Fall 2012 The Sequoia Sun San Francisco State University Sequoia Welcome to SFSU Canada Campus A Word from NSA By Michelle Ribotta Welcome to the Sequoia Sun! We hope this newsletter will give you a glimpse of who we are at Sequoia Hospital/SFSU Satellite BSN