In one word I would describe my experience with Excelsior College as _________.

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Our Excelsior College students come from all sorts of different backgrounds and experience levels, juggling a host of work, family and personal commitments while earning their degrees online.

Some students are changing careers, while others are looking to step up to the next level in their current industries. Some are getting additional degrees, while others are working on their first collegiate diplomas. Some transfer in credits from other institutions or receive credit for workplace training while others start from scratch at Excelsior.

It’s a true melting pot of talent, so we thought we’d ask our dedicated Facebook followers to describe their Excelsior College experiences in one word. We were blown away by the volume and diversity in responses, so a sincere thank you to everyone who contributed. Here is a recap of the conversation.

Question: “In one word I would describe my experience with Excelsior College as ________.

Comments:

Jason Garmendiz Challenging! I got my degree in December 2017 and in March 2018 got a promotion! A college degree really makes a difference in the job market!

Takeah Fancy I’ll soon find out…

Christopher Williams Phenomenal

Janet Huizenga Amazing!!!!

Tom Galliher Life-changing

Shannon Callaghan Chobert Empowering!! ❤

Joke Asubiaro Rewarding

Tracey Perez Rewarding!

Michael C. Antinucci Focused.

Tom Hoeg Enlightening

Helaine Goldenberg Berl Worthwhile

Dan McDonald Great !!

David Ward Rewarding

Tara Triassi Life-changing!

Clint Bailly Decisive??

Sterling Brown Amazing!

Dawid Catorce Fun

Silvia Gula For me over 25 years ago was an excellent way for me to complete my bachelor degree.

John Skid Markley Extremelyhelpfulforasuccesfulmilitarycareer!

Eric L Stockard Finally (a degree with 5 schools worth of credits and no degree)

Ermenita Zyka Kaçani Life-changing

Cheryl Natale Vitale Challenging!

Michelle M. Peters Low-stress

Scott Morton Outstanding

Jeff Gleason Convenient

Oscar Turner RN Profitable

Bry-Ant Harry Awesome

James Thompson Discombobulating. A little chaos and change is a good thing now and again.

Tory Robinson Deft.

Gary Vincent Relieving! Not a student here, but needed one more class in ethics to graduate on time with my college, so I took advantage of the Business Ethics excel exam, and now I’m graduating on time!

“If I could give any advice to new students it would be…”

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

If you could give any advice to new students entering college, what would you say? It seems like such a simple question with such a simple answer. Yet, how do you put years of advice, lessons and experiences into one answer?

At Excelsior College, we believe it’s important that our students not only feel connected with their peers, but also let them know that we’re here for them as well. Our Facebook #FillInTheBlankFriday posts were created to do exactly that. We understand the challenges, time and effort it takes to finally cross the finish line and receive that diploma — while juggling other family and professional commitments. We’ve been there ourselves.

We truly value the Excelsior community, and are sincerely thankful for the great insight our alums and current students doled out on this post.

Question: If I could give any advice to new students it would be…

Comments:

Shannon Callaghan Chobert – “Write out your reasons for doing this. Write down your goals. Write down that you believe in yourself. Put it on an index card and keep it with your study materials and read it every single day and when you feel discouraged. You will succeed. It works.”

Shaintell Green-Alexander – “Tell your family and friends what you’re doing and that there may be a few things that you’re going to have to say no to, but it will all be worth it when you’re done and they witness you dance across the stage at commencement.”

Patrick Jones – “First, if you encounter challenges in your classes, ask for assistance from your instructors. Their sole goal is to promote student success. Second, keep on pace with your assignments. Successive module learning outcomes build on those earlier in the course. If you fall behind, it can be very difficult to get back on track.”

Cheryl Natale Vitale – “Be organized and stay on top of all your required work. Be determined and never give up. It will all be worth it when you see your diploma!”

John Harold – “Do the work. Put in the effort. Stay focused. Don’t make excuses.”

Nichole Koren Smith – “Honestly, it’s far more work than I ever did in classroom-based classes.”

Shannon Callaghan Chobert – “I did the LPN to RN bridge. Failed first CPNE, passed on the second attempt. Worth every minute of anxiety, hard-work, patience: every penny. Loved Chambersburg twice.”

Todd Willbur – “Trust the process. Put the time in.”

Todd Ginapp – “Develop time management right away.”

