Learner Newsletter - March 2024:
Women's History Month
|
|
Friday, March 22: Credentialing deadline for Summer Semester 2024
Friday, March 29: Transfer of credit deadline for Summer Semester 2024
Tuesday, April 2 - Friday, April 5: HESI Week
Monday, April 15: Address change deadline for Summer DFCs
Friday, April 19: Pre-semester variance form deadline for Summer DFCs (The form is not available yet but will be ready in late March. We will post an announcement at that time.)
|
A patient with a skin condition came back to the dermatologist with her skin looking exactly the same as before.
"Didn't the skin cream we prescribed work for you?" the nurse asked.
"I don't know," the patient said, "I filled the prescription and then I sold it to someone else."
"Someone else bought the skin cream from you?"
"Oh, yes, for a nice profit. If I sell enough skin cream, I'm going to take the money and live on a topical island."
|
Learner Recommends: Balancing Work and School by Haley Martin |
Like many learners, Haley Martin works while she attends nursing school (and also runs a small business!). Although she's busy, Haley has found ways to make sure the most important things get done. Here are some of her tips for balancing work with nursing school:
Prioritize what matters most. For Haley, her physical and mental health are of prime importance, so she incorporates activities like running, walking her dogs, getting ice cream with her partner, and journaling (she keeps lots of extra pens, colored pens, and highlighters close by). These activities keep her body and mind working at their best.
Use tech tools to stay organized. Haley sets phone alarms (usually setting them for a couple of days before the due date, just in case) and sends herself reminders. She relies heavily on her College calendar.
"When I add an assignment, I block out time on my calendar so I know how much time a task will take."
Communicate with your workplace. Haley's workplace has always been supportive of her ambitions, but it helped that Haley was open with them about her needs. At the beginning of nursing school, she sat down for a meeting with her practice manager and her boss to explain her nursing school obligations. Each semester, she informs them of her DFC schedule and travel schedule as soon as she receives it. This courtesy lets Haley's team at work know she's considerate of them, and not just thinking about herself.
"That's a team that I am leaving behind to pick up my duties and responsibilities, so I need to be mindful of them. Life doesn't stop for them just because I'm not there."
Rely on others for help. Haley knows there are times she might need help, and that's OK. She recommends holding regular conversations with your support system at home so they will be there when you need someone else to pitch in.
Stay motivated and inspired. Like everyone else, Haley has moments of self-doubt. When the stress becomes overwhelming, Haley tells herself, "This is temporary. Your license will be forever."
Haley also draws inspiration from her grandmother. Although her grandmother is no longer living, her support of Haley during her lifetime makes it easy for Haley to imagine her grandmother cheering her on from the other side whenever she doubts herself.
|
|
“I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. … We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.”
– Malala Yousafzai
|
SOFE Partner Waivers
If you work for one of our partners' SOFE sites, you may be eligible for a tuition discount of up to 5% or 10%.
To apply, ask your Learning Funding Advisor (LFA) for a waiver form. Return the completed waiver form, along with a recent pay stub, to your LFA. For Summer Semester, the waiver form and pay stub may be submitted to your LFA anytime from April 18, 2024 to May 17, 2024.
If you're a continuing learner, you must submit the waiver form and pay stub each semester to remain eligible.
|
Did you know that when you were enrolled in the College, you automatically were enrolled in an easy-to-use search engine where you can search for scholarships?
Scholarship Universe is a mobile portal that guides you through a personalized process
that makes finding and applying for scholarships easier. You do not need to search for scholarships yourself—the system matches your needs to the best-fitting opportunities.
This portal is available to all Nightingale College learners so you can:
- Get matched to scholarship opportunities for which you are eligible by answering a few simple questions.
- Easily apply online to multiple scholarship opportunities through a personalized portal.
- See scholarship metrics to determine your chances and the effort required to apply.
- Be alerted whenever you are matched to new scholarship opportunities.
- Receive automated reminders about outstanding tasks and next steps.
When learners are enrolled, they receive an email from Scholarship Success with instructions for using this portal. The process is simple –follow the link to Scholarship Universe. From there, click on "Create Account", using your College email address.
