As the Washburn Transformation Experience advisor to the School of Nursing, Louisa Schurig stays very busy.
She's only been working at Washburn for a year and a half, but already she's seeing the benefits the TE experience has on students.
"I believe in the program. I do think it benefits all students and sets them apart," Schurig said. "It can be highlighted on a resume and talking about in an interview. It's a compelling benefit."
This semester, 21 students completed the transformational experience and presented their projects on the day of transformation.
"It's a great forum for presenting what the students have done," Schurig said. "It was pretty amazing what the students have done."
There are mixed opinions about the requirement on Washburn campus as a whole and Schurig said many students come out on the other side assuredly transformed even if they didn't think it would change them when they started.
"I think they go thought with an attitude that they'll just get through it," Schurig said. "But some people come through really changed."
She said there were a couple students this semester who got involved with raising money for cancer research through Relay for Life.
"[They say] they'll be involved for the rest of their lives," Schurig said.
Perusing the projects students presented in April, Schurig said she liked them all.
"They were all pretty unique, whether they studied abroad or did community service or, they were all pretty colorful."
Friday, May 8, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Picnic to mark end of school year for nursing students
A covered dish is the price of admittance to the annual end of year nursing school picnic.
It will be held May 7, 2009 at 6:00 at shelter house one at Lake Shawnee.
"It’s just a nice central location and the shelter houses are nice, it makes it handy because they’re covered," said Sue Modig, the nursing school receptionist. "It’s just kind of an end of the year get together for everybody."
The Student Nurses of Washburn organization will provide the hot dogs and hamburgers. The second semester nursing students have been put in charge of the grilling this year.
"The students and faculty always look to it. It’s just a nice chance to end the year and get together and review the how the year went," Modig said.
The event is open to anyone who wants to come.
"All nursing and pre-nursing students are invited to bring their families and a covered dish," said Breanna Chamroff, the president of the SNOW organization.
It will be held May 7, 2009 at 6:00 at shelter house one at Lake Shawnee.
"It’s just a nice central location and the shelter houses are nice, it makes it handy because they’re covered," said Sue Modig, the nursing school receptionist. "It’s just kind of an end of the year get together for everybody."
The Student Nurses of Washburn organization will provide the hot dogs and hamburgers. The second semester nursing students have been put in charge of the grilling this year.
"The students and faculty always look to it. It’s just a nice chance to end the year and get together and review the how the year went," Modig said.
The event is open to anyone who wants to come.
"All nursing and pre-nursing students are invited to bring their families and a covered dish," said Breanna Chamroff, the president of the SNOW organization.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Nursing seniors to graduate
Students excited to move on and practice the art of nursing will graduate on May 16.
There are two separate ceremonies recognizing graduating seniors. At 3:30 p.m. commencement will take place in Lee Arena in the Petro Allied Health Center. The ceremony is combined with the School of Business, and both undergraduate and master's candidates will be recognized.
At 5:30 the School of Nursing will have a special pinning ceremony recognizing only graduating nursing students at White Concert Hall.
"It's a rite of passage to get your nursing pin. It's a visual verification you have completed your nursing requirements," said Mary Allen, director of student academic support services for The School of Nursing.
Years back, students chose to wear white caps and gowns during commencement. Every year since then students have had a choice between white and black.
"Students wanted to have white robes, they vote on either black or white and most choose white," Allen said.
Both events are open to the public. For more information call 670-1310 or jennifer.bixel@washburn.edu
Friday, April 17, 2009
SNOW organization helps future nurses give back
On Monday, some philanthropic future nurses were offering anyone walking through Petro Allied Health Center a root beer float.
"Essentially what we said was we were fundraising donations and giving out the root beer floats," said Breanna Chamoff, the president of the organization and a senior in the School of Nursing.
SNOW's mission is to help nursing students get involved in the community and to provide information about nursing.
"We try to get our student body involved in the nursing community by bringing in outside speakers, we have had students come talk about the WTE [Washburn transformational experience] so the students know what that entails and how they can get involved in the WTE and nursing," Chamoff said. "We’ve had students come and talk about the study abroad experiences they have."