Cesar Munguia – “Time management. For a while, I did three courses at a time. Time management was critical to get three papers turned in every week and maintaining my GPA.”

Doris D Preslar Leveque – “Keep moving forward. Work through any setbacks. Keep your eye on the prize.”

Adrianne Boyd – “Don’t give up! You can do it!”

Julie Kovach Nestor – “Have discipline.”

Raymond Farparan – “Shut yourself off from the rest of the world and put in hard work.”

Melanie Frees – “Don’t procrastinate. If the DB is due Thursday, turn it in a day or two earlier!”

Ron Freeman – “Save all your work; you’ll need it for your capstone.”

Rebecca Price – “Have a blast, check references and give good ones.”

Dakotah Rae – “Don’t take out student loans for your education.”

 Be sure to follow us on Facebook for more news and insight from the Excelsior community.

 

 

Concussion Safety for Spring Activities

Posted on by Audrey Paslow

As the weather warms and we get a reprieve from cabin fever, it’s important to stay safe as we take our physical fitness outdoors. One common and preventable injury is concussion, which is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that results from a direct or indirect force sustained to the head or body. Depending on the area of the brain affected, individuals may experience symptoms of headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, sleep issues, and increased symptoms while exercising. While this topic is often discussed in terms of sports-related injuries, it is important to keep in mind all areas where concussions can occur. As you gear up to exercise outdoors, keep in mind some of these safety reminders:

  • Wear your helmet! Whether riding your bicycle to work or taking your motorcycle out to enjoy a spring ride, remember that helmets play an important role in the reduction of head injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 26,000 brain injuries related to bike accidents are annually treated in children and adolescents in the emergency department. Also, wear reflective clothing when riding in low light and follow appropriate traffic laws.
  • Inspect playground equipment each spring. About 10 percent of emergency department visits for playground-related injuries in children are for concussions or TBI. Seventy-five percent of these injuries occur on public playgrounds, most often on the monkey bars or other climbing equipment. Injury rates are among the highest in April and May. When looking for ways to keep your child safe, be sure to inspect the equipment, check that there is soft ground (mulch or sand) underneath, safety rails are in place where appropriate, and that your child is using equipment that is appropriate for their age.
  • Reduce your risk of falls. The CDC reports falls are the most common cause of TBI in young children and older adults. For adults over the age of 65 especially, 1 in 4 will fall each year. These falls can unfortunately lead to a variety of health issues, including concussions. If you enjoy hiking or walking outdoors, be sure to wear appropriate footwear and scan for obstacles that may be in your path (such as potholes or tree stumps).
  • Don’t forget about spring sports. While not the most common cause of brain injury amongst any age group, sports often make the news because of head injuries. While many of us commonly think of concussions as only occurring in football (think of the recent articles on the NFL or the movies “Concussion” or “League of Denial”), a study in USA Today shows girls’ soccer now eclipses boys’ football for the number of concussions. Use a helmet and other safety equipment, follow the rules of the game, and practice good sportsmanship.

If you suspect a concussion in yourself or a family member, find a health professional who can evaluate and provide treatment. A great training resource for brain injury for children is the CDC’s Heads Up Program. 

Have a safe and healthy spring!

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Excelsior College, its trustees, officers, or employees.

Course Feature: GENE 350: Advanced Genealogical Research

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Genealogical professionals approach and solve difficult identity inquiries by thoroughly dissecting, analyzing, and reassembling complex genealogical problems. In GENE 350: Advanced Genealogical Research, students examine how to apply best practices and strategies to solve identity cases that are similar to the cases professionals would work on. Students work together, discussing ethical considerations, investigating difficult genealogical questions, and practicing peer review. The course prepares students for careers and/or further professional study in the practice of genealogy.

Instructor Melinde Byrne explains, “We discuss current cases and their ethics, like finding birth parents or children, the settlement of Prince’s estate, the government’s use of the 1940 census to send Americans of Japanese descent to concentration camps during World War II, or a woman claiming to be Salvador Dali’s daughter suing the Spanish government for the return of Dali’s paintings.” Students also study a case involving locating Alyce Hall, an African-American “Top Secret Rosie” who created long-range bombing algorithms for the U.S. Army during World War II.

