SJDC ADN Class of Spring 2011

SNA Meeting February 14th @ 7:30am in Locke 314

2011-02-10T14:24:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

This coming Monday, February 14th at 7:30 in Locke – 314 is a SNA Meeting. Our guest speaker is going to be Jill Michaelson BSN, RN who is the Hurst representative. She will be providing a Hurst NCLEX Information Session. This is a great time and opportunity to see what Hurst NCLEX Review will be like. The SNA meeting is open to all those who want to attend. As always breakfast will be provided.

Spring 2011 Graduating class Hurst Live NCLEX Review Session has been set up for June 1st – June 4th. You can sign up at: http://www.hurstreview.com/attend_a_lecture.php?id=3141

**** This is open for anybody who wants to attend. ****

We all look forward into seeing you there!

Upcoming Guest Speakers for SNA Meetings

2011-02-10T14:23:00.000-08:00

Student Nurses Association Meetings for
Spring 2011 Semester

February 14 - Committee members, current events. Guest Speaker: Jillian Michaelson, RN, BSN.She will provide the Hurst NCLEX Information Session. Spring 2011 Graduating class Hurst Live NCLEX Review Session has been set up for June 1st – June 4th. You can sign up at: http://www.hurstreview.com/attend_a_lecture.php?id=3141

March 21 – Committee members update, current events. Guest Speaker: Daisha Hicks, will provide a Kaplan NCLEX Information Strategy Seminar. **Kaplan will give away one “free full course scholarship” to one lucky student. That is a $500 value! Must be present to win give away.

April 11 – Nominations for Fall 2011 Board Member Officer position, Fourth semester Leadership Award Nominations, committee members update, current events. Guest Speaker: Cheri Wells, RNC, MSN, Nursing Faculty at SJDC. Ms. Wells will be speaking about narrative charting and documentation.
**Give away one “FREE” gently used HP-IPAQ 211 Enterprise Handheld PDA to one lucky New SNA member or Renewing SNA member.

** Sign up for membership at https://nsnamembership.org/ and bring a copy of your membership ID. Must be present to win give away. **

May 9– Final SNA Meeting: Election Ballot for nomination candidates. Announce the New Fall 2011 Board Member Officers. Guest Speaker: Dr. Peggy Hodge, Chair Department of Nursing of CSU, Stanislaus on the RN to BSN degree program.

All SNA Meetings are held at 7:30 – 8:30am
in Locke-314
** FREE BREAKFAST SERVED**

2011-01-22T14:50:00.001-08:00

"Nathan Watkins" previous ADN graduate student ~ Recipient of the Mary Randall Award, Fall 2010 is coming to talk this Monday, Jan 24th at 7:30am in Locke - 314 at the SNA meeting. He will be sharing studying tips, surviving nursing school, his recent accomplishment during nursing school and after graduation and why it is important to join the SNA, taking the NCLEX and what NCLEX Review he used.

SNA Meeting Jan 24th at 7:30am in Locke- 314

2011-01-22T10:51:00.000-08:00

The Student Nurses Association (SNA) will be having their first SNA meeting this coming January 24th at 7:30am – 9am in Locke – 314. Come earlier and get a great parking spot before class beings and enjoy a nice cup of coffee and refreshments we will be serving. Our first guest speaker will be Ginger Manss R.N., MSN, AOCN from St. Joseph’s Hospital; Ginger Manss is our Regional Director for the National Students Nurses Association (NSNA). She will be sharing to what the benefits to joining the NSNA along with the upcoming National Convention taking place this year in October.

*** All SNA members or new SNA members in attendance will receive “Free Sweatshirts” (limited on sizes). We hope to see you all there!

Future SNA meetings will be held one Monday per month at 7:30 AM in Locke- 314

-January 24th

-February 14th

-March 21st

-April 11th

-May 9th

Upcoming SNA on Dec 6th

2010-12-05T11:48:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. We're down to the final days of the semester. We are also having our last SNA meeting of the semester at 1PM in Locke 313. For this meeting, we have Nancy Ryan from Grand Canyon University. Are you interested in possibly going from RN to BSN while taking classes at home? GCU offers a online baccalaureate nursing program. If taking online classes even peaks your interest at all, then you should attend this meeting. For more information on Grand Canyon University check http://www.gcu.edu/.

Last meeting, we had nominations for officers and each ran unopposed.

Congratulations to the new officers for Spring 2011:

Anna Gonzales: President
Jody Sytten: Vice President
Paula Thomson: Treasurer
Clair Giedt: Secretary
Tanya Daniel: President-Elect

Being the last meeting and it getting close to the holidays, we'll also have a bunch of treats and food for everyone to snack on. Please join us as we try to end 2010 with a bang. It was great working with all of you this year. Thank you and good luck to everyone as you progress in your nursing careers.

-AJ Arriola
SNA President, Fall 2010

Christmas Toy Drive

2010-12-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

The SJDC Student Nurses Association’s
Community Health Committee Presents:

Toy and Book Drive
November 29th – December 10th

In Support of: Family Ties

Please bring your new toys and books for infants and children up to the age of 6 years.

Please bring donations to:
The Nursing and Health Sciences Division Office, Locke 203
Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM

If you have any questions please contact
Susan Galyon at sgalyon284@students.deltacollege.edu or
Jody Sytten at jsytten317@students.deltacollege.edu

Family Ties Halloween Event: Oct. 25, 2010

2010-10-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

SNA's Community Health Committee held a Halloween event at Family Ties. The moms made Halloween picture frames (they are SO creative!) and enjoyed some candy. Fun hats, treat bags, and tons of candy were given to the children. Everyone had a wonderful time and they were very, very grateful. Here are a couple of pictures from the event, including their lovely creations!

Winter Clothing Collection Success!!

2010-10-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who donated to SNA's Winter Clothing Collection! It was a huge success and County Mental Health's Inpatient was very grateful. Give yourselves a pat on the back!

Winter Clothing Collection

2010-09-12T13:44:00.000-07:00

The SJDC Student Nurses Association’s
Community Health Committee Presents:

Winter Clothing Collection
September 13 - October 15

In Support of: County Mental Health

Please bring your new or gently used items such as:

Warm jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts for men and women
Adult mittens, gloves, socks
Travel size grooming supplies, toothbrushes, toothpaste
Deodorant

Please bring donations to:
The Nursing and Health Sciences Division Office, Locke 203
Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM

If you have any questions please contact
Susan Galyon at sgalyon284@students.deltacollege.edu or
Jody Sytten at jsytten317@students.deltacollege.edu

Free NCLEX App

2010-08-31T17:53:00.000-07:00

Kaplan NCLEX-RN® Prep The Apple App Store and Kaplan Publishing free eBooks offer has been extended for one more week. Now through next Monday, September 6, students can find and download a multitude of valuable Kaplan test prep guides, study aids, and related titles, for free on the iBookstore. Remember you must have the iPhone 4, iPad, or the iPod Touch in order to download.

* You have to go into the App Store on your phone and type in "iBooks" it should locate the "iBooks" app which you can then download. Then type NCLEX RN 2010 - 2011 edition books.

Here is your Personal Invitation to the 2010 CNSA Convention

2010-08-25T16:42:00.000-07:00

The California Nursing Students' Association Proudly Presents:

The Many Hats of Nursing: A Wonderland of Opportunity

October 15-17, 2010

Ontario Convention Center

Don't be late! Don't be late! This is a very important date...

The 2010 CNSA Convention promises to be a wonderland of adventure, where knowledge, skills and relationships flourish. Our tea party includes nursing icons from across the country. Rebecca Patton, 2006-2010 President of the American Nurses Association, will share her journey through the looking glass of health care reform. Dr. Courtney Lyder, Dean at UCLA School of Nursing, will describe how to have your cake and eat it too, as he helps you shape your nursing career to ensure success. There will also be breakout sessions featuring a wide variety of topics

The 2009-2010 CNSA Board of Directors and Convention Committee invite you to join them in Ontario for this year's CNSA Convention. Don't be mad as a hatter! Plan to attend the 2010 CNSA Convention and learn about the wonderland of opportunities in nursing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When
Friday, October 15, 2010 8:00 AM -
Sunday, October 17, 2010 1:00 PM

Where
Ontario Convention Center
Ontario, CA

FEE
View Event Fees

View Event Summary

View Event Agenda

RSVP
Sunday, October 10, 2010

Please register at:

http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?i=3c6b5aa9-665d-4a8e-95dd-6e9e2bc5402a

Fraudulent Nursing School Closed

2010-08-25T16:38:00.001-07:00

BOARD OF REGISTERED NURSING INVESTIGATION LEADS TO CLOSURE OF PHONY NURSING SCHOOL, $500,000 IN RESTITUTION
Students paid $20,000 for classes that led to worthless degrees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Russ Heimerich (916) 574-8171SACRAMENTO –An investigation by the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) has led to the closure of a phony nursing school in Los Angeles.

RN Learning Center charged students $20,000 for classes that the school said would make them eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination which qualifies individuals to become licensed nurses. However, students’ transcripts were declared fraudulent and they were ineligible to take the exam.

BRN began an investigation in 2007, and the Attorney General’s Office today announced a settlement negotiated on behalf of BRN. The settlement requires the school to close, and its owner, Junelou Chalico Enterina to pay $500,000 in restitution and never open a nursing school again

“This kind of fraud is absolutely unacceptable,” said Department of Consumer Affairs Director Brian Stiger. “Ripping off people who not only want to improve their lives but to help others is singularly distasteful.”

“The Board ordered this school to close three years ago, yet it kept right on operating and deceiving students,” said BRN Acting Executive Officer Louise Bailey. “We are very glad to see that it has finally been made to stop committing fraud against students and has been forced to refund students’ tuition.”

BRN has already taken disciplinary action against Maria Khatib and Lydia Sebastian, who were associated with the school, and has posted a warning to students on its Web site regarding unaccredited schools.

Individuals who were students at RN Learning Center or any school affiliated with it are urged to contact the California Attorney General’s Office at (213) 897-2000.

http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/press_releases/2010/0811_brn.shtml

http://ag.ca.gov/newsalerts/release.php?id=1975

Kaplan is offering a " FREE" ~ Success in Nursing School Seminar. You must register for this free event.

2010-08-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

If interested you must register for this free event at the link below. Don't miss out on this really great opportunity.

http://www.kaptest.com/Nursing_Domestic/NCLEX-RN/View-Kaplan-Programs/Comprehensive-Courses/nclex-review-live-online.html

A Nursing School Take Home Message

2010-07-31T21:39:00.000-07:00

July 8, 2010 · Category: President's Message

Author: Angela Schwab, SN, BSN, CNSA President 2009-2010, President@cnsa.org

It seems obvious that three years of Nursing School would be an educational experience. As students, we are inundated with information from how to change a bed to saving a life. It has been over a month since I graduated. The majority of that time was spent studying for my NCLEX, taking practice exams and reviewing content. In the process, I realized just how much information is crammed into a nurse’s education. During a recent conversation with a good friend, I was asked “so what is the take away message?” That question got me thinking, aside from all of the textbook and clinical knowledge that I will take with me into my nursing practice, what has nursing school taught me? I was able to narrow it down to the top ten things I learned in nursing school.
10. Complaining about something does not provide a solution. It is easy to get caught up in negative conversations, but in order to make a difference, it is important to evaluate and discuss how things can be done differently to provide better outcomes.