Follow the prompts to answer the questions so the Scholarship Universe system can compile scholarships for you.
|
|
|
Brag Bulletin: Never Give Up! |
|
2018 Nightingale College graduate Beth Martin is an example of what happens when you don't give up! This article tells the story of how Beth took the NCLEX so many times she lost count, but now she's finally achieved her dream of becoming a registered nurse. Look for more inspirational graduate success stories on our Nightingale News page! |
|
Nightingale by the Numbers |
|
Did you know Nightingale College has active learners in 46 states? The 2023 Impact report has been posted to our website. Below you can read a few highlights, or you can visit our website to learn more. |
|
 |
As nursing became a well-respected profession during the 19th and 20th centuries, it created new opportunities for women that had never existed before. Nursing gave women new authority as experts in community issues and healthcare. Nurses, with their understanding of problems that affected their patients, were in a unique position to strive for change.Through public health, nursing, and advocacy organizations they established, nurses led the way not only in improving care for the sick, but also in advancing living conditions and opportunities for all of society.
You've heard of Florence Nightingale, but here are a few more women who advanced healthcare, improved conditions for their patients, and elevated the role of women in nursing and society in general:
-
Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell: The first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States, Dr. Blackwell was inspired to study medicine because a sick friend mentioned that she would have received better care from a woman than she'd received from her male doctor. Among Blackwell's achievements are opening the New York Infirmary for Women and creating the first medical school for women in England. It is estimated that hundreds of women joined the medical profession because of her influence.
-
Mary V. Clymer: When Clymer graduated in 1889 from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Training School for Nurses at the top of her class, she missed her own graduation because she was busy treating victims of a flood. She established the school's alumni organization and wrote its constitution, but she is best known today for The Clymer Diaries, which became an important resource for 19th century nurses.
-
Dorothea Dix: As a former student of Florence Nightingale, Dix was committed to improving conditions for patients, not just in hospitals, but also where they lived. She traveled thousands of miles all over the United States to inspect asylums, prisons, and poorhouses. Her exposés reporting the conditions of the places she visited were responsible for institutional reform across the country.
-
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler: Crumpler began her career as a nurse, serving in that capacity for years before becoming the first African-American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. She provided care to formerly enslaved people in Virginia for several years, then moved her practice to Boston, where she focused her efforts on treating women and children in poverty. She became well known for writing A Book of Medical Discourses: in Two Parts.
-
Lavinia Dock: As one of the founders of the National League for Nurses, Dock was one of the most active nurses working to establish women's suffrage. As a nurse, she authored the first nurses' drug manual, two volumes of nursing history, and several other books and articles. Later in life, she advocated for women's rights, greater autonomy for the nursing profession, and public education about health issues.
|
|
|
|
Nightingale College Pathway: Trust |
|
"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.”
― Ernest Hemingway
It can be difficult to trust another person. Most of us have known the pain of betrayal, disappointment, or hurt. When we trust another person, it requires us to build faith in someone so we can let go of our fear.
Nursing is one of the most trusted professions in the world. When you're a nurse, patients, families, and other medical professionals believe in you. They count on your knowledge, competence, professional judgment, honesty, and compassion to lead you to do what's best for others.
In nursing, trust is multi-directional. Not only do others trust you, but you must trust others and yourself to be successful.
As anxious as we may feel when we can sense a lack of trust from others, the opposite also holds true. When others trust us, it inspires us to feel confident in ourselves. We have more freedom to find new solutions and try new ideas. Trust allows us to develop closer relationships and to feel safe with each other.
We hope you will continue to develop your trust in yourself and others and that you will honor the trust others place in you throughout your time at Nightingale College and your nursing career.
|
|
|
Professional Presence: Cover Letters |
When you're applying for a job, you'll almost always need to include a cover letter. Unlike resumes, which list your education, experience, and skills, your cover letter allows you to explain why you're the ideal candidate for the position in more detail.
Do your homework. Learn all you can about the organization before you start writing. You don't need to stuff the cover letter with company jargon, but showing how your skills help the organization fulfill its mission or solve its problems will impress hiring managers–not just because of your level of preparation, but because they'll see you as a candidate that matches their needs.
Address the right person. If you start your cover letter with To Whom It May Concern, it gives the impression that you haven't done your homework to find the right person or that you're sending the same cover letter to anyone who will read it. It's always helpful to have a connection with the organization, but if you don't know who the hiring manager is, search online or call the company to ask.