After discussing case studies like these, the students discuss the methods and techniques for solving them, including using syllogism (a logical argument using deductive reasoning), identifying bias, gaps, negative evidence, and applying standards to proof, to solve a case from their own experiences. Students have enjoyed the hands-on learning experience. Jennifer Armstrong Zinck says, “I was able to answer a challenging research question that I had been working on for 15 years. The methodologies taught in the course increased my ability to think outside of the box and solve complex genealogical problems.” Allison Ryall adds, “This course was hands-down the one thing that expanded my mind and analytical skills regarding problem solving and genealogical problems. The assignments are unique and creative and taught me how to look at things in an entirely different way.”

“Students who love a challenge and hope to make a difference with cutting-edge methods embrace this class,” says Byrne. She adds that there is a lot to learn in such a fast-moving field. The area of genealogical research is always growing. Byrne says, “People who have been doing research for years—whether it be identifying missing heirs, naming John or Jane Does, helping to identify relatives of MIA or KIA soldiers for proactive DNA testing, tracking a susceptibility to illness, or finding birth parents or children—all can benefit from using standards and learning from fascinating casework.”

Consider signing up for GENE 350: Advanced Genealogical Research if you would like to learn the strategies and techniques genealogy professionals use to solve complex identity problems.

Healthy Eating for Busy People

Posted on by Kelly Hunger

I often hear from my clients and Health Sciences students that staying on a healthy path is difficult with the fast-paced world in which we live. As a busy working mom of three children under 3 years old (a 3.5-year-old and twin 16-month-olds), I would have to say that time is literally of the essence to get a healthy meal on the table. I could not accomplish this feat without meal planning, prep, inspiration, tools, and a little help from Sesame Street.

Planning is key. Meal planning is the new buzz word for a fast-paced life. According to the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity, “Individuals planning their meals were more likely to have a better dietary quality, including a higher adherence with nutritional guidelines as well as an increased food variety. Additionally, meal planning was associated with lower odds of being obese in men and women and overweight in women only.”

Each week I sit down and write a Monday–Sunday list of dinners that I know are quick, healthy, and delicious. No one wants to eat boring food, so I attempt to give each day a consistent main theme that helps with the busy week and provides overall balance. Not much of a planner? There is an app for that, literally down to the list! Digital Trends and Real Simple  have lists of apps to choose from. Many of the apps also have creative meal inspiration. There’s something for nearly everyone!

Here are some tips that might work for you:

  • Plan “theme of the day” dinners. Big Meal Sundays (double batch meals for leftovers or lunch), Meatless Mondays (bean burger, frittatas, or join the veggie noodle craze), Taco Tuesday (lighten up with ground bison or turkey, 1/2 pack of low-sodium taco seasoning mix), Boneless Chicken Thigh Wednesdays (ok, it doesn’t flow, but you get the idea and they are easy to cook), Take Out at Home Thursday (veggie pizza, tofu stir-fry, Indian spiced cauliflower), and Fish
  • Prep & Pair: I then pair each main course with a fitting vegetable and potential There are some great vegetables out there that come pre-packed (think Mexican slaw for Taco Tuesday) that can easily be mixed, microwaved, or roasted in under 20 minutes. If you can’t purchase pre-cut veggies, just add some time to your prep list on the day off and store appropriately. My fast and healthy go-to grains include brown rice (instant or not), polenta, faro, and quinoa.
  • Add a dose of inspiration: There are a lot of good resources out there these One of my favorites is the Real Simple magazine website. They give you at least five recipes each month with the time needed for preparation and cooking and a nutritional breakdown.
  • Have the right tools on hand: Anything that can decrease your time preparing and cooking is worth the money spent: Instant Pots, crockpots, grills, air tight containers, blenders, hand choppers, and the list goes

Other meal planning tips:

  • A faster, better breakfast: Some go-tos are oats (cold, hot, slightly sweet, or savory) and smoothies (low-fat Greek yogurt, frozen vegetable, and fruit).
  • Quick-pack lunch: Leftovers make great lunches, especially on top of greens or in a quesadilla. Really on the run? I love portion-packed nuts, apples, other quick-eat fruit, and Greek Yogurt

I know meal planning can be painful but based on my experiences with clients, it will help you optimize your dietary options and meet your long-term health plans. Remember it’s a lifestyle change, but it is a change worth making.