The organization meets once a month, and considers everyone enrolled in the School of Nursing to be a member, however, in order to vote in organizational elections, they must be registered in advance.
Chamoff encourages pre-nursing students to attend the meetings and to start getting involved.
"I think it’s important for students to be involved in any organization they’re apart of so they have a voice, SNOW s a good organization because it gives students a network for outreach into the community, Chamoff said. "We try to give them connections to local hospitals and people they might need to know in their careers and prove to be beneficial to them, and more then that it’s important to give back to their community."
The next organizational meeting will actually be a potluck picnic held at Lake Shawnee on Thursday, May 7.
"It’s open to all nursing students and pre-nursing student in lieu of the monthly SNOW meeting," Chamoff said.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Nursing Student to Present Poster Projects
Nursing students enrolled in the Leadership in Nursing class will present their semester long projects on Wednesday, May 6 at the Bradbury-Thompson Center.
"The projects showcase what they have made better or easier in the field of medicine," said Sue Modig, the School of Nursing receptionist.
The class, taught by Sue Unruh, is made up of about 70 students and 12 groups will present. Each group chose one way to benefit the healthcare community, and the choices vary each semester.
"One group did a waiting room in the hospital, they painted, fixed it up and made it more kid-friendly," Modig said.
Loretta Winkel, a senior in the School of Nursing took the class last semester. Her group made up an acronym to help kids stay germ-free in school. The acronym was "SNACK," which stood for "Sneeze in a tissue, Not on a friend, Always wash your hands, Cough in your elbow, Keep your drinks to yourself."
Her and her group presented their project at a school inservice so teachers could then use it in their classrooms.
"It was neat to see the teaching tool we designed implemented in the school system," Winkel said. "They were all different colors and were easy for children to read."
The presentations last about 20 minutes each, with all the group members taking turns speaking.
The presentations will start at 12:30.
"The projects showcase what they have made better or easier in the field of medicine," said Sue Modig, the School of Nursing receptionist.
The class, taught by Sue Unruh, is made up of about 70 students and 12 groups will present. Each group chose one way to benefit the healthcare community, and the choices vary each semester.
"One group did a waiting room in the hospital, they painted, fixed it up and made it more kid-friendly," Modig said.
Loretta Winkel, a senior in the School of Nursing took the class last semester. Her group made up an acronym to help kids stay germ-free in school. The acronym was "SNACK," which stood for "Sneeze in a tissue, Not on a friend, Always wash your hands, Cough in your elbow, Keep your drinks to yourself."
Her and her group presented their project at a school inservice so teachers could then use it in their classrooms.
"It was neat to see the teaching tool we designed implemented in the school system," Winkel said. "They were all different colors and were easy for children to read."
The presentations last about 20 minutes each, with all the group members taking turns speaking.
The presentations will start at 12:30.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Nursing students share study abroad experiences
Two Washburn School of Nursing students shared their "North Ireland Adventure" with fellow students on Wednesday.
Kim Beem and Ashley Toft, both seniors, spent four weeks at Queens University in Belfast, during which they completed their psychiatric clinical rotation requirement. They worked in a psychiatric hospital for two weeks and then rotated to various community settings and toured mental health facilities.
They created a PowerPoint presentation to showcase their study abroad experience to fellow students. They began by asking some trivia question about Northern Ireland, which is a separate country from Ireland. They described their stay in Belfast, which included riding a giant ferris wheel, and freezing at night because the radiators in their dorms were turned off and visiting a castle. They took in a Gaelic football game, which they described as "a cross between football, soccer, rugby, volleyball and boxing."
They continued in their presentation by comparing and contrasting American mental health treatment with Northern Irish mental health treatment plans. Through their work at the Mater Psychiatric hospital, they observed multiple wards, but mainly stayed in the 65 years and older wing. One thing they found particularly interesting was that the hospital did not have many private rooms. Patient were mostly kept in a long room divided by curtains. The Northern Irish nurses explained they felt that they could keep better tabs on their patients without walls separating them. In addition, the Northern Irish do not believe in using restraint in patient care, and do not use bed alarms.