Keep it short. Three to four paragraphs usually is recommended. Keep it under a page. Include only the most important information.
Get right to the point. You can mention who you are and how you heard about the position in the first paragraph, but you'll also need to grab attention quickly, so explain why you're the best fit for the position early in the letter.
Don't repeat your resume. Presumably, you've already included your resume in the application, so the organization doesn't need to read it again. You're selling your expertise, not making lists. Spend less time bragging about yourself and more time showing how you will solve the organization's problems and help them grow.
Avoid clichés. It's great if you can "think outside the box," but if dozens of other candidates' cover letters say the same thing, you don't look original. Avoid excessive use of adjectives to describe yourself (dynamic, quick learner, problem-solver), and instead show the hiring manager how your qualities produce measurable results.
Use your numbers. If you didn't have space in your resume, now's your chance to show how your skills and experience translate to real-world dollars and percentages.
Finish strong. Recap why you're the best candidate, tell them your plan to follow up, thank them for their time, and include a respectful salutation (such as sincerely, best, respectfully yours). Then sign or type your name.
Proofread. Typos look careless, which is not the impression you want to make. It's always a good idea to get a professional's advice or to ask someone else to check your letter for problems you may have missed.
|
|
|
|
Regardless of the specialty you choose, nursing is a rewarding career. Some people might question your decision to enroll in nursing school. You might have moments when you wonder if you made the right decision. Rather than focusing on a specific specialty, this month we'll highlight the entire nursing profession! We hope the information below will help reassure you and the people around you that nursing is a great career for you.
By becoming a nurse, you will not only help individual patients during some of their most challenging times, but you will also be helping the entire healthcare system. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), there are far more registered nurse jobs available than jobs for any other profession.
What skills and traits are helpful for a nurse to possess?
· Patience, reliability, and flexibility
· The 5 C’s: Commitment, Conscience, Competence, Compassion, and Confidence.
· Empathy
· Strong communication skills
· Leadership skills
· Willingness to learn
Where do people in the nursing profession work?
Registered nurses work in an array of settings such as hospitals, physicians’ offices, home healthcare services, and nursing care facilities. Other nurses can work in outpatient clinics and schools.
What are the main responsibilities of someone who works in nursing?
· Provide health promotion, counseling, and education.
· Perform physical exams, check vital signs, and read health histories before making critical decisions.
· Administer medications and other personalized interventions.
· Coordinate care in collaboration with a wide array of healthcare professionals.
· Ensure patients are comfortable.
What are the qualifications needed to work in nurse informatics?
· Get your high school diploma or GED.
· Earn your degree in nursing (BSN).
· Apply for RN licensure.
· Take the NCLEX-RN and pass the exam.
· Keep on learning.
What can someone who works in nursing earn?
Nurses can earn an average salary of $72,255 annually as of March 8, 2024, according to ZipRecruiter. Salary may vary depending on factors including education, experience, and location.
Want to learn more about what it's like to work as an nurse? Check out the video below!
|
|
|
|
|
Learner Portrait:
Flericamae Palomo
|
“Today, there's so much more that women can do because of the women who came before."
Learner Flericamae Palomo does things differently than earlier generations in her native Philippines, and she's been guided by other women who blazed trails before her. Since her days as a Catholic schoolgirl, Flericamae has drawn inspiration from women who showed her what was possible.
"At school, they told us the story of Mother Teresa," she says, "and when I learned about how she helped the sick and people who couldn't help themselves, I wanted to do that, too."
Growing up, Flericamae watched her mother serve as a midwife. After completing two years of nursing school in the Philippines, Flericamae moved to Guam, where she became a CNA and joined the military. In the Navy, new opportunities in healthcare became available.
As a Navy corpsman, Flericamae learned about women who overcame great odds to rise to prominence in healthcare and military leadership.
"Every time I went to a new training, they would tell us about the women who were the first in their field. 1948 is when they allowed women to become active duty corpsmen. Now, more women go to those trainings and we can deploy together with the Marines."
Because of World War II and the signing of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act, women like Frona Liston (who served at Long Beach Naval Hospital during World War II), Ruth Flora (first female hospital corpsman), and Dominique Saavedra (first woman to serve on a Navy submarine) joined the Navy. The stories of these women and others like them inspire Flericamae to walk in their footsteps.