How Excelsior Awakened Lauren Harlow’s Passion for History

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Twenty-four-year-old Lauren Harlow never expected to find herself researching and writing about artifacts and historical documents at Historic St. Luke’s Church, the oldest church in Virginia. But, after her experience in Excelsior College’s history curriculum, and with encouragement from her Excelsior professor Robin Campbell, Lauren’s volunteer experience at St. Luke’s has helped her discover her true passion.

“My entire Excelsior experience gave me the confidence to take on new tasks,” Lauren says. “If it’s possible, I would be thrilled to work at St. Luke’s full-time, and Excelsior truly helped me discover that interest.”

Lauren, who lives in Norfolk, Virginia, began her Excelsior career in fall 2015 pursuing an associate degree in liberal arts with a focus in history. She discovered Excelsior through her husband, Andrew, a lieutenant in the United States Navy and an Excelsior alumnus with his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts.

“It was a great experience for him, and he spoke very highly of the Excelsior professors and course structure,” Lauren says. “My experience has been much the same. The convenience of Excelsior is great, and I can access educational resources at any time of the day.”

Andrew’s career requires the family to move frequently, so when deciding to pursue higher education, Lauren knew she needed something flexible that would allow her to adhere to her own schedule while receiving a high-quality education that positioned her for success.

“As a Navy family, we completed two moves when I was studying for my associate degree, and we went through a six-month deployment,” Lauren says. “Not having your partner there is certainly one of the hardest things, and it made school challenging. But, I could chat and email my peers and professors at any time and have in-depth conversations. It felt like I was actually in a classroom.”

Lauren, an avid learner and history buff, participated energetically in all her courses. After completing her general education classes, she delved into more specialized courses, learning about the histories of eclectic subjects like pirates and witches. It was within Excelsior’s history curriculum that Lauren was introduced to Historic St. Luke’s Church, a 17th-century historical site in Isle of Wight County. Programs there preserve, promote, and interpret the 100-acre site.

As a part of her public history class, Lauren had to search for a job in the Norfolk area that she found interesting and relevant to her field of study. She came across a position as a volunteer historical research assistant at St. Luke’s, and at first, she didn’t plan on applying. However, her instructor Robin Campbell encouraged her to pursue the opportunity to grow her professional skills and become involved in the community.

Lauren decided to apply to the position and she was accepted. From October 2017 through January 2018, she performed online research to update the church’s artifact database, wrote blog posts for the church’s website, and networked with other professionals and institutions to exchange information and insight.

“There are so many aspects about Historic St. Luke’s Church that I love, but one of the most interesting experiences was learning the remarkable stories behind the historic building,” says Lauren. “When you inspect the church very closely, you realize there were so many decisions, people, and amazing things that led to it standing there, right in front of you.”

Though Lauren hadn’t initially intended on working at St. Luke’s, the skills and knowledge she attained while attending Excelsior allowed her to excel.

“Many skills that I learned through Excelsior transferred very nicely into being a historical research assistant,” Lauren says. “Excelsior gave me skills in critical analysis, writing, problem solving, and communicating, which all helped me perform my job well at St. Luke’s.”

Lauren’s volunteer term has ended at St. Luke’s, but as that chapter of her life comes to an end, another begins. Armed with her associate degree, Lauren will return to Excelsior in fall 2018 to pursue her bachelor’s degree in history, which will allow her to continue to pursue her passion.

“Excelsior has proved to fit my life, no matter what challenges arise,” says Lauren. “My goal is to work as a curator within American history, and I know a bachelor’s degree with Excelsior will provide me with a solid foundation. I’m really looking forward to the next couple years with them.”

 

Professional Advice from Lauren Harlow

On networking:

Connect, connect, connect. Whether it be volunteering or testing out an internship, start and start now. Building a network takes effort and it takes time to benefit from that network. The larger your network and more connection you have adds value.

On trends within her industry:

There’s been a major push for a complete digitization of archives, not only to preserve history, but also to make history more accessible to the general public.

On the best books she’s read for her industry:

Any book on the Constitution is going to change your life. “The 5,000 Year Leap” talks about the constitution from the perspective of the founding fathers. I use quotes from it all the time. I would also recommend “Decision in Philadelphia.” In contrast to “The 5,000 Year Leap,” this book gives more of a technical approach to how the Constitution was written.