After completing their presentation with last thoughts and comments, the two American students gave the floor to two Irish students Emma Sweenie and Leoni Dunne , visiting Washburn from Queens University. They also had a powerpoint presentation, which mainly focused on the structure of the Northern Ireland health care system. The Northern Irish are currently shifting mental health care from inpatient to community based treatment.
Sweenie said what she is most looks forward to in her two weeks in the US is "the combination of meeting new people and seeing the difference in health care systems."
Kim Beem and Ashley Toft, both seniors, spent four weeks at Queens University in Belfast, during which they completed their psychiatric clinical rotation requirement. They worked in a psychiatric hospital for two weeks and then rotated to various community settings and toured mental health facilities.
They created a PowerPoint presentation to showcase their study abroad experience to fellow students. They began by asking some trivia question about Northern Ireland, which is a separate country from Ireland. They described their stay in Belfast, which included riding a giant ferris wheel, and freezing at night because the radiators in their dorms were turned off and visiting a castle. They took in a Gaelic football game, which they described as "a cross between football, soccer, rugby, volleyball and boxing."
They continued in their presentation by comparing and contrasting American mental health treatment with Northern Irish mental health treatment plans. Through their work at the Mater Psychiatric hospital, they observed multiple wards, but mainly stayed in the 65 years and older wing. One thing they found particularly interesting was that the hospital did not have many private rooms. Patient were mostly kept in a long room divided by curtains. The Northern Irish nurses explained they felt that they could keep better tabs on their patients without walls separating them. In addition, the Northern Irish do not believe in using restraint in patient care, and do not use bed alarms.
After completing their presentation with last thoughts and comments, the two American students gave the floor to two Irish students Emma Sweenie and Leoni Dunne , visiting Washburn from Queens University. They also had a powerpoint presentation, which mainly focused on the structure of the Northern Ireland health care system. The Northern Irish are currently shifting mental health care from inpatient to community based treatment.
Sweenie said what she is most looks forward to in her two weeks in the US is "the combination of meeting new people and seeing the difference in health care systems."
Friday, March 6, 2009
Pregnant women needed
Washburn School of Nursing is in need of pregnant women.
The school's maternal/infant course does a "Core Family" project, in which they work with a pregnant woman though prenatal, delivery and postnatal care. The student is matched with a family who will be having a baby during the course of the semester. The family will share their experiences with the student and observes the delivery of the baby.
"The student visits the family before delivery, provides added support
during labor and delivery and then visits at home a few weeks later," said Nora Clark, assistant professor of nursing.
The school is looking for women to participate in the program, who are due between the last week of March and the first week of May.
Interested mothers-to-be can contact Clark at 670-1211 or at nora.clark@washburn.edu.
The school's maternal/infant course does a "Core Family" project, in which they work with a pregnant woman though prenatal, delivery and postnatal care. The student is matched with a family who will be having a baby during the course of the semester. The family will share their experiences with the student and observes the delivery of the baby.
"The student visits the family before delivery, provides added support
during labor and delivery and then visits at home a few weeks later," said Nora Clark, assistant professor of nursing.
The school is looking for women to participate in the program, who are due between the last week of March and the first week of May.
Interested mothers-to-be can contact Clark at 670-1211 or at nora.clark@washburn.edu.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Mobile Health Clinic benefits community, students
The Washburn School of Nursing is not confined to Petro Allied Health Center. In fact, students learn all around town.
The Mobile Health Clinic takes students to 37 different sites around town, giving free health check-ups and health education lessons to citizens at locations like the the Topeka Rescue Mission, the YWCA, and the YMCA. The clinic goes about three or four times a week.
"Its mission is to provide educational experiences to students and to the provide health education and screening in a variety of settings," said Laura Sidlinger, the Mobile Health clinic coordinator. "I think providing the services and health education is key."
Funding for the project was provided in part by the Sunflower Foundation: Health Care for Kansans, a Topeka-based philanthropic organization with the missions to serve as a catalyst for improving the health care of Kansans.
Within the School of Nursing, everyone from first semester students, to those about to graduate utilize the van.
"We've had nothing but positive responses from the students," said Sidlinger. "It helps them see their nursing skills being used beyond the clinical setting."