9. We all cry sometimes. Nursing school takes physical, mental and emotional stamina. Sometimes a good cry helps relieve the stress.

8. Laughter really is good medicine. A good cry helps, but laughter makes it better. Sometimes all you can do is a take step back and laugh. Having a sense of humor can make all the difference.

7. Mistakes are always opportunities for learning. As nurses there is little room for mistakes. When they do happen learn from them. Self loathing will not make up for forgetting to have the information an MD asked for. Remembering that they asked for it before will prepare you for the next time.

6. CNAs are phenomenal people. They literally do the dirty work in the hospital, have a heavier patient load, and get paid a lot less; yet they continue to come back for more. Nurses and nursing students should remember to show them appreciation. Our job would be so much harder without them.

5. Every time you walk into a clinical site you are on a potential job interview. When nursing students are at clinical, dress, initiative, and work ethic are noticed by the staff. When students leave, that message gets passed along and will make a difference when it is time to apply for a job.

4. Most people like to share their life experiences they just need someone to listen. It is amazing how much a nursing student can learn about someone by just taking a few minutes to listen.

3. Getting involved in nursing organizations is essential. Nursing makes up the majority of the healthcare workforce, but our voice is not as strong as it could be. Getting involved in nursing organizations is the only way to unify our voice and make it as strong as it should be.

2. Acknowledgement and appreciation are not always given, when it is enjoy it. Nursing school involves a lot of work and dedication. Between exams, papers, care plans and clinical days students are given a great deal of responsibility and little recognition. Take the time to celebrate a good grade, praise from an instructor, preceptor or peer, or a simple thank you from a patient or family member.

1. There is still so much that I have to learn. It is impossible to know everything. Everyday offers learning opportunities. Reference books are on nursing units for a reason.

Nursing school was an amazing journey. It is easier to appreciate all the ways it has enhanced my life now that I am finished and have my RN. Everyone will have a different take away message from their nursing school experience. Thank you for allowing me to share mine with you.

Angela Schwab RN, BSN, CNSA President

Your Image and Landing Your First Job

2010-07-31T21:26:00.001-07:00

July 20, 2010 · Category: Message

Author: Kimberly Vaughan, SN, BSN, CNSA Image of Nursing Committee Chair, iondir@cnsa.org

During Joanne Kingsbury’s keynote address at the June 12, 2010 Council of Chapter Representatives Meeting about how to land your first job, many times I caught myself nodding my head in agreement because she talked about numerous topics that correlate to the image of nursing.
Some of the key points of her talk were: your appearance, accomplishments/weaknesses, resume, and the interview. What stood out to me the most was appearance. Appearance is very important when it comes to landing any job, not just a job in the nursing profession.

The way you dress and the way you present yourself helps your interviewers (and hopefully future employers) judge what kind of employee you might be. If you dress appropriately and professionally, then hopefully they will see you that way. If you dress or look sloppy, not put together, or come off as frantic and rushed then they may get the perception that you will reflect the same trend in your work ethics.

First impressions and the handshake are crucial in guiding the rest of the interview. Present yourself, greet your interviewers and anyone else in the room and give them a firm, confident handshake while looking them in the eye. This initial presentation sets the baseline of the interview. When walking into an interview, always make sure you are holding your resume in your left hand so your right hand is free. Also, do not bring in coffee, food, or chew gum! These may seem like common sense, but Kingsbury says that interviewers see it all the time.

In these harsh economic times everyone keeps hearing how difficult it is to get a job as a nurse, let alone as a new graduate from a nursing program searching for your first job. While it may be true that the job market is tight out there, there are always things that you can do on your part to present yourself as the competent, and well-educated students and future nurses that you are. Remember to assess the image you are portraying to your future employers before you go into an interview. Make sure it is a positive image of not only you, but of the nursing profession as a whole. Good luck searching for that first job! You will do great!

Kimberly Vaughan
Ad-Hoc Image of Nursing Committee Chair

Dancing in the Rain

2010-07-31T21:21:00.000-07:00

July 8, 2010 · Category: Editorial

Author: Anna Viet, SN, BSN, CNSA Communications Director, 2009-2010, conventiondirector@cnsa.org

When looking for inspiration one tends to come across cliché quotes such as “As long as you learn from your mistakes”, “Whatever doesn’t kill you will make you stronger”, and “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. We all know that nursing school is one of the toughest things that some of us had to endure or are still undergoing. Nursing is such a unique profession and opportunity that a variety of people take on. Each nursing student must not only carry the weight of the wealth of knowledge that we are expected to absorb, but in addition, some juggle having a family to provide for, ending and beginning new relationships, or struggle simply from the “growing pains” of finding oneself and maturing.

Anyone that has graduated from nursing school will give a nursing student the same assurance that everything will be okay and that “we will get through it” just has they have. Knowing this piece of wisdom however does not always make taking a final any easier. Instead of constantly anticipating our graduation, maybe it would be more productive to stop for a moment to enjoy what we are going through.

Enjoy the exams because they allow you to bond and foster friendships through study groups. Enjoy the clinical rotations and preceptorships because one day we may have students eager to learn from us. Enjoy the long hours because you have made a difference in someone’s life. Enjoy nursing school and summers off, because when we graduate, most of us will be spending the majority of the rest of our lives in a hospital. Everything happens for a reason we just have to embrace it and take each challenge, each hardship, and each bump in the road one day at a time. I leave you all with one final quote that really stood out to me: “Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass… it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” –anonymous

2010-07-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

Dameron Hospital is offering another EKG Class on Aug 9 & 10th if you missed the last one. The cost is $40, plus you will get a certificate. You can register in the Education Office (which is across the street from Dameron hospital). It is a great class to refresh your knowledge or learn for the very 1st time.

New iphone ATI NCLEX App

2010-05-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

Check out the new RN NCLEX iphone or ipod touch app. It's only $19.99. Love ♥ the new app!! Now you can study just about anywhere without carrying your books.
http://www.atitesting.com/Solutions/PostGraduation/RNNCLEXPrepiPhoneApp.aspx

Hurst Review Session

2010-05-21T13:09:00.000-07:00

Hurst review is now taking reservations for a review session at Delta. You can register at http://www.hurstreview.com/. The review session will be from June 14, 2010 thru June 17, 2010. Hope to see you all there!

Critical Care Week at SJGH

2010-05-20T17:05:00.000-07:00

This event is open to the general public and we encourage all nursing student to come out and check it out. Below please find the schedule of events.

Here is the agenda for Critical Care Week. The ICU is located on the 2nd floor at San Joaquin General Hospital.

Monday, May 24 0600-1000 Breakfast hosted by the NOC shift
Room 2162

1000-1100 "Bugs and Drugs" Derek Lee PharmD.
Room 2162

Tuesday, May 25 1400-1500 "Reading X-rays" T. Singh M.D.
ICU conference room

1500-1700 Ice Cream Social hosted by DAY shift
Room TBA

Wednesday, May 26 1000-1100 "Know your Stroke Scale" Marta Bognat RN
Room 2162

1100-1400 Meet and Greet your Critical Care Team
ICU tours

Thursday, May 27 1000-1100 "Basic Ventilator Modes"Orlando Aspurias CRT
Room 2162

Friday, May 28 1000-1100 " Topic TBA" Barbara Stokes RN
Room 2162

1330 Raffle Drawing in the ICU

1400-1500 "Why we use the drips we do"Teresa Baker RN

ATI Fees

2010-05-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

Effective Fall 2010, all nursing students will be responsible for paying their ATI fees each semester enrolled in the ADN program.

Julie Lang will be sending you details on how much you will need to pay and the deadline for payment.

Kim Thompson, MS
Nursing Student Success Program Coordinator
San Joaquin Delta College
209.954.5425, Locke 308

2010 CNSA Annual Convention

2010-05-20T16:56:00.000-07:00

2010 CNSA Annual Convention

October 15 - 17

Marriott Hotel and Conference Center
2000 East Convention Center Way
Ontario, Ca 91764Phone: 909.937.3000
Fax: 909.937.3080
http://www.cnsa.org/events/cnsa-convention/

COCR SUMMER 2010

2010-05-20T16:51:00.000-07:00

http://www.cnsa.org/

ALL prenursing, nursing students, and faculty advisors are invited to our annual summer Council of Chapter Representative Meeting for a day long networking, breakout sessions, speakers, and chapter reporting.

COCR SUMMER 2010

Day: June 12, 2010
Time: 0800-1430 hrs
Venue: Seton Medical Center
1900 Sullivan Ave, Daly City, 94015

Cost: Free

What’s in for my chapter/me? Chapter reporting, Networking, Breakout sessions, Motivational Speakers, , Fundraising ideas.
Breakfast and Lunch will be served

For more information contact: Yovannah Chavez – Co-Chair North @ cocrnorth@cnsa.org

May 17th Meeting Minutes Posted

2010-05-20T15:42:00.000-07:00

May 17th Student Nurses Association Meeting Minutes up on the SNA blog website http://sjdcsna.blogspot.com. Please check them out.

Any Singers Out There?

2010-05-17T17:01:00.000-07:00

Please come out for The Gospel Center Rescue Mission's "Sing For Their Supper" Fundraiser At The Farmer's Market

The Downtown Stockton Alliance will host the Gospel Center Rescue Mission "Sing For THEIR Supper" Karaoke Fundraiser as part of the Farmer's Market Entertainment on Friday, June 11, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Dean DeCarli Waterfront Square in Downtown Stockton.

If you are unable to attend, you may still make a pledge and designate(or dedicate) your performance opportunity to someone in attendance at the event. For business sponsorship opportunities, please click here. For more information please call (209) 320-2329 or e-mail events@gcrms.org.

For the link to a participant form, pledge form, and a script to email family and friends for support, please visit http://www.gcrms.org/events.htm

Upcoming SNA Meeting

2010-05-14T21:34:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone, this is just a reminder that there will be an SNA meeting this coming Monday, 5/17 at 1pm in the Skills Lab, Locke 229. There will be food, elections for the officers for the coming year,and two guest speakers. One speaker will be Ginger Manss from St.Joseph's talking about membership in the NSNA, and the other will be recent graduate Sherri Schmidt talking about looking for jobs after graduation. Hope to see you there!

-- Julie Lang

Health Plan of San Joaquin Health Fair

2010-05-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

Making a difference one step at a time.

Hurt Review

2010-05-13T06:14:00.000-07:00

We need to turn in the List of names to Hurst. The date is tentative for early June, like first week. If we get enough sign-ups (we need 20) it will be held at Delta. The fee is $350 for four days of review of all the core material you will need to know for the NCLEX. It is $50 to reserve your spot, paid online. The balance will be due on the first day of the review. If anyone has any questions please feel free to call me with any question. It sounds like a great program. Also, you can take the review as many times as you want up to two years after graduation. Also, they have a money back guarantee. If you fail the NCLEX, they will refund your money! You can't beat that!

Thanks Everyone,
Monica Richardson
monicer100@hotmail.com

Uniform Fittings

2010-05-13T05:45:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,

I just wanted to let you know that the fitting times are as scheduled:

May 13
May 14
May 17
May 20
May 21

from 8:00 to 12:00 in Locke 228. These are the only times available to try on the new scrubs. If you are unable to attend you will have order online without the ability to try-on first.

Thank you
Julie

Volunteering: May 6th and 7th, 2010

2010-05-08T22:07:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Here are some pictures from the SNA volunteer events last week. First, we served dinner at the Gospel Center Rescue Mission. Don't we look pretty in our hair nets?