On time management:

Everyone is different, but what works best for me is writing down all my tasks. I write down everything I have to do in a particular week, break that down into tasks for the day, then down to the hour. The key is to create and stick to a schedule that works for you.

What one thing do you know now that you wish you knew when you were getting your Excelsior degree?

Get plugged into a historical community early. Your experience can benefit the organization as well as your own career in the long run.

Best advice for the business world:

Keep an open mind no matter what line of work you’re in. Consider the other side of the argument before you draw any conclusions.

 

Tips for Managing Stress

Posted on by Marisa Iacobucci

When I was in graduate school for social work, every professor without exception emphasized the importance of self-care. I heard time and again that taking time out to relax, exercise – whatever it takes to manage the stress – was critical for success in school. My first thoughts: What time? Where is this magical time coming from? With a full-time course load and managing my home life, where exactly will I find time to relax? Back then, when I had that rare extra moment, I fell asleep!

Does this sound familiar? I have good news – there are some simple things you can do to manage the stress in your life. The reality is that, with some exceptions, stress (good or bad) isn’t going away. However, being proactive on how to manage the challenges we face is helpful.

One powerful stress management tool I often use is tapping. Tapping, also known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is a form of energy medicine and involves tapping on various acupuncture points on the body. Gary Craig, one of the early developers of EFT, has an excellent video outlining the basics of the EFT process. This, too, can be done anywhere and at any time. I encourage you to give it a try!

Another very simple and quick technique I use to calm my stress is Soft Belly Breathing. This short breathing meditation involves breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth, slowly and deeply. When you breathe in this way, you cannot be anxious, because it’s not physiologically possible for your body! Go to the Center for Mind-Body Medicine to listen to James Gordon, creator of Soft Belly Breathing, teach soft belly breathing. Once you’ve learned it, you can do it anywhere – before a test, in a traffic jam…anytime.

Lastly, the messages we tell ourselves on a regular basis – that inner chatter – can be powerful. Give yourself healthy, calming messages. These may be short sentences, such as “I will remember to breathe as I write my final paper.” Or, you may want to use simple meditations. I want to share this brief meditation from the book “Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life” by Thich Nhat Hanh, which can help you set an intention for your day:

As you wake up each morning and before you get out of bed, breathe three in-breaths and out-breaths, repeating the following verse silently for each in-breath and out-breath:

Breathing in, I fill my new day with

joy/ faith/ love/ gratitude/ mindfulness/ ease/ harmony.

Breathing out, I smile.

For the in-breath, choose one of the words that most appeals to you. 

Interested in learning more about managing your stress? Register for HSC402 Managing Stress today! This course teaches many practical strategies to alleviate stress.  For now, as you finish reading this, take a nice deep breath.

 

Facial Exercises for Anti-Aging

Posted on by Jeff A. Pence

Changes in how we look occur naturally as part of the aging process, but fortunately, not all is lost in this battle! As is the case with many things, we do have some control over this process. Facial muscle exercises are not at all dissimilar to resistance exercise elsewhere in the body. As little as 30 minutes a day of focused facial muscle exercises can maintain tone in the facial muscles and help us to look and feel younger.

In a proof of concept study, researchers at Northwestern University found that by spending 30 minutes a day exercising the muscles of the face, participants were able to tighten and lift the cheeks to appear younger. The participants practiced 32 different facial expressions which they generally held for one minute each.

One exercise, “The Cheek Lifter,” consists of working the cheek muscles. The steps are as follows: Open your mouth and form an O; with your lips over your teeth, smile to lift your cheeks; place your fingertips lightly on the top part of the cheek so you can feel them lifting; and repeat the up and down motion for one minute.

The changes in the study participants were blind-assessed by dermatologists by looking at their before and after photos. Doctors used a standardized facial aging scale and rated 19 features at the beginning, middle, and end of the study. At the start of the study, the dermatologists rated the patients to be 50.8 years on average; because of the exercises, that dropped to 48.1 over the course of the study.

It’s important to realize that chronological age is not the only factor involved. Stress, lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and a sedentary lifestyle can accelerate the effects of aging and make individuals appear older

To learn more about this and other relevant topics, consider taking HSC 316: Mind, Body, and Health. The course is interesting, informative, and introspective and shows us that taking an active role in monitoring risks to our health can really pay off.