Sidlinger said if a patient comes in and the screening process indicates a possible health problem, they are immediately referred out to their personal physician or if they don't have one, they are given a recommendation.
"It's just a great resource for Washburn and for the community," said Sidlinger. "We are health education and screening."
Friday, February 20, 2009
School of Nursing to get space expansion
Some much needed space is on the treatment plan for the Washburn School of Nursing.
Whiting Field House, which is attached to Petro Allied Health Center, will add more offices for faculty, as well as a new state of the art simulation laboratory.
"Our nursing office isn't very big and there are offices all over campus," said Kirstin Harding, a junior in her second semester of nursing school. "I think it’s mostly going to benefit our faculty because they’ll have a lot more offices. I think there are a lot of new faculty who don't have offices at all. They're pretty crammed in there."
The new space for offices and classrooms has been funded by grants and donations.
The Whiting Field House renovations are also benefitting the Physical Education department and student athletes, as it will feature new strength and conditioning facilities.
Mary Allen, the Director of Students Services for the School of Nursing said that the new space had a tentative opening planned for the fall semester of 2009. She said the school will be receiving new furniture for the offices and rounding up faculty from offices located all over campus.
"We have been scrambling for space," said Allen.
Harding said she hopes eventually the school will have its own building.
"Our classes are so big, sometimes we have to move to Henderson [Learning Center]," Harding said. "It's not a big deal to walk across campus, but it would be nice for future students and recruitment to have a designated building just for the School of Nursing.
As a senior next year, Harding will benefit from the new simulation lab, in which student practice on dummies which simulate health problems like high blood pressure or seizures.
"It will be nice to practice in completely new facilities," Harding said. “It’s going to be a higher level simulator.”
Whiting Field House, which is attached to Petro Allied Health Center, will add more offices for faculty, as well as a new state of the art simulation laboratory.
"Our nursing office isn't very big and there are offices all over campus," said Kirstin Harding, a junior in her second semester of nursing school. "I think it’s mostly going to benefit our faculty because they’ll have a lot more offices. I think there are a lot of new faculty who don't have offices at all. They're pretty crammed in there."
The new space for offices and classrooms has been funded by grants and donations.
The Whiting Field House renovations are also benefitting the Physical Education department and student athletes, as it will feature new strength and conditioning facilities.
Mary Allen, the Director of Students Services for the School of Nursing said that the new space had a tentative opening planned for the fall semester of 2009. She said the school will be receiving new furniture for the offices and rounding up faculty from offices located all over campus.
"We have been scrambling for space," said Allen.
Harding said she hopes eventually the school will have its own building.
"Our classes are so big, sometimes we have to move to Henderson [Learning Center]," Harding said. "It's not a big deal to walk across campus, but it would be nice for future students and recruitment to have a designated building just for the School of Nursing.
As a senior next year, Harding will benefit from the new simulation lab, in which student practice on dummies which simulate health problems like high blood pressure or seizures.
"It will be nice to practice in completely new facilities," Harding said. “It’s going to be a higher level simulator.”
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Open house to be held for prospective students
Students interested in attending Washburn School of Nursing will have an excellent opportunity to learn more about the program on March 3. The school wil be hosting an open house in Petro Hall. Students and parents are welcome to attend, where they can meet teachers, and pick up borchures and information about the School of Nursing.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Research and Activity
I met with Mary Allen of the Washburn School of Nursing, in her office on Wednesday Feb. 11. The meeting was interesting, but I don't feel like I got enough information.
I emailed Patricia Joyce on the advice of a friend, and so later today I'm going to call her and set up an appointment for this week.
Contacts
Mary Allen
Director of student services, Washburn School of Nursing
670-1533
Kirstin Harding 231 9498 (student)
Laura Sidlinger Mobile Health Unit Director
670 2179
Caren Dick
Community Involvement
670-1447
Director of student services, Washburn School of Nursing
670-1533
Kirstin Harding 231 9498 (student)
Laura Sidlinger Mobile Health Unit Director
670 2179
Caren Dick
Community Involvement
670-1447
Story Ideas
-men in the school of nursing
-school of allied health, what is it?