Second, we organized a Mother's Day craft for the ladies at Family Ties and their children to do together. They had so much fun! Here's a picture of our group with one of the counselors from Recovery House:

A huge THANK YOU to all those who came out! We appreciate your time, especially as the semester is coming to a close.

Lodi Memorial Fun Run!!

2010-04-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Here is a great event for those who need a little inspiration to get moving, especially as Summer is right around the corner! The LMH Foundation is putting on an exciting event where you can choose the level (and distance) that you would like to walk along with health screenings!

The "Walk for the Health of It" is held the second Saturday in May. Over one-million dollars have been raised to purchase such items as treadmills for our West Fitness Center, Fetal Monitors for OB, EKG Units for Cardiopulmonary and to provide scholarships for our Adult Day Care program.

The "Walk" includes a 5K timed walk, a 5K poker walk, a one-mile Walk & Roll for wheelchairs and those with strollers. In 2008 a 5K timed run was added along with a one mile "Fun Run" for students. Event highlights include awards, health fair, entertainment, and healthy snacks.

Here is a link to the brochure along with how to register!
http://www.lmhfoundation.org/Walk_Brochure_2010.pdf

2010-04-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

Difficulty of NCLEX to be Increased

By Janet Boivin, RN

Monday March 15, 2010
------------------------------------------------------------------

The first graduate nurses who take the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs starting on April 1 will encounter a test that is more difficult to pass than the one students took three years ago.

“Nursing practice is more difficult today than it was in 2007,” says Casey Marks, chief operating officer of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, based in Chicago. “The bar has been raised, and, quite simply, the exam is harder. It’s projected that fewer students will pass on the first attempt.”

The NCSBN in December raised the passing standards for the national licensure examination after an analysis of the basic knowledge and skills new nurses need to practice safely. Since the last analysis in 2007, healthcare has become even more complex and sophisticated, requiring new nurses to have a greater baseline nursing knowledge and critical thinking skills.

“Nursing is a dynamic, continually evolving discipline that employs critical thinking to integrate increasingly complex knowledge, skills, technologies and client care activities into evidence-based nursing practice,” according to the NCSBN 2010 NCLEX Test Plan.

Raising the Bar
In 1989, the NCSBN decided to evaluate the NCLEX passing standard every three years. Since then, the passing standard has only been increased and never made easier, a reflection of nursing practice itself.

“The NCSBN doesn’t drive practice,” says Marks. “We’re driven by practice; we reflect practice.”

Marks compares the new standards to a track-and-field runner jumping hurdles. A runner may successfully clear a hurdle 50% of the time. But if the hurdle is raised, the runner will not clear the bar as frequently.

But in a few years, the pass rate will rebound, as it has done in the past, she says. “We are looking at more capable candidates. We have no interest in seeing people fail.”

The practice analysis by the NCSBN included a nine-member expert panel and a survey that asked 12,000 newly licensed nurses about the frequency and importance of performing 15 nursing care activities, according to the 2010 NCLEX-RN Test plan. These activities were then analyzed in relation to the frequency of performance, impact on maintaining client safety and client care settings where the activities are performed.

For graduating nursing students, there is no magic formula for passing the national licensure examination, Marks says. Nursing students need to have mastered their school of nursing’s academic and clinical content, be well rounded, and understand how the NCLEX works, Marks says.

“There is no secret,” he says. “Trust yourself and your knowledge.”

Schools Follow Suit
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing, which represents the U.S.’s baccalaureate and higher-degree nursing education programs, typically notifies its members of the raising of the test standards and how they have changed, says Geraldine Bednash, RN, PhD, FAAN, chief executive officer and executive director. However, the announcement of the new standards was made too late for schools of nursing to revise their curricula, she says.

“We know that when passing standards are changed, there tends to be a temporary dip in the pass rates,” she says.

The declines are temporary as schools adjust their curricula, if necessary, and focus on the areas that the NCBSN has emphasized in its new standards. The temporary dip should not affect nursing schools’ accreditation, she adds.

The AACN encourages nursing students to take the NCLEX as soon as possible after graduating when the knowledge they gained in school is still fresh in their minds. “The sooner they take the exam, the more successful they will be,” she says.

Kaplan Nursing test preparation services reviews its test prep course every three years based on how the NCSBN decides to change the exam. “We review our questions to determine if the questions discriminate at a higher level and meet the needs of the revised NCLEX-RN test plan,” says Barbara Irwin, RN, BSN, director of nursing for Kaplan Nursing. The new standards will require students to be prepared to answer higher level questions that require more analysis. For example, a question might describe several patients and ask who the nurse should see first. The student might say all of them, which is not necessarily wrong, but the correct response would be that the most acute patient needs to be seen first, Irwin says.

Other changes that will take place on the NCLEX in April include increased emphasis on the management of care subcategory, Irwin says. The NCSBN defines management of care as providing and directing nursing care that enhances the care delivery setting to protect clients, family/significant others and healthcare personnel.

The test will reduce emphasis on the subcategory of reduction of risk potential, defined as reducing the likelihood that clients will develop complications or health problems related to existing conditions, treatments or procedures.

Janet Boivin, RN, is a contributing writer for Nurse.com.

http://news.nurse.com/article/20100315/NATIONAL01/103150001/-1/frontpage

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© Copyright 2010 Gannett Healthcare Group

SNA Spring Cleaning Collection!

2010-03-30T10:13:00.000-07:00

As the weather gets warmer, it's a great time to prepare for summer with a good Spring Cleaning! Even better? Give those gently used items a chance to make a difference in someone's life. Thank you for your generosity!

Download/View Full sized fliers HERE.

March 15th Meeting Minutes Posted

2010-03-21T23:01:00.000-07:00

March 15th Student Nurses Association Meeting Minutes up on the SNA blog website http://sjdcsna.blogspot.com/ . Please check them out.

RN Lobby Days in Sacramento April 19th - 20th..

2010-03-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

RN Lobby Days by Danielle Lawson and CNSA

Would you like to learn about how nurses and student nurses can impact the legislative process in California?

Attend the 2010
ANA/California RN Lobby
Days on April 19th and 2oth in
Sacramento!

What happens at ANA/California RN Lobby Days? RN Lobby Days is an annual conference offered by ANA/California that offers presentations and workshops on how the California legislative process works, on the intricacies of state politics, on
how we can support the nursing agenda, and much more! The 2010 RN Lobby Days will include discussions of the following topics important to ANA/California (and to all nursing students!): Increased salary for faculty, Faculty shortages issues, Loan repayment for students at state hospitals, Issues directly dealing with nursing specialties (critical care, med/surg, OB, etc.) Student nurses may register at http://www.cnsa.org/events.html (information provided by http://www.cnsa.org/documents/RN_Lobby_Days_blurb[1].doc). You can register at http://www.anacalifornia.org/.

"100 Reasons to Become a Nurse"

2010-03-19T07:29:00.001-07:00

Becoming a nurse is a great decision for anyone interested in the field of medicine as it can be a rewarding career, both personally and financially. If you're thinking about enrolling in nursing school, check out our list of 100 great reasons to become a nurse.

Altruism Becoming a nurse means that you can feel good about what you do.

1.You want to make a positive contribution: You care about your fellow man, and want to make a positive impact on peoples' lives.
2.Do something that matters: As a nurse, your work matters to your patients and their families.
3.You can save someone's life: As a nurse, you may have the opportunity to save someone's life.
4.You want to take away pain and suffering: Become a nurse to help stop the pain and suffering of others.
5.You'll bring hope: You can be a giver of hope to your patients.
6.See miracles: You can see miracles happen every day in nursing.
7.You can uplift morale: As a nurse, you'll be able to improve the morale of patients and their families.
Education Here we'll take a look at the educational perks of nursing.

8.It's easy to get started: Registered nurses can get started with a 2 year associate's degree and licensing exams.
9.You'll be able to spot problems: Even in your daily life outside of work, you can see problems in bacteria, infections, and more.
10.Completing a bachelor’s degree offers even more: For better pay and hiring opportunities, it's easy to complete additional education for a BSN.
11.You can help family and friends: As a nurse, you'll be able to help support the people you care about in their health.
12.Now is a good time to go to school: It's a great time to further your education with a nursing degree.
13.You'll be more aware of your own health: Studying and working in healthcare can help you better focus on your own health.
Rewards These are some of the rewards that come along with nursing.

14.Seeing patients cured: The reward of seeing someone return to good health is a great reason to become a nurse.
15.You can be proud of your work: Nursing is a career that you can take pride in.
16.You'll do good deeds for a living: When your job is helping people, you will do good for a living.
17.You will value life more than ever: Becoming a nurse will help you better understand the value of life.
18.Hugs: One of the perks of working as a nurse? Free hugs from patients and their families.
19.Changing people's lives: Become a nurse for the satisfaction of changing people's lives.
20.Personal growth: Nurses often experience strong personal growth and satisfaction.
21.Respect: Nurses are well-respected in society.
22.Medical TV is more exciting: When you live what other people only watch, medical TV shows are more interesting.
23.Free consultations: When you work with doctors, much of your medical advice is free.
24.You may learn how to decipher doctor handwriting: As a nurse, you just might earn a skill that others don't have-the ability to read what doctors write.
25.Free lunch: Often, pharmaceutical reps bring in free lunches for doctors and nurses.
26.Self esteem: Working as a nurse, you can feel good about yourself knowing that you're helping people.
27.You'll get satisfaction from stopping suffering: When your patients recover, you'll enjoy seeing their suffering reduced.
28.You can quickly earn vacation time: When working long hours at a time, you'll be able to earn vacation days quickly.
29.You will be appreciated: Although not all patients will recognize your importance, many will be very appreciative of your hard work.
Practical These are some of the very practical rewards you'll get from nursing.

30.Benefits: Many nursing jobs come with great medical and dental benefits.
31.Free housing: Many travel nurses are given free housing.
32.Retirement: You'll generally find nursing positions with retirement savings plans.
33.Bonuses: Many nursing positions come with sign on bonuses and special pay for taking on certain positions.
34.Overtime: You can be paid well for time worked over your regular hours.
35.Incentives: Many employers offer sign on bonuses, tuition reimbursement, and more.
36.You can take days off: When you work long hours, it's easy to create a schedule where you have a number of off days grouped together.
37.Life insurance: You'll generally find life insurance as a part of a nursing benefits package.
38.You can have weekdays off: With a nurse's schedule, you may often end up with weekdays off to run your errands.
Career Here you can examine some of the great things about a career in nursing.

39.You'll always have a job: There's always a place for nurses to work, so nursing will give you a guaranteed job.
40.You can work anywhere: Medical professionals are needed everywhere, so you can work wherever you'd like.
41.Job satisfaction: Job satisfaction among nurses is very high.
42.Nursing is recession proof: Although markets can fluctuate, people will always get sick.
43.There's good pay: Even new nurses will earn a generous paycheck, and those who fill shortages can earn even more.
44.You'll have a flexible schedule: You can create a flexible schedule with a variety of different shifts.
45.You'll be connected to technology and humanity: Nursing offers a science to technically caring for people.
46.You can work on the road: Many nurses find success in travel nursing.
47.You can change your specialty: You can take on opportunities in new specialties if you'd like.
48.There's lots of variety: The possibilities are endless when it comes to nursing-you can work in a hospital or clinic, work in pediatrics, insurance, or schools.
49.You can take on expanding opportunities: As physicians spend less time with patients, nurses can take on opportunities that offer more hands-on interaction.