Course Feature: Tech 230: Technology and Society

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

The synergistic relationship of technology and society spans from the age of early man with the invention of simple tools, to the 15th century with the invention of the printing press, to modern times with the computer. TECH 230: Technology and Society covers technological change from historical, artistic, and philosophical perspectives and its effect on human needs and concerns. Students will particularly study the causes and consequences of technological change and evaluate the implications of technology.

Bei Liu, a Business & Technology faculty member, explains TECH 230 is one of the core components in the arts and sciences, and covers a wide range of topics related to the social sciences, technology, information technology, history, and communications. Students in the Bachelor of Professional Studies in Technology Management and the Associate in Applied Science in Technical Studies programs would particularly benefit from the course, but Liu says, “I think many students should be interested in this course because of the fun topics this course covers.”

Students who take this course are able to: differentiate the major technological innovations that have shaped modern society; illustrate the role technology has played in the evolution of social advancements; identify key figures in the development of technology; and examine causal relationships that spring from any technological change. Students are also able to explain the link between technology and the natural world; categorize major historical and technological influences on society; interpret technology’s impact in key areas of life such as medicine, warfare, and education; analyze the impact of inventions and inventors and their effects on society; and distinguish between technological advancement and societal progress. Through this course, students also improve their research and writing skills.

Liu says students are especially interested in this course because it includes cutting-edge information. It seems students agree; comments range from “I did learn some cool things about technology and society” to “the class is very informative and promotes group participation.”

Consider signing up for Tech 230: Technology and Society next semester to learn about the fascinating evolution of technology and its effects on human society.

Nurses Can Make a Difference in Health Care Policy

Posted on by cmosca

The first step in advocating for health care policy change is to be aware of what is happening in health care reform. As Congress debates the merits of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and considers alternatives, nurses can advocate changes that bring positive outcomes to patient care. As these debates unfold, bear in mind how the proposed changes, and the dismantling of the Affordable Care Act, will affect the patients you see every day.

The ACA was not perfect, and it was expected that modifications would be needed as time went on. However, it was a first step toward health care reform and generated many positive changes. Some of these were: expanded coverage for mental health and substance abuse, allowing children to remain on their parent’s insurance until age 26, mandated coverage of pre-existing conditions, and increased funding for preventative care. These are just a few benefits; there are many more. All of this is now at risk as Congress struggles with the enormous task of building a new health care system. How will your patients suffer if these benefits disappear? How will society suffer?

There are more than three million nurses in the U.S. Your one voice can make a difference, and many voices together can make an even bigger difference. The American Nurses Association has put together a toolkit for nurses to advocate for policy changes. There are instructions for more humble tasks such as emailing congressional representatives and for more ambitious activities such as writing a letter to an editor or visiting a congressional town hall. It doesn’t matter which task you embrace—they are all valuable and can make a difference in the outcome of health care policy decisions. Collectively, our voices can be strong, but doing nothing gets exactly that: nothing. Consider taking a moment out of your busy lives to advocate for health care policy changes that will positively impact patient care outcomes. You can make a difference.

Getting Through the Night Shift

Posted on by Lynda Holt

It isn’t uncommon for nurses to at some point in their career to work the night shift. Some nurses like to work late knowing they will get the opportunity to be a leader. There are fewer people working, so the opportunity to stand out and be recognized as a professional in the field can happen at night when it could be possible to be overlooked during the day.

Nicole Helstowski, MSN, RN, NE-BC, a faculty program director at Excelsior College explains, “the autonomy that prevails on night shift can assist nurses in developing their leadership skills, communication skills, and collaboration skills at a more rapid pace than day shift nurses.” Patient behavior can also be different during the night, posing challenges that night nurses need to deal with, often with little assistance from co-workers. Helstowski notes, “Patients with delirium or sundowner’s syndrome can make night shift challenging. Confusion can cause a patient to get out of bed and fall, or pull out a drainage or intravenous device…serious issues tend to happen in the night. It is very satisfying to know that while the rest of the world is sleeping, I was awake and there to help that person in their time of need.”

And as health professionals know, nights will full moons bring in higher numbers of people in need. “Doctors and nurses have long known that the night of a full moon will create high acuity and abundant patient needs for the healthcare team,” says Helstowski.