-new school of allied health grant to get non-traditional student
-how tough is EMT training?
-available scholarships for the school of nursing
-school of nursing flu shots clinic
-school of nursing and the community blood center
-the family core project
-what is the most popular specialty in the school of nursing?
-what is the least popular specialty?
-interview Washburn graduates who are working in the community
-the physical therapy program: how big is the school, how hard is it to get in?
-sports medicine: what exactly constitutes this major, what do people do when they graduate?
-Practicums: which are the most popular? how do students go about picking their specialties?
-Volunteer work: students have to do some work at community centers around town as a requirement. How does this benefit their education?
-The 2+2 plan. I don't know much about it and I'm sure others don't either.
-Nurses who are planning on going and doing interesting things with their education, like joining the peace corp or the military.
-The Rogerian Conceptual System, the Science of Unitary Human Beings, was selected as the organizing framework for the original nursing curriculum. How many other school use it across the nation? How do students benefit from the curriculum as opposed to others?
-The Nursing shortage, is it on the mend? Is the demand for nurses still extremely high? How does the job market look for graduating seniors?
-The new labs that will be available in the fall, what exactly will be new and different and how will this improve education?
-Nursing Electives: what are the most popular ones? What do students seem to be interested in?
-Interview some high school kids who are interested in Washburn school of nursing. Where else are they considering? Why are they interested in Washburn?
-profile extraordinary students in the school of nursing.
-profile extraordinary faculty in the school of nursing.
-school of allied health, what is it?
-new school of allied health grant to get non-traditional student
-how tough is EMT training?
-available scholarships for the school of nursing
-school of nursing flu shots clinic
-school of nursing and the community blood center
-the family core project
-what is the most popular specialty in the school of nursing?
-what is the least popular specialty?
-interview Washburn graduates who are working in the community
-the physical therapy program: how big is the school, how hard is it to get in?
-sports medicine: what exactly constitutes this major, what do people do when they graduate?
-Practicums: which are the most popular? how do students go about picking their specialties?
-Volunteer work: students have to do some work at community centers around town as a requirement. How does this benefit their education?
-The 2+2 plan. I don't know much about it and I'm sure others don't either.
-Nurses who are planning on going and doing interesting things with their education, like joining the peace corp or the military.
-The Rogerian Conceptual System, the Science of Unitary Human Beings, was selected as the organizing framework for the original nursing curriculum. How many other school use it across the nation? How do students benefit from the curriculum as opposed to others?
-The Nursing shortage, is it on the mend? Is the demand for nurses still extremely high? How does the job market look for graduating seniors?
-The new labs that will be available in the fall, what exactly will be new and different and how will this improve education?
-Nursing Electives: what are the most popular ones? What do students seem to be interested in?
-Interview some high school kids who are interested in Washburn school of nursing. Where else are they considering? Why are they interested in Washburn?
-profile extraordinary students in the school of nursing.
-profile extraordinary faculty in the school of nursing.
-Professional nursing leaders is a class in which students work on a project for change in their community that enhances healthcare education. They use posters and presentations.
-the exchange program with Northern Ireland. Students have the opportunity to go to northern ireland to complete their psychiatric rotation.
-students are also going to Finland and keep up with work online.
-Master's program has about fifty students
-student nurses of Washburn SNOW--contact Barb Stevenson
- Communty caring club host speakers and other events--contact Patricia Joyce.
-Students will be participating in Aperion and will display their seniors honors projects having to do with nursing
Dr. Hornberger is stepping down from her position as the dean of the school of nursing. She plans to take sabattical during the fall and in the spring semester come back as a faculty member. The search committee has not yet started the process of starting to find her replacement. Why are they dragging their feet? Another possibility is to highlight the things that have changed since Dr. Hornberger came on as dean.
In the last five years or so, the enrollment has risen by 25% and acceptance into the school is much more competitive. What is the reason behind this trend? How has the school administration kept up with the additional work without hiring more staff?
Briefs:
Open house for prospective students will be held March 3rd.
What does the mobile health unit van do? Where do they go? How does it benefit the community?
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