how to access the StFX website to students. These letters contain ID number, PIN #, StFX e-mail (user name) account, and temporary PASSWORD. If you have not received this information, please contact the Program Office as soon as possible to obtain your PIN letter. If you require assistance at any time, please contact the Program Office via the toll-free lines 1-800-565-4371. XCHANGE 10
TEXTBOOK INFORMATION The Campus Bookstore has updated their website which includes a more simplified process for ordering textbooks. It is very similar in comparison to other sites using online ordering. If you click on this link below (hint: you might want to book mark it this page for future orders) and take the following steps you can easily order your required text without contacting the bookstore or filling out any paperwork. http://www.cancart.net/stfxstore/ Once you are on this page click on the link labeled Text Books on the left-hand side of this screen and then on the next page select your program Distance Nursing from this point a menu will pop up showing a picture of the text and all the details. The course in which it is required is listed just below the title of the text in grey. Sorry the image is so small but if you click on it you can enlarge it to see the details. If you require any additional assistance please feel free to contact the book store staff by calling their tollfree line 1.888.867.2450, they will be only too happy to assist you!! LIBRARY SERVICES FOR DISTANCE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION SERVICES Register with the StFX Library - In order to access StFX s online library resources, check out books or use our document delivery services, you must first register as a library patron and then update your account each year of your degree. Please do so before you require these services to avoid any delays. You can register in person or simply go to the Library Services for Distance and Continuation Education Services page on our website http://sites.stfx.ca/library/distance_education/ Scroll down to the section called Create/Update Your Library Account. Once the message opens, fill in all the fields and hit send. You should be registered within one (1) business day, unless otherwise stated. All library correspondence is done via your StFX e-mail account, so please be sure to check your messages often. For general inquiries, call our circulation desk at (902) 867-2228. If you have research related questions, our on-duty reference librarian would be happy to assist you. Simply call (902)867-2242 or e-mail reference@stfx.ca COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS Students are encouraged to submit comments and/or suggestions for the XCHANGE newsletter. The next newsletter will be in May 2014. XCHANGE 11
MASTER SCHEDULE PART-TIME POST RN DISTANCE NURSING PROGRAMS Tentative Master Schedule DATE SCIENCE & ELECTIVES 17 th CYCLE 18 th CYCLE 19 th CYCLE 20 th CYCLE 21 st CYCLE Sept. 2013 Biol 251, N488, Chem. 150D, N490** N415 N201 N135 Nov. 2013 N494 N300 N330 N115 Jan./Feb. 2014 N483**, Biol 252, N473** N425 N205 April 2014 N202, N497**, N405 N245 May/June 2014 Biol 105, Biol 115 Sept. 2014 Biol 105, Biol 251, N488**, Chem. 150D, N490 N415 N201 N135 Nov. 2014 N494 N300 N330 N115 Jan./Feb. 2015 N483**, Biol 252, N473 N425 N205 April 2015 N202, N497** N245 May/June 2015 Biol 105, Biol 115 Sept. 2015 Biol 251, N488**, Chem. 150D, N490** N415 N201 N135 Nov. 2015 N494 N300 N330 N115 Jan./Feb 2016 N483**, Biol 252, N473** N425 N205 April 2016 N202, N497**, N405 N245 May/June 2016 Biol 105, Biol 115 Sept. 2016 Biol 105, Biol 251, N488**, Chem. 150D, N490** N415 N201 Nov. 2016 N494 N300 N330 Jan./Feb 2017 N483**, Biol 252, N473** N425 April 2017 N202, N497** May/June 2017 Biol 105, Biol 115 Sept. 2017 Biol 251, N488**, Chem. 150D, N490** N415 Nov. 2017 N494 N300 Indicates Prerequisites for all other nursing courses Certificate in Gerontological Nursing - N115, N425, N245 & N488 **N483, N488, N490, N473 & N497 = stand-alone courses Certificate in Continuing Care - N135, N115, N205 & N425 XCHANGE 12