"I met the commanding officer (CO) of the hospital where I'm working," Flericamae says. "She showed me that great things are possible in nursing."
Flericamae's family has learned that she is more than capable of handling the demands of the military.
"My dad used to say, 'You're short. How are you going to keep up with everyone else when you go hiking?' I tell him that I can do it, and if I can't do it right away, that just means I need more training."
It helps that her commanding officers believe in her, too.
"When I checked in for my greenside command, the command master chief asked me what my goals were. And I told him I wanted to join the Nurse Corps and become a captain. He was surprised at first-most corpsmen say chief or commander. But then he told me to do whatever I needed to do to get there. He's rooting for me."
We are rooting for you, too, Flericamae, and we hope all your dreams come true.
|
|
|
|
Collaborator Spotlight: Catherine Davis |
“I often get asked, 'What would be your favorite time of history to live in?' I always say right now because I have the benefit of all of the shoulders that I'm standing on from all the women who have come before me."
Faculty member and Ph.D. student Catherine Davis loves history and learning. She recognizes that she's gotten to this point because of the courage of women before her.
"I have the right to vote because of the suffragette movement. I have the right to my own finances. And I can get an education."
Catherine draws particular inspiration from Maya Angelou. She has read from Angelou's works extensively and even had the privilege of meeting her once.
"Maya Angelou refused to be denied, she embraced herself fully, and it was so empowering to see that," Catherine remembers.
For Catherine, teaching at a nursing school helps her appreciate the contributions women have made in healthcare, although progress still remains to be made.
"For a long time, medicine focused on men's bodies. But different bodies need different things, whether they are male, female, or non-binary, so it's important that healthcare meets the needs of everyone."
Catherine recognizes that the rights she enjoys didn't come without struggles, and that's a lesson she hopes learners appreciate today.
"The women who fought to gain human rights had perseverance and determination. They didn't give up, even when it seemed like nothing would ever change."
As future nurses, Catherine hopes learners will understand that history, like nursing, encompasses all of humanity.
"There has to be respect between people. History shows us what happens when there is a distinct lack of respect for each other."
Although Catherine literally teaches ancient history, she believes the past is relevant to the present because it can teach us lessons to create a better future.
"It makes me happy when I see learners making connections on their own. They can apply what they've learned and say, 'This happened in ancient Greece. How is that important to me today, and how do I apply that to my nursing career?'"
Even though she watches learners understand and apply new concepts all the time, Catherine's greatest growth comes from within.
"I find teaching is always a challenge, which is a good thing because I learn more that way."
|
|
|
|
Women’s History Month is a time to honor women whose leadership, contributions, and sacrifices have awakened new paths for generations to come. Take a look at these five remarkable women whose skills and expertise have forged the profession of modern nursing.
|
|
If you are looking for a way to get ahead of Nurses Week 2024 and show your appreciation to the nurses in your life, nurse.org has rounded up the best Nurses Week gifts and celebration ideas to keep the fun going all year.
|
|
For the days when you just need a little motivation, or for the moments when you don’t know whether to laugh or cry, sometimes a perfectly placed nursing quote can be the thing you need to keep going. This list of quotes will be sure to put a smile on your face.
|
|
Nightingale College Contact Information |
|
We're updating our contact information to make it easier for learners to find the functions they need and get their questions answered. More information will follow! |
|
|
Sigma Theta Tau: Alpha Beta Xi
We're excited for our new member induction on Wednesday, April 10, at 10: 00 a.m. Mountain Time.
We'll hold our regular Sigma and Me meeting (for all Sigma members) on the last Wednesday of the month. In the meantime, we invite you to visit the chapter website.
|
|
|
|
National Student Nurses' Association
The next NSNA meeting will be held April 4, 2024 at 1 p.m. Mountain Time. If you are interested in becoming a leader in a student-led organization, the NSNA election period is right around the corner.
- Nominations are due Monday, May 20, 2024.
- Voting ends Friday, May 31, 2024.
- Winners will be announced Thursday, June 6, 2024, at the monthly meeting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phone: (801) 689-2160
95 South State St. Suite 400
Salt Lake City, UT, 84111
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