According to the American Nurses Association, working night shift can raise your risk for car crashes, the risk of developing obesity and Type 2 Diabetes, and increase your risk for cancer. Helstowski suggests, “Many nurses gain weight on the night shift. It’s easy to reach for a sugary, high-calorie snack to combat fatigue. The cafeterias are not open at night, and so you are stuck bringing in food from home for a meal or visiting a vending machine. Meal planning and keeping healthy snacks in your locker can prevent hunger pains that may cause you to make poor food choices.”

Vitamin D may also become more important.

“Taking a high-grade Vitamin D supplement was necessary to improve a Vitamin D deficiency that occurred early on in my night shift career,” recalls Helstowski. “Because night shift workers are not exposed to much sunlight, they are at greater risk for Vitamin D deficiency. Deficiency can lead to brittle bones, fatigue, and pain in the muscles.”

So, what can you do to help yourself stay healthy while working the night shift? Keep healthier options available that are easy to grab as you run out the door to work. This can include healthier or organic options of frozen meals, precut vegetables, low fat cheese sticks, Greek yogurt, low-sugar protein bars, and other option you prepare at home and brown bag to bring to work. Remember to bring vegetable and protein snacks so that you are less likely to grab a candy bar or bag of chips from the vending machine. If you have a locker or place to store items, keep protein bars, pouches of tuna, or other snacks that are shelf stable for those times when you forgot your lunch or snacks at home. Drink plenty of water throughout the night.

Other tips from Helstowski are:

  • Use caffeine as necessary to stay alert (especially mid-shift)
  • Stay warm. The natural drop in body temperature at night can make you feel sluggish so dress in layers.
  • Get on a routine sleep schedule. Check with your co-workers to see what works for them, and be willing to try new things. This can include sound machines or ear plugs to drown out extraneous noise. Try room-darkening drapes or an eye shade to help you get into sleep mode.
  • Give yourself time to adjust, and remember why you chose to work nights. It may be to cut back on child care expenses, to spend time with an aging parent, or your own personal reasons.

What It Takes to Be a Nurse

Posted on by Ellen LaDieu

Caring, motivation, persistence, expert knowledge, and the ability to translate knowledge into action are vital qualities that successful nurses use each day in their profession.

Caring is essential for a nurse and a client to interact and help each other. (You’ll notice I did not say “for the nurse to help the patient.”) Jean Watson, founder of the Watson Caring Science Institute, developed her theory of Caring Science which explains how two people meet, interact, and how the interaction can benefit both parties, like the nurse and the client. Caring (personal concern) is the essential component that facilitates this.  A desire to help can be a driving force for the person considering nursing. The nurse must set the stage to develop and provide caring moments for the clients. Although caring is seen by some as a one-way street from the nurse to the client, Watson’s two-way perspective offers a more symbiotic relationship between the nurse and the client. The caring interaction greatly enhances the nurse’s satisfaction.

Motivation is necessary as nursing practice continues to change based on new information and studies. New nursing theories and evidence-based practices arise from developments in science. The nurse must be a lifelong learner, changing his or her practice to use the best new techniques supported by evidence. Being motivated to help the client stimulates the nurse to continue to improve their practice. The registered professional nurse role can be a challenging one and motivation helps the nurse move forward each day.

Persistence and tenacity are the staying power of the nurse. A nurse’s role is not necessarily an easy one and being highly focused helps when times become challenging.  Oftentimes the nurse needs to fine-tune a plan of individual nursing care or an action plan to resolve a unit problem.

Knowledge/expertise associated with the science and art of nursing is the basis of what it takes to be a nurse. Knowing how people/clients respond to different diseases, situations, and circumstances is important to anticipate how an individual may react.  The nurse uses this data to develop a patient-centered plan to help the patient meet their goals.  A nurse’s knowledge is layer upon layer of anatomy and physiology, microbiology, psychology, and sociology at a minimum. The broader the nurse’s knowledge base, the easier it may be to help the client to achieve desired goals.

The ability to translate knowledge into action is important in nursing. Knowing evidence-based practices that might help with a problem; the individual client and their preferences; and one’s self, helps the nurse prepare for a successful interaction. The nurse must be confident and able to coordinate and/or perform psychomotor skills.  Evaluating the care provided allows the nurse to determine how to improve the plan for a current client and future ones.