50.Nursing offers transferable skills: As a nurse, you'll learn skills that are great for any career in health care.
51.There's plenty of room for growth: Your nursing career can grow into much more with further education.
Traits Do you have what it takes to be a nurse? Check out these traits.

52.You'll get over bodily functions: You will no longer have any problems with other peoples' toilet use and bodily functions.
53.You're detail-oriented: You must be able to remember, write a lot, and be organized as a nurse.
54.You are empathetic: Sharing empathy with others is essential for becoming a nurse.
55.You have the skills: If you have the ability to communicate and instill trust in people, you have the basic skills for becoming a nurse.
56.You're emotionally stable: As a nurse, you have to be able to deal with a roller coaster ride of emotions.
57.You can deal with blood: If you're faint of stomach, you'll have trouble with nursing.
58.You're able to adapt: Every day will be different, so being able to adapt is essential for nursing.
59.You can prioritize: Nursing is fast paced and needs constant prioritization.
60.You have physical endurance: Nurses often work on their feet all day with minimal breaks.
61.You're dedicated: Nursing is not just a job-it's a lifestyle.
62.You can think quickly: If you're able to think on your feet, chances are you can keep up with nursing.
63.You have a commitment to learning: Nurses are constantly learning, so if you love to learn, nursing is a great profession.
64.You have good judgment: You should be able to judge quickly and accurately.
65.You're caring: As a nurse, you'll care for people every day, so caring for others is a must.
66.You're hardworking: Nursing is never ending, and needs hard workers.
67.You're willing to work hard: Nursing is hard work-if you can handle long hours in exchange for rewarding work, nursing may be good for you.
68.You're tactful: Nurses need to be able to deal with doctors, patients, and coworkers in a tactful way.
69.You're good at multitasking: Multitasking is an essential skill for nurses.
70.You have a sense of humor: As a nurse, you have to be able to let things slide off your back.
71.You like a challenge: Nursing will stretch your limits, in a good way.
72.You're dedicated: Nurses take on their vocation to dedicate their lives to helping others.
73.You're courageous: Nursing can sometimes be a scary job, so if you've got courage, you may have what it takes to be a nurse.
People See how people can make your work as a nurse worth it.

74.Interaction: You'll be able to interact with different people every day.
75.You'll work with patients and their families: You will spend time working with not only patients, but their families as well.
76.You'll be a mentor: Nursing allows you to mentor patients, families, and other nurses.
77.You'll work as part of a team: You will interact with lots of other health professionals as a nurse.
78.You'll enjoy camaraderie: As part of a health care team, you will enjoy camaraderie with your fellow workers and patients.
79.You'll educate people: Much of your job as a nurse will be educating patients, their families, and the general public.
80.You can become more than a caregiver: Long term care can take a personal turn with patients you really care about.
Advantages Over Becoming a Doctor These are a few reasons why nursing may be better than becoming a doctor.

81.Fewer educational requirements: You'll study for 2-4 years instead of 12-14.
82.You have less liability: Doctors are responsible for malpractice insurance, while nurses are not.
83.You can spend more time with patients: Doctors do not generally get to spend a lot of time with patients-but nurses do.
84.You'll take care of patients, not the disease: As a nurse, you can treat the whole patient.
85.There's more flexibility: Once doctors pick their specialty, they generally have to stay in it, but nurses can move from one area of medicine to another.
86.You can have a life outside of work: Although you will work strange hours, your life will not be completely devoted to work.
87.There's less of a commitment: You do not have to own a practice, employ staff, and stay in one place as a nurse.
88.You won't start your career in a massive amount of debt: Most doctors start their careers deep in debt from years of education, while nurses tend to have limited debt or none at all.
89.It's difficult to get into medical school: Being accepted in medical school is not easy, but nursing school is easy in comparison.
90.You won't have to be on call constantly: Doctors normally have to spend certain hours on call, while nurses don't.
Environment Here you will learn why a nurse's working environment is great.

91.Nursing is exciting: Every day at work is different for nurses.
92.You can embrace change: Even if you work in the same hospital for 25 years, you can change specialties, hours, and more to switch things up.
93.You'll avoid the typical 9-5: You can avoid working typical business hours as a nurse.
94.Flexibility: Nursing offers lots of flexibility.
95.There's lots of variety: You'll be able to work in lots of different settings and positions.
96.Nurse staffing agencies are useful: If you'd like to earn high hourly wages with lots of flexibility, you may want to look into working for nursing staffing agencies.
97.You can use all of yourself: A career in nursing uses your mind, body, and soul.
98.It's easy to move: Nurses can work anywhere, so moving to a new city is not a problem.
99.Nursing is intellectually stimulating: As a nurse, or nurse educator, you will work in an intellectually stimulating environment.
100.Nurses can work in a variety of settings: Nurses can work in hospitals, clinics, offices, schools, homes, and more.

Feb 22nd Meeting Minutes Posted

2010-02-26T11:12:00.000-08:00

February 22nd Student Nurses Association Meeting Minutes up on the SNA blog website http://sjdcsna.blogspot.com/. Please check them out.

Pacific Family Health Fair

2010-02-22T16:14:00.000-08:00

Here is a great event being held in Stockton!

University of the Pacific pharmacy students are hosting their 3rd annual Pacific Family Health Fair, and would like to invite you and your family to join them for FREE health screenings, scavenger hunts, health education, and more! This is absolutely ZERO cost to you - over $250 of free health services!

This is an event the whole family can take advantage of, so head over on March 7th in the gymnasium at St. Luke's Catholic Church! Hurry because it ends at 2PM!

March 07, 2010
10:00 am
St. Luke's Church

3847 N. Sutter Street

Need Money???

2010-02-19T16:38:00.000-08:00

Dear Nursing Students:

St. Joseph's Medical Center is offering several scholarships to students enrolled in a healthcare-related post-High School program. The scholarships are merit based and awards will be paid directly to the educational institution for student's tuition &/or books.

Please stop by my office to pick up an application if you are interested and believe you met the requirements. Application deadline is May 7, 2010.

Below are the application guidelines:

Resident of San Joaquin and surrounding counties
Exhibit excellence in theory and clinical application
Grade of "C" or higher in current course of study

You will also need to submit:
One short essay
Two letters of recommendation, &

School transcript

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. You may also contact Ms. Cathy Swenson at St. Joseph's Medical Center by calling 209-467-6486 about this scholarship program and/or pick up an application from their HR department.

--
Sincerely,
Robin Shum
Resource Specialist
Nursing Student Success Program(NSSP)
San Joaquin Delta College
Locke 304
209-954-5445

Change in location for the upcoming SNA meeting Monday!!

2010-02-18T15:54:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone,

Due to the overwhelming response we have had to the upcoming SNA meeting with Deputy Director for Workforce Development for California Corrections, Katie Hagen. We have changed the location venue to the Upper Danner Hall at 1pm -2:30pm.

So if you have not joined the SNA yet please do so. You apply on-line for instant membership into the National Student Nurses’ Association - NSNA at http://www.nsna.org. Take advantage of the many program rewards, services, benefits, scholarship, and letters of recommendation, product discounts, and most importantly leadership opportunities into being an NSNA member. So I encourage you all to join, plus it looks really good on your resume when applying for jobs. Once you have joined please print out membership ID number and e-mail a copy to our sectary Anna Gonzales at agonzales33@comcast.net and please include your delta student Id number also. We will see you all there!

2010-02-15T19:34:00.000-08:00

"One of the essential qualities of the clinician is interest in humanity, for the secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient."
-Frances Weld Peabody

"Nurses are the heartbeat of health care."
-Unknown

SNA next meeting is Feb 22nd

2010-02-15T16:13:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone,

I want to encourage you all to come out to our next Student Nursing Association (SNA) meeting, Monday February 22nd at 1:00pm to 2:30pm in Lock- 118 (skills lab). We're excited to have the Deputy Director for Workforce Development for California Corrections, Katie Hagen be our guest speaker. She will be discussing about the different job opportunities in correctional health care. Katie Hagen is the one who is in charge of recruiting for all health care positions in California Corrections. With all the talk about building the New State Correctional Health Hospital Facility here in Stockton off of Arch Rd. this would be a great opportunity to come by and say hello and ask about any burning questions that you might have about jobs in correctional health. Our Dean Hazel Hill, Delta College's Dean for Workforce and Economic Development will also be present at the upcoming meeting too.

So I would highly encourage you all who might be interested in hearing about future nursing opportunities in the Stockton area to come on by. Remember that lunch is served on us so please stop in and say hello. We will also be raffle off some prizes in the chance to win a free SNA gear. So stick around to the end to see who win’s. See you all there! If you have any question please free to e-mail me at agonzales33@comcast.net.

2010-02-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

February Student Nurses Association Meeting Minutes up on the SNA blog website http://sjdcsna.blogspot.com/ . Please check them out.

SNA meeting is on Feb 1, 2010

2010-01-31T17:13:00.000-08:00

Come to the next SNA Meeting
Monday Febrruary 1st
1:00pm to 2:30pm in Locke-229

Tomorrow is our 1st SNA meeting: Topics / Speaker are Ginger Manss from St. Joe's is coming to talk to us about National Student Nurses Association, Kaplan and PDA party (Nursing Software and show you how to use it your PDA) with Mr. Meza. Location: Lock -229 (Skills Lab) @ 1pm. Come on by and say Hello and get some free Pizza before Pharmacology.

NCLEX-RN Exam now getting harder to pass!

2010-01-18T09:59:00.000-08:00

The NCSBN Board of Directors voted to raise the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN Examination at its meeting on Dec. 10, 2009.

https://www.ncsbn.org/1983.htm

January Meeting Minutes

2010-01-16T17:33:00.000-08:00

I just posted the January Student Nurses Association Meeting Minutes up on the SNA blog website http://sjdcsna.blogspot.com/ . Please check them out.

RN Lobby Days in Sacramento

2010-01-15T22:56:00.000-08:00

2010-01-13T06:32:00.000-08:00

The Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Services at San Joaquin Delta College sent out a e-mail to inform all of us that the 2010-11 San Joaquin Delta College scholarship applications are now available.

If you are interested, please visit the Scholarship Website http://www.deltacollege.edu/dept/finaid/scholarships/index.html for more details. Scholarship application and supporting documents must be received no later than March 2, 2010 - 5:00 p.m. at the DeRicco Building Information Desk.

Should you have any further questions concerning applying for scholarships, please contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@deltacollege.edu.
(These was the original e-mail sent to our SJDC e-mail account)

Wait no more... Let us help you show off your School Spirit

2010-01-06T22:40:00.001-08:00

We are happy to inform you that the shipment of jackets has finally arrived, just in time for the winter season. Carry your school spirit with you all the time. We are excited to have them in all sorts of sizes and colors. Please stop by and check out the new SNA jackets and show your school pride. You are welcome to stop by the Nursing Office to visit Judy or Julie to make a purchase or attend a SNA meeting.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T17:06:00.000-08:00

" Live your life while you have it. Life is a splendid gift; there is nothing small about it. " - Florence Nightingale

" God took one pair of angel wings, one halo heart of gold. Two eyes that held compassion for others, young or old. Two hands to offer kindness, always putting others first. . . He wrapped it up with tender care and called this gift a 'Nurse.' " -Unknown

We made it!!

2009-12-25T23:05:00.000-08:00

We did it!! We made it through our 1st grueling semester of nursing school and survived, one down and 3 more semesters to go. Before we know it, it will be here sooner enough. Congratulations to you all!! I hope everybody is enjoying there much needed Holiday break…

Have photos you would like to share???

2009-12-25T22:34:00.000-08:00

Does anybody have any nursing photos that they would like to share for incoming nursing class Fall 2011 tea party?? Iris and I will be working on the PowerPoint slideshow during the winter break. If you have any photos you would like to share please contact Iris or myself (Anna) by email. We would love to share your photos. We also have a photobucket account if anybody would like to upload there photos there. The Username is: agonzales33@comcast.net and Password is: Nursing. Please feel free to upload your photos if you would like to share with the group.

~ Anna Gonzales >> agonzales33@comcast.net
~ Iris Dischupa >> joy_pnail@hotmail.com

FINALS WEEK!

2009-12-16T10:41:00.000-08:00

Keep studying everyone! After next semester we'll be half way there!!! :)

Kaiser Permanente Manteca Clinical Group!!

2009-12-12T05:39:00.000-08:00

Respect the Sash!!!!

Shhh!!!

SJGH pictures 2 !!!!

2009-12-10T16:01:00.001-08:00

SJGH pictures!!!!

2009-12-10T15:58:00.000-08:00

2009-11-24T21:15:00.000-08:00

Have a Stellar Clinical Experience!!!!

2009-11-22T07:48:00.000-08:00

Have a Stellar Clinical Experience
October 12, 2009 · Category: ANA/C
Author: Nicole R. Marcy, BPH, BSN, RN, ANA\C Secretary, 2009-20011 nicole@anacalifornia.org

1) Take Initiative:
If you want to get more out of your clinical experience, chuck fear and turn it into respect. Once your perspective switches, you are able to go with an eager inquisitiveness. Don’t try to blend into the wall and claim you didn’t know what to do or how to do it or where to put it. Introduce yourself and ask questions.
2) Be Accountable:
You know what you’re supposed to do…so do it. Actively seek situations to enhance your education. The RNs were once students, so they know that you should tend to hygiene, urinals, I &O, beds, dirty linen, vital signs, turn patients, walk patients, feed patients, assist with bedpans, blood sugars, medications, verify medication effectiveness, talk with patients, direct hospital guests and so on. How is it that so often the nursing students end up standing around?
3) Communicate:
Introduce yourself. Find out who the RN is that is responsible for the patient. The RN takes full responsibility for all that happens with their patients, not the LVN, nor the Patient Care Tech, nor the Certified Nursing Assistant, nor anyone else. In school you learn what is normal and abnormal, and you know that if something is abnormal then you have to tell the RN as soon as possible. Inform the RN within five minutes. Don’t forget.

4) Be Realistic:
“I didn’t take the vital signs because they were sleeping.” If the vital signs aren’t taken, the show cannot go on. Patients are at the hospital receiving medical services for a serious medical condition which was warranted life threatening enough to be hospitalized, and you have tons of work to do in a short period of time to ensure timely and safe treatment to all. This is not easy. Are you going to put everything on hold and go room to room to room trying to catch the patients when it’s convenient for them? You are the one in charge.

RNs are there to save lives. RNs have the medical and technical aspect; however, RNs care for the whole patient. The patient is hospitalized for close monitoring and because they are sick enough to the point where they cannot take care of themselves, or they wouldn’t be there.

Some are more able than others, yet no matter where you are, there are the core nursing skills — beds, toileting, hygiene, feeding, vitals signs, physical activity, medications and so forth. Always be on the lookout for signs of life-threatening changes in all patients while working about the area.

Try where you can to accommodate and provide choices. We are taught that in nursing school, but you’ll have to devise other ways of accommodating which do not delay your obligation of quality and safe medical services.

5) Ignore Nurse Ratched:
Understand that, for better or worse, not all RNs that you interact with are equipped to work with students. Don’t have unrealistic expectations. It’s not personal and they are not a bad person or a bad nurse. Some nurses love teaching but aren’t good teachers. Some nurses hate teaching but are forced into the role once their facility decides to take students. Some RNs love it and are good at it. Everyone is different.

RNs have a lot of responsibility and are extremely busy. The student has a lot of questions that have to be answered carefully while not breaking the RN’s concentration or speed; multitasking at its finest. I know the students think, “But I’m helping the RN.” Students more often than not do slow the RN. Sometimes, in order to fulfill their obligation to the patients, to themselves and to the employer, teaching may get bumped. By doing everything that you can to help, you, the RN, the patient, the medical organization, your school and everyone comes out better off.

When you do run into the infamous Nurse Ratched so aptly attacking her young – ignore them! You go about your wonderful business and do not let them get to you. You hold your chin up and be the best nurse that you are. Be the role model of professional behavior. You too will likely be working with students one day. It’s the timeless age-old saying, “Everything which goes around comes around.” That Nurse Ratched will fade into disappearance eventually; no longer will Nurse Ratched be tolerated. Who knows why they’re that way? It’s not up to us to solve. Everyone is responsible for themselves and working hard to create a pleasant environment, which all nurses, patients, hospital staff and visitors benefit from. You are the change that you seek.

RNs are happy to see students for a variety of reasons. Here’s a misperception which people like to joke about: The RN is not trying to maliciously dump grunt work onto the poor, helpless, innocent, slave student. Snap out of it! A vast majority of students come to clinical having zero hands-on patient care or having been in a medical environment in their entire lives. The environment is foreign. This is why the simplest of activities can be the gems of your experience, whether you realize it now or years later in retrospect. Just being there is key. You are absorbing every detail, both consciously and subconsciously.

RNs are happy to see the students, because we are all so painfully aware of the nursing shortage and are thrilled to see you, because it is reassurance that the pipeline isn’t empty. There are willing, able people to come work alongside us. Everyone is lifted up.

Take initiative, be positive, be accountable, communicate, seek learning opportunities, overcome fears, feel respect, prove that you care and stay realistic and empathetic. You will soon be an RN!

LMH: Open House and IV Lab

2009-11-15T16:52:00.000-08:00

Upcoming SNA Meeting

2009-11-11T08:33:00.000-08:00

Upcoming SNA Meeting Agenda we will have three people who will present this coming Monday 16th at 1pm Locke-314. First Kaplan Review for the NCLEX exam, and they will offer a free Kaplan review to the graduating class but we need 75% of our class to attend. Second, Eric Shelby R.N. who graduated from SJDC and who has just completed the versant program at Dameron. She will discuss Dameron's Versant's Program. Finally, Carolyn Martin from CSSU who will present on pursing a BS and MS in nursing. Last we have to elect new officers and vote for an award for graduating SNA Members. Everyone, Mrs. Ippilto is on facebook and would like everyone to seek her as a friend. She has created The Dean's Desk - SJDC Nursing & Health Sciences, which is an area for nursing topic’s and she will also keep us abreast of SJDC nursing program, changes etc.

ENg 33A Follow-Up for Nov!!

2009-11-10T05:12:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that it is already November and almost time for your third follow-up. Remember that I extended the due date to next week, the week of November 16th. Please write me a brief update of how you are doing in your classes and clinicals. Also, you need to do the online tutorial on Concept Mapping. (You may choose to do the Critical Thinking tutorial instead if you didn't do that one in October.)

A few of you have already completed the November assignment. It was good to hear from you. I want to remind everyone that your final assignment is due on December 7th. You may want to complete it early. For December, please write an evaluation of yourself as a learner and student this semester. What have you discovered about your learning style and what techniques have been the most beneficial? Also,set at least three concrete goals for yourself for next semester. If you decide to complete the December assignment early, please make sure that you let me know that the assignment is the self-evaluation for December so that it won't be confused with this month's assignment.

Finally, I want to remind you to return your textbook Nursing Success Made Incredibly Easy to Robin Shum in the Nursing Student Success office in Locke 309 by December 7th.

Sorry for the lengthy email! As if you don't have enough reading to do!
Best wishes,
Lynne Swanson

** I copied and pasted this from our SJDC e-mail ***

Winter Clothing Drive!!!

2009-11-06T16:40:00.000-08:00

NURSING 10: EXTREME COLD CLOTHING DONATIONS!!!

We are in need of gently used winter wear needed (coats, sweaters, scarves, gloves, shoes, blankets, hats, etc…) for our local community

Donations will be collected on Monday, November 23, 2009 from 8am-2pm in Upper Danner (cafeteria)

H1N1 Vaccine

2009-11-02T17:51:00.000-08:00

Public Health has received more H1N1 flu vaccine & will offer clinics beginning Monday, November 2nd at 8:30 AM in Stockton. Public Health’s priority is to vaccinate high-risk people who don’t have insurance or a regular doctor. If you have a regular doctor, you should contact them to see if they have the H1N1 vaccine or plan to offer it.

Public Health will offer H1N1 vaccine to these 3 groups:

1. Children & young adults from 6 months-18 years of age;

2. Caregivers/household member of infants younger than 6 months;

3. Pregnant women, at any stage in their pregnancy.

Public Health’s H1N1 clinics will run Mondays-Fridays in Stockton from 8:30-11 AM beginning Monday, November 2nd. H1N1 clinics will also be offered at Public Health clinics in Lodi (Fridays 8:30-11 & 1-4), Manteca (1st, 2nd, 4th Wednesdays 1-4; Mondays 1-4 except last Monday of each month), and Tracy (1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th Tuesdays 8:30-11). For more info, call Public Health, 468-3830. Public Health is located at 1601 E. Hazelton Ave. Stockton, CA 95205

Signing Up for Student Nursing Association Membership

2009-10-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

If you have not joined yet please do so. You can apply on-line for instant membership into NSNA at http://www.nsna.org/index.asp. Take advantage of the many program rewards, services, benefits, scholarship, and letters of recommendation, product discounts, and leadership opportunities into being an NSNA member. So I encourage you all to join, plus it looks really good on your resume when applying for jobs. Once you have joined please print out your membership ID number and e-mail a copy to our:
NSNA Vice-President - Angela Aistrup (Fall 2009)
aaistrup@sbcglobal.net
aaistrup232@students.deltacollege.edu

Upcoming Curriculum Changes Meeting

2009-10-20T19:23:00.000-07:00

Curriculum Changes meeting

Monday October 26th from 1-2:30 Locke- 314. If anybody is interested in attending this meeting please e-mail me back at agonzales33@comcast.net by Friday. So I can let Debbie know how many people will be attending this meeting. We want to make sure that there is plenty of space for everybody. I do hope you all can make it, this is a really important meeting.

Congratulations!!

2009-10-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

I just want to say Congrats to you all for your hard work in passing Nursing 1. We did it!!. As one journey ends a new one begins... I wish you all good luck in Nursing 2. ^_^

NCLEX Q&A 10/19/09

2009-10-19T21:22:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I apologize for not keeping up with the weekly questions. Some things came up that I had to take care of, but I will try to keep up with it!

A pregnant client who is at 34 weeks gestations is diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism (PE). Which of these medications should a nurse anticipate the health care provider will order?

A) Oral Coumadin therapy every other day
B) Heparin 5000 units subcutaneously BID
C) Heparin infusion to maintain the PTT at 1.5 to 2.5 times the control value
D) Laxatives conatining magnesium salts

(: Iris Dichupa (SJMC #1)

Answer: D

Bocce Ball Fundraiser

2009-10-14T09:50:00.001-07:00

SNA Bocce Ball Tournament Sign-up!

End of the rotation CPK Fundraiser

2009-10-14T08:24:00.001-07:00

End of the rotation CPK Fundraiser

Please come and join us for some fun after your final exams. Bring your nursing class and this flyer to CPK to enjoy great food and to socialize! This is also a wonderful time to exchange books and notes with the other half of your class! We hope to see you all there.

CPK is open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
SNA will receive 20% of all purchases (includes food, drinks, alcohol, dine-in & take out)

SNA Officers

Debbie, Angela, Sherri & Phil

The importance of why we change our pt's IV equipment.

2009-10-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

Nurse accused of reusing equipment; patients warned -
CNN.com Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/08/rogue.nurse.diseases/index.html

A Fort Lauderdale nurse has resigned and more 1,800 patients have been notified that they may have been exposed to diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, after the nurse allegedly admitted to the hospital that she used disposable IV equipment on multiple patients, a violation of safety standards.

Study Guide!

2009-10-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

The study guide and lecture notes for this week are up on Docushare! Thanks to Tammy for alerting me to this!

Open Curriculum Forum

2009-10-06T18:34:00.000-07:00

Open Curriculum Forum

The Nursing Faculty would like to invite any students interested in hearing about and giving constructive advise about the new ADN Curriculum to attend the open forums!

When: Last Monday of each month
Time: 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Where: Locke-314

SJGH!!! NG tube day... so exciting

2009-10-05T12:04:00.000-07:00

Help!

2009-10-05T11:53:00.000-07:00

So, I can't find that paper that we need for the case study... and I can't download it from Docushare. So, if anyone could send me a copy or the link to get the copy... that would be awesome! i'll love you forever ;D anyway... thanks!

Stephanie

Send it to Stephaniejenks@hotmail.com

Skills Lab 10-2-09 LMH

2009-10-04T12:21:00.000-07:00

Case Study Presentation

2009-10-04T11:38:00.000-07:00

In case you need help finding proper nursing diagnoses and corresponding interventions, I found this website helpful. It does not have all the nursing diagnoses, but it has quite a few that probably could apply to your patient. Once you choose one, it also suggests nursing interventions to go with that diagnosis. Hope this helps!

http://www1.us.elsevierhealth.com/MERLIN/Gulanick/Constructor/

Test Taking Strategies Workshop:

2009-10-01T20:44:00.001-07:00

Test Taking Strategies Workshop:

If you need help taking nursing tests, then this workshop might be just what you need!
This presentation will show a you how to break down the six types of test questions (standard multiple choice as well as all the alternate items) in order to successfully answer them and get better grades.

Monday, October 5
Locke 314 from 1-2:30

At the end of the workshop, there will be a drawing for a $25 gift card!
(nursing students only)

Kim Thompson, MS
Nursing Student Success Program Coordinator
San Joaquin Delta College
209.954.5425, Locke 308

Pharmacology GRM 26 & 53

2009-10-01T06:42:00.000-07:00

Week 6-Chapter 26

1. What are the three main body fluid compartments?
a. intracellular fluid, interstitial fluid, and plasma volume

2. Know the terms extracellular fluid, extravascular fluid, interstitial fluid, intracellular fluid and intravascular fluid.
a. extracellular fluid: fluid outside the cells
b. extravascular fluid: fluid outside blood vessels
c. interstitial fluid: fluid between cells
d. intracellular fluid: fluid within a cell
e. intravascular fluid: fluid within blood vessels

3. What does isotonic mean?
a. equal concentration of solutes across a membrane

4. There are two forces within the capillaries that bring about the movement of water. Hydrostatic pressure pushes water out of the capillaries and oncotic or colloidal oncotic pressure pulls or retains water within the vessels. The arterial blood pressure is what provides for the hydrostatic pressure. It is a person’s arterial blood pressure that promotes the movement of fluid from within the capillaries to outside the capillaries (tissues and cells). Serum protein (albumin) is what causes a person to have oncotic pressure so it is actually the albumin that pulls water into the capillaries. So, hydrostatic pushes and oncotic pulls.

5. What is the principle extracellular electrolyte?
a. albumin

6. What are the three categories of agents used to replace lost fluids?
a. crystalloids, colloids, and blood products

7. What are the constituents of crystalloids?
a. fluids and electrolytes normally found in the body

8. How do colloids move fluid from the interstitial compartment to the plasma compartment? a. pull fluid from blood vessels

9. What are the indications for the following blood products?
a. Cryoprecipitate: 1, FFP: 1.7x, PRBCs: 2.2x, whole blood: 3.33

Week 6-Chapter 53

1. What are the two areas of the brain responsible for vomiting?
a. vomiting center and chemoreceptor trigger zone

2. What are parents advised to do when a child ingests a toxin?
>?

3. How do most antiemetics work?
a. block one of 6 vomit pathways and in doing so block the neurologic stimulus that induces vomiting

4. Know the ways in which categories of antiemetics work by studying

Antiemetic Drugs: Mechanisms of Action
*Anticholinergics: scopolamine
Block Ach receptors in the vestibular nuclei and reticular formation

*Antihistamines: diphenhydramine
Block H1 receptors, thereby preventing Ach from binding to receptors in the vestibular nuclei

*Neuroleptics: prochlorperazine
Block dopamine in the CTZ and may also block Ach

*Prokinetics: metoclopramide
Block dopamine in the CTZ or stimulate Ach receptors in the GI tract

*Serotonin blockers: ondansetron
Block serotonin receptors in the GI tract, CTZ, and VC

*Tetrahydrocannabinoids
Have inhibitory effects on the reticular formation, thalamus, and cerebral cortexcerebral cortex

Atten: All Pharmacology Students

2009-09-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

If you click on Spring Class 2010, look on the right hand side where it says Blog Archive and click on September (13). A drop box will open up and just look for example : pharmacology GRM week #5 (brief) and just continue on from there. I have include a sample of what it looks like and you guys can decide if it helps you or not. Hopefully it will and you relieve some stress. Good Luck!!!

Example:

Week 5-Chapter 12

1. Compare sedatives and hypnotics.
a. sedatives reduce nervousness, excitability, and irritability without causing sleep in small amounts. Hypnotics have a more potent effect on the CNS and cause sleep.

2. In terms for barbiturates, what is meant by a “low therapeutic index?”
a. there is only a narrow margin where the drug is effective and beyond that margin the drug is rapidly toxic

3. Since GABA is an inhibitory amino acid, what happens to the CNS when it is potentiated?
a. inhibit nerve impulse transmission

4. What does it mean to raise the convulsive or seizure threshold?
a. decreases the threshold a patient has to convulse or have a seizure

5. What do barbiturates do to the respiratory rate?
a. decrease repiratory rate

6. By stimulating the action of enzymes that are responsible for the metabolism of many drugs, how do barbiturates affect the duration of action of these other drugs?
a. shortens their duration time

7. What are the 4 indications of barbiturates?
a. ultra-short acting, short acting, intermediate acting, and long acting

8. Which bodily system is most affected by barbiturates?
a. the CNS

9. What is the most frequent response to barbiturate overdose?
a. respiratory depression leading to respiratory arrest

10. What are the mainstays of treatment of barbiturate overdose?
a. maintenance of adequate airway, assisted respiration, and oxygen administration if needed

11. What is meant by “pressor support?”
a. drugs that cause vasoconstriction and therefore, raise the blood pressure.

12. How does activated charcoal cause the elimination of a drug from the body?
a. assists in pulling the drug from circulation then eliminating it through the GI tract

13. Know that Phenobarbital (Luminal) is the prototype barbiturate.
a. Luminal is the prototype barbiturate

14. What is the most commonly prescribed class of sedative-hypnotics?
a. benzodiazepines because they have favorable adverse effect profiles, efficacy and safety

15. What are the two classifications of benzodiazepines?
a. anxiolytics and sedative-hypnotics

16. How do benzodiazepines depress the CNS?
a. inhibit stimulation of the brain

17. Why are benzodiazepines used to prevent the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?
a. their receptors in the CNS is the same area or alchohol addiction

18. What are the 4 most common uses of benzodiazepines
a. sedation, sleep induction, anxiety relief, and musculo-skeletal relaxation

19. What are the most commonly reported undesirable effects of benzodiazepines?
a. headaches, dizziness, paradoxical excitement or nervousness, drowsiness, vertigo, lethargy, and cognitive impairment

20. Why should benzodiazepines be avoided in the elderly?
a. create a significant fall hazard

21. What are the manifestations of a benzodiazepine overdose?
a. somnelence, confusion, coma, and diminished reflexes

22. What two substances should benzodiazepines not be combined with?
a. alcohol and analgesics

23. What is the reason for not inducing vomiting in an unconscious patient?
>?

24. How does flumazenil work as a benzodiazepine reversal agent?
>?

25. What are the pharmacologic properties of the nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics such as zolpidem (Ambien) and eszoplicone (Lunesta)?
a. anxiolytic, sedative, muscle relaxant, and anticonvulsive effects

26. How long should the nonbenzodiazepine drugs be used to treat insomnia?
a. 7-10 days

27. Which class of hypnotics has the shortest half-life, benzodiazepines or nonbenzodiazepines?
a. benzodiazepines

28. Which would you guess would have the greater “hangover” effect?
a. nonbenzodiazepines

29. How does the group of muscle relaxants act?
a. act within the CNS to relieve pain associated with skeletal muscle spasms

30. What are the two classes of muscle relaxants
a. central acting skeletal muscle relaxants and direct acting skeletal muscle relaxants

31. What is the antidote or reversal drug for muscle relaxant overdose?
a. no specific antidote

32. What may barbiturates undesirably cause in children and the elderly?
>?

33. What happens if a barbiturate is given too rapidly IV?
a. profound hypotension and marked respiratory depression

34. What is the normal blood level for phenobarbital?
>?

35. What standard safety precautions should be used on someone taking hypnotics?
>?

36. Should zolpiedem (Ambien) be taken with a mealtime snack or on an empty stomach?
a. empty stomach

Week 5-Chapter 16

37. How do most CNS stimulant drugs act?
a. stimulate the excitatory neurons in the brain

38. What are the 3 excitatory neurotransmitters?
a. dopamine, norepinepherine, and epinepherine

39. What do amphetamines stimulate?
a. areas of the brain associated with mental alertness like the cerebral cortex and thalamus

40. What is the pharmacologic action of amphetamines?
a. mood elevation or eupohoria, increased mental alertness and capacity for work, decreased fatigue and drowsiness, prolonged wakefulness, relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle, increased respiration, and dilation of pulmonary arteries

41. How do serotonin receptor agonists reduce migrane headache pain?
a. stimulate serotonin receptors in cerebral arteries and cause vasoconstriction

42. What is the original prototype SSRA?
a. sumatriptan (Imitirex)

Week 5-Chapter 17

43. What are adrenergics?
a. synthetic and naturally occurring substances

44. Why are adrenergics also called sympathomimetics?
a. mimic the effects of the SNS neurotransmitters of norepinepherine, epinepherine, and dopamine

45. You must know Table 17-1 on page 270 and what happens when alpha 1, beta 1 and beta 2 receptors are stimulated.
Adrenergic Receptor Responses to Stimulation

Body System --> Location --> Receptor --> Response

Cardiovascular:
*Blood Vessels
Alpha 1: Constriction
Beta 2: Dilation

*Cardiac Muscle
Beta 1: Increased Contractility

*Atrioventricular Node
Beta 1: Increased Heart Rate

*Sinoatrial Node
Beta 1: Increased Heart Rate

Endocrine
*Pancreas
Beta 1: Decreased Insulin Release

*Liver
Beta 2: Glycogenolysis

*Kidney
Beta 2: Increased Renin Secretion

Gastrointestinal
*Muscle
Beta 2: Decreased Motility

*Spinchters
Alpha 1: Constriction

Genitourital
*Bladder Spinchter
Alpha 1: Constriction

*Penis
Alpha 1: Ejaculation

*Uterus
Alpha 1: Contraction
Beta 2: Relaxation

Respiratory
*Bronchial Muscles
Beta 2: Dilation

Ocular
*Puppilary Muscles of Iris
Alpha 1: Mydriasis

46. What happens when a dopaminergic receptor is stimulated by dopamine?
a. cause vessels of renal, mesenteric, coronary, and cerebral arteries to dilate, increasing blood flow to these tissues

47. What happens when adrenergic drugs stimulate alpha 1 receptors?
a. vasoconstriction occurs on sites located on smooth muscle

48. What happens when adrenergic drugs stimulate beta 1 receptors?
a. increase force of contraction, increase in heart rate, and increase in the conduction of cardiac electrical nerve impulses through atrioventricular node

49. What happens when adrenergic drugs stimulate beta 2 receptors?
a. relaxation of bronchii, increased glycogenolysis, and increased renin secretion

Week 5-Chapter18

50. What is another name for an adrenergic blocker?
a. sympatholytic or adrenergic antagonist

51. What does alpha 1 adrenergic blockade lead to?
a. vasoconstiction of arterioles

52. What do ergot alkaloids cause?
a. peripheral and cerebral vasoconstriction as well as constriction of dilated arteries

53. What is an ergot alkaloid such as ergotamine (Ergostat) used for?
a. migraines and cluster headaches

54. What are the alpha blockers doxazosin, prazosin, terazosin, and tamsulosin used for?
a. venous and arterial vasodilation which lowers blood pressure

55. What are the two reasons prazosin is used?
a. treat hypertension and reduce urinary obstruction in men

56. What do beta adrenergic blocking drugs do?
a. lower HR, lower heart contractility, vasocontriction in the heart, and bronchoconstriction

57. Where are beta 1 receptors primarily located?
a. heart

58. Where are beta 2 receptors primarily located?
a. bronchioles

59. Distinguish cardioselective from nonselective beta blockers.
a. cardioselective beta blockers only block the beta receptors on the heart and nonselective beta blockers block receptors on the heart, bronchioles, and blood vessels

60. What is the effect of cardioselective beta blockade?
a. lowers HR, vasoconstriction, and lowers heart contractility

61. What happens to the bronchioles when beta 2 receptors are blocked?
a. bronchoconstriction

62. What happens to blood vessels when beta 2 receptors are blocked?
a. vasoconstriction

63. How might beta 2 blockade cause elevation of blood glucose?
a. impairs glycogenolysis

64. How does beta blockade raise blood triglyceride levels?
a. release free fatty acids from adipose tissue

65. How are some beta blockers useful in the treatment of angina?
a. lowers HR and contractility which leads to less oxygen consumption and relieves angina pain related to lack of oxygen

66. What is the mechanism for some beta blockers being cardioprotective?
a. inhibit stimulation of the heart muscles by circulating catecholamines

67. How might a beta blocker reduce the blood pressure?
a. lowers heart rate, contractility, and vasoconstriction

68. Page 291, right column under Assessment, the dotted bullets are very important information.
a. alpha blocking: cause block of the sympathetic stimulation of blood vessels which results in vasodilation and decrease in blood pressure
b. beta 1 blocking: cause block in sympathetic effects leading to lower HR, contractility and conduction which helpts treat dysfunctional irregularities in heart rate
c. beta 2 blocking: cause block in sympathetic effects on bronchial smooth muscle resulting in bronchoconstriction

69. When giving beta blockers, what SBP and HR measurements should the nurse use in determining when to notify the provider?
a. lower than 100 mm Hg or 60 bpm

Week 5-Chapter 19

70. What are the other terms for cholinergics?
a. cholinergic agonists and parasympathomimetics

71. What is the neurotransmitter responsible for transmission of effector cells in the PSNS?
a. acetycholine (Ach)

72. What are the two types of cholinergic receptors and what is it that stimulates them?
a. nicotinic receptors are stimulated by alkaloid nicatine and muscarinic receptors are stimulated by alkaloid muscarine

73. What does cholinesterase do?
a. enzyme responsible for breaking down acetylcholinesterase (AchE)

74. When cholinergic receptors are stimulated, what happens in the body?
a. permeability of cells changes and calcium and sodium are permitted to flow into the cell depolarizing the cell membrane to stimulate the effector organ

75. What are the indications or uses of cholinergic drugs?
a. reduce intraocular pressure for glaucoma patients or ocular surgery, treat various GI and bladder disorders, diagnose and treat myasthenia gravis, treat Alzheimer’s disease, and treat excessively dry mouth from Sjogren’s syndrome

76. How might cholinergics improve patient performance in Alzheimer’s?
a. replenish the brain of Ach for normal brain function

77. Page 302, right column under Assessment, the dotted bullets are very important information.
a. effects of cholinergic drugs:
-decrease in heart rate
-increase in GI and GU tone through increased contractility of the smooth muscle
-increase in the contractility and tone of bronchial smooth muscle
-increased respiratory secretions
-miosis (pupillary constriction)

Week 5-Chapter 20

78. What are the other terms for cholinergic blockers?
a. anticholinergics, parasympatholytics, and antimuscarine drugs

79. What do cholinergic blockers do?
a. block or inhibit actions of acetylcholine in the PSNS

80. What other class of ANS drugs do cholinergic drugs share the same effects with?
a. adrenergics

81. What are the major sites of action for anticholinergics?
a. heart, respiratory tract, GI tract, urinary bladder, eye, and exocrine glands

82. What do cholinergic blockers do to the eye?
a. causes pupil dilation and increased intraocular pressure
-Remember, cholinergic blockers might be detrimental to persons with glaucoma (abnormally high IOP) because they increase the IOP.

83. What is the effect of cholinergic blockers on the GI tract?
a. decreased GI motility, secretions, and salivation

84. What do cholinergic blockers do to the HR?
a. increase heart rate

85. What do they do to the bladder?
a. decrease bladder contraction leading to urine retention

86. What do they do to the skin?
a. reduce sweating

87. What do they do to the respiratory system?
a. dry mucous membranes and cause bronchial dilation

88. How do low doses of cholinergic blockers slow the HR?
a. effects cardiac center in the medulla

89. Table 20-1 on page 307 is important.
Cholinergic Blockers: Drug Effects

*Cardiovascular
Small Dose: decrease HR
Large Dose: increase HR

*Central Nervous
Small Dose: decrease muscle rigidity and tremors
Large Dose: cause drowsiness, disorientation, and hallucinations

*Eye
Dilate pupils, decrease accomodation by paralyzing ciliary muscles

*Gastrointestinal
Relax muscle tone, decrease intestinal and gastric secretions, decrease motility and peristalsis

*Genitourinary
Relax detrusor muscle of bladder, increase constriction of internal spinchter; may result in urine retention

*Glandular
Decrease broncial secretions, salivation, sweating

*Respiratory
Decrease bronchial secretions, dilate bronchial airways

NCLEX Q&A Week 5

2009-09-21T21:58:00.000-07:00

A nurse is providing instructions for a client with asthma. Which of these factors should the client monitor on a daily basis as a priority?

A) "Respiratory rate"
B) "Peak air flow volumes"
C) "Pulse oximetry"
D) "Respiratory effort"

:) Iris Dichupa (SJMC #1)

Answer: B

Skills Lab Pictures

2009-09-16T18:36:00.000-07:00

Skills Lab

The brakes don't work! Having too much fun with canes & walkers

For all who don't know this crazy diva..meet Brooke

Had to post this picture of my dog haha

:) Iris Dichupa (SJMC #1)

2009-09-15T22:17:00.000-07:00

Jocelyn and Stephanie taking time to "smell the roses."

Dance day. Haha! Yoseph isn't feelin it!

Random clinical pic. from first 3 weeks.

Mrs. Harper thought it would be easier to wake up with a little dance lesson. Hehe, it was fun.

2009-09-15T20:22:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

This is coming a little late, but in case any of you had a hard time with the 2nd study guide for NURS 01, I just wanted to share that the The Fundamentals for Nursing ATI book helps so much! If you have not cracked that one open yet, I highly recommend it! It's super easy to comprehend and serves as a quick reference. I found that it helped most with questions #1, 3, 4, & 10.

See ya at the review tomorrow if you make it. (@2:30 in the West Forum)

:),
Ruby

Neclex Q&A Week 5

2009-09-15T15:24:00.001-07:00

1) A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure. Which finding requires the nurse's immediate attention?

A) "Pulse oximetry of 85%"
B) "Nocturia"
C) "Crackles in Lungs"
D) "Diaphoresis"

:) Iris Dichupa (SJMC 1)

Answer: A

Upcoming SNA Meeting on September 21 1:00pm to 2:30pm in Locke - 118

2009-09-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

I hope you all can come out and support our local student nursing association. This is a great way to interact with other fellow nursing students and of course get FREE FOOD! Mmmmm...I hope to see you all there in Locke-118. ^_^

This coming Monday there is a change on presenters. First off Shari Garibaldi who is a Lawyer in town will speak on Wills, Living Trust, Power of Attorney, Domestic Partnership etc. all the legal froms we as nurses need to be aware of. There will we be a Q & A forum as well. The Michelle Berlin will speak on the NCLEX Board Exam she took, the NCLEX review, how she studied and passed with only 75qts. In addition, Debbie and Angela will be answering all of your burning PDA questions. Remember that lunch is served so please come and join all the fun!

commuters?

2009-09-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of the semester I heard that there were 2 other students commuting from Atwater. Just wondering if this is correct? If so, I am living in Atwater and really would like to commute if we have the same Skills Lab (Mondays 7am-10am) day & Pharmacology on Mondays. Let me know? You can email me at: ruby-doo@hellokitty.com

Thanks!
Ruby

Exam #2 Study Guide!

2009-09-11T17:19:00.000-07:00

Nursing 01 – Study Guide for Test #2

1. Identify interventions to prevent pressure ulcers.

2. Describe the type and appearance of wound drainage.

3. Identify applicable Nursing Diagnosis for the patient with impaired skin.

4. Interpret the difference between medical (clean) asepsis and surgical (sterile) asepsis.

5. Identify types of infectious organism and where they reside. How are they transmitted?

6. Know the difference of colonization, localization, and systemic when dealing with infection.

7. What are the different treatments for bacteria, virus and fungal infections?

8. Identify patients who are at the greatest risk for nosocomial infections.

9. How does stress play a role in healing and recovering?

10. Identify interventions for the febrile patient.

11. Understand medication orders for drug, dose, frequency and route. Recognize abbreviations used within the medication order.

12. Identify the correct location and landmarks for routes of medication administration.

13. Know the correct procedure for identifying a patient and the correct patient identifiers.

14. Know your conversions for oral liquid administration (tsp, Tsp, ml, L, oz, etc…), as well as mass (gm, mg, lb, kg, etc...)

15. When administering oral medications how does a nurse prevent aspiration?

16. Understand how to handle narcotics regarding signing out, wasting, disposal and counting. Identify who makes the policies for storage and distribution of narcotics.

17. Describe how to assess a patient for allergies and the steps involved in preventing any further reactions.

18. Identify precautions for patients and caregiver when dealing with transdermal medication patches.

19. Identify the most common medication errors and why they occur.

20. How can a nurse advocate for a patient that is complaining of side effects, route or taste of a medication?

21. Discuss the influence of spiritual practices on the health status of clients.

22. List the two general Healthy People 2010 public health goals for Americans.

Exam #2 Info

2009-09-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to let you know that Mrs. Wells cleared up a couple of things for our test next week in the LMH skills lab this morning:

1) The pages for Lewis were wrong in the syllabus (they're actually for Chapter 15) so she said to read Chapter 13 for sure. Reading p.243-249 as well would be good too because it was covered in lecture. You could glance over Chapter 14 since it has information on altered immune response, but it's not required reading.

2) We will not be tested on Culture and Ethnicity or Stress and Coping.

3) For Spiritual Health, she said she will only be asking us questions that pertain to what Dr. J said in her lecture.

4) The main emphasis on the test will be Inflammation/Infection and Medication Admin.

Happy studying!

How to post a blog on our page

2009-09-10T21:28:00.000-07:00

Hey all! I hope your first day with a patient went well! I know I felt completely lost and disoriented, but I supposse that is normal. I think that there should be a class offered in Hieroglyphics so we can read the handwriting of all the Physicians and Nurses!!!

Anyway, I have been getting some questions on how to post comments on our blog. What you have to do is create an account with blogspot and then add the website address into the "follow blog" field. Then you should be able to post pictures and comments and all of that good stuff. If that doesn't work, let me or Anna know, and we will see if we can help you!

Don't give up! What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger! But that doesn't mean that it won't be frustrating or painful along the way! :D

Stephanie :D

NCLEX Q&A Week 4

2009-09-08T20:45:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a good learning experience at their first day of clinicals!

Question: A client is diagnosed with methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus pneumonia (MRSA). What type of isolation is appropriate for this client?

A) "Reverse:
B) "Airborne"
C) "Standard precautions"
D) "Contact"

:) Iris Dichupa (SJMC #1)

Answer: D

ENG 33A Follow-Up

2009-09-06T15:26:00.000-07:00

To all of those students who are in Mrs. Swanson Eng 33A class, please don’t forget to take the Nursing Process tutorial and write a brief paragraph in describing how you are doing in your classes. Mrs. Swanson e-mail address is lswanson@deltacollege.edu , and please make sure you turn it in no later than September 14, 2009.

~ Anna

Clinicals!

2009-09-05T15:26:00.001-07:00

As we all venture into our clinical sites next week, I thought I'd share some advice I found.

1) Ask tons of questions. If you are told by a nurse to do something on a patient and you are not familiar with it or are uncomfortable, ask for help. Don't let it bother you that she rolls her eyes at you, you have the right to learn, and your patients have the right to receive safe care.

2) Be prepared to feel lost. My first time doing everything (including putting a patient's sock on her foot), I was so scared I was shaking. It is normal to completely forget how to do everything (even the most simple tasks) when you are nervous. So don't let this make you feel stupid or inferior- it is NORMAL!!

3) Be prepared to laugh at yourself. If you fail to do this, you will be more stressed out than necessary. When you do something stupid, laugh. Don't be embarrassed, we all do dumb things. Also, allow your patients to laugh at you. One patient told me that watching me frantically search for my clipboard (the clipboard I was holding in my hand) and then laughing with me when I realized my mistake, was the highlight of her week.

Hopefully we're starting to feel a LITTLE more comfortable with our busy schedule, but the author also had a great suggestion for that too:

"Even though you are extremely busy, take one night off. This means do not do any school work whatsoever one night every week. Thursday night is my night off. I watch TV, catch up with friends, just do whatever I want. On Monday, when I really want to watch something on TV or feel unmotivated to work, I keep telling myself that I only have a few more days until Thursday."

(Source: http://lilk8tob.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!1pd_Ax_WxTbaCimxCusd2FlA!1357.entry)

Upcoming Workshops!!!

2009-09-04T20:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Nursing Students:

The Nursing Student Success Program (NSSP) is proud to present a series of exciting workshops for your different needs. Please mark your calendar for the following important dates. Detail information and flyers are posted on our website. http://www.deltacollege.edu/dept/nursing_success/index.html

Topic
Date
Day
Time
Room

DSPS Services
9/10
Thursday
3 to 4 pm
L314

Test Taking by ATI
10/5
Monday
1 to 2:30 pm
L314

Nursing Journal
10/23
Friday
3 to 5 pm
L313

Kinesiology
10/29
Thursday
3:30 to 4:30 pm
L314

Resume Writing
11/20
Friday
3 to 5 pm
L313

** There will also be a $25 door prize given out at each and every workshop (donated by Ms. Kim Thompson, NSSP Program Coordinator). So don't miss out on this great opportunity to learn and equip yourself with valuable tools as well as WIN A PRIZE!!

Please also check our NSSP website often for latest news, workshops, and tutoring schedules. Let me know if you have any questions.

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Sincerely,
Robin Shum
Resource Specialist
Nursing Student Success Program(NSSP)

Have Photos you want to share??

2009-09-04T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody!!! I just wanted to let you know that I had created a photobucket account for all our class photos. So if you know anybody who has photos that they may want to share with the group please send it to the e-mail address below. We would love to see what you got.
The e-mail address is: SJDCADN2011.81105@uploads.photobucket.com.

I hope you have a wonderful relaxed weekend. You all earned it!!!

~Anna

Bed Baths!

2009-09-04T13:23:00.000-07:00

Nicolette and Tram
Chris and Marla

It's bath day... got to have the rubber ducky! It's even a little nurse!

Hey all, feel free to post pics on the blog. we all love to see how fun our journey is and how funny we can get. Good luck next week at all your different hospitals! It's going to be great!

Stephanie :D

Weekly NCLEX Q & A

2009-09-03T21:36:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! First and foremost, I want to congratulate everyone for making it through the first rough 3 weeks of the program! We did it! The NSSP even spoiled us with a few gadgets including sticky pads & an awesome magnet with our picture on it (already have mine on my fridge haha).

I just wanted to let you guys know I will be doing a weekly NCLEX Question from the website learningext.com (NOTE: I heard from my friend who graduated spring 09' that they put a handful of these questions on the ACTUAL NCLEX exam).

I believe that this is an important tool & will help keep us on the right track to passing the NCLEX exam. It will only take at most 5 minutes of your time so it won't hurt to do it.

I have already been doing the NCLEX Q's since we first started the program so I will post the 3 questions I have from the past 3 weeks.

NCLEX Q&A's (answers will be at the bottom of this post):

1) A client with pneumococcal pnemonia was started on antibiotics 16 hours ago. During a nurse's initial evening rounds the nurse notices a foul smell in the room. The client makes all of these statements during their conversation. Which one would alert the nurse to a complication of the therapy?

A) "I have a sharp pain in my chest when I take a breath."
B) "I have been coughing up foul-tasting, brown, thick sputum."
C) "I have been sweating all day all over my body"
D) "I feel hot off and on especially when I lie in bed."

2) Delirium tremens could best be described as what types of observations?

A) "Disorganized thinking, feelings of terror & non-purposeful behavior.:"
B) "A generalized shaking of the body accompanied by repetitive thoughts expressed verbally."
C) "An excited state accompanied by disorientation, hallucinations and tachycardia."
D) "Single or multiple jerks caused by rapid contracting muscles with alternating relaxation."

3) What is the feeling called after a cocaine high where the user commonly experiences an extremely unpleasant feeling?

A) "Craving"
B) "Crashing"
C) "Outward bound"
D) "Nodding out"

:) Iris Dichupa (SJMC #1)

Answers: 1) B 2) C 3) B

Keeping you guys informed

2009-09-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

Are your nursing students familiar with the American Nurses Association?

Are your students familiar with the programs and policies ANA provides to their future profession?

If you answered no to any of the questions above, now is a great time to expose your students to the ANA. We want your students to stay connected with the ANA. Therefore we are providing your students free access to the Members Only section of NursingWorld.org!!

Remember, this is not a membership type but will give them access to information that they can use in school and help prepare them for their nursing career.

Highlights include:

- Full ANA Position and Policy papers on important nursing issues

- A chance to sign up for Smart Brief - our members only daily news feed that brings together nursing and healthcare news from around the country every business day

- Access to the current electronic versions of The American Nurse and the ANA columns in American Nurse Today

- Access to the OJIN- a peer reviewed electronic journal available to ANA members on the hot issues facing nursing today

- NurseSpace - ANA's new social network just for nurses!!

- Discount opportunities on a variety of personal and professional products

We hope you will share this special offer with your students. They can go to this link to sign up: www.nursingworld.org/students/

Note: Students will be asked for a Promo Code which will give them free access at the bottom of form when they sign up. The promo code they can use is "EDU".

Thank you for sharing this information.

American Nurses Association
8515 Georgia Ave., Suite 400
Silver Spring , MD 20910

ONE DOWN!

2009-09-03T18:46:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

I Just wanted to congratulate everyone on finishing our first theory test! I hope you all did well on it. If you didn't do so hot, don't give up! Grab some people to get some help or a study group! We are all in this together!

For those of us who have Skills lab Tomorrow morning... DON'T FORGET YOUR BATHING STUFF AND YOUR RUBBER DUCKY! :D

For those of you who don't... Get started on your weekend and have a great time!

Steph :D

2009 CNSA Annual Convention

2009-09-02T09:42:00.001-07:00

The California Nursing Students' Association Proudly Presents:

Striking Gold in Nursing: Experience the Rush

October 16-18, 2009

Hyatt Regency at Capitol Park

Eureka! was heard throughout the state when we received our admission letter to nursing school. Since those first days when we began to dig through the literature to understand the nuggets of nursing practice we have been on a journey. Our journey has been filled with the rush of new experiences, such as witnessing that first breath of life in the delivery room or the “renewed life” following a successful code.

On behalf of the entire 2008-2009 Board of Directors and Convention Committee, it is my pleasure to invite you to the California Nursing Students’ Annual Convention. As aspiring nurses we need to take responsibility for ensuring we are accessing every opportunity to strike gold. Participating in the Annual CNSA Convention will prepare you for the ultimate rush of nursing practice.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHEN
Friday, October 16, 2009 8:00 AM -
Sunday, October 18, 2009 1:00 PM

WHERE
The Hyatt Regency
Capitol Park
1209 L Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

** This is really going to be a fun event and you will have an experience of a life time. I had went ahead and looked at our class syllabus and we have our N1 Comprehensive final exam on October 15, so this weekend should be a stress free time. If you are interested at all please contact Angela Aistrup at aaistrup@sbcglobal.net or Debbie O'Sullivan at dopta@comcast.net! If you want to register please call 1-916-779-6949 or vist http://www.cnsa.org/. I hope to see you all there!!

Rush Week Volunteers

2009-09-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

SNA's Rush Week Table

will be in the quad on September 4th

Please come out and volunteer with your fellow nursing students at the SNA table on September4th from 8am until 11am. Come out and show your spirit and pride even if it's just for an hour.
If you are interested in having a great time with some of your fellow nursing students, please contact Angela Aistrup at aaistrup@sbcglobal.net or Debbie O'Sullivan at dopta@comcast.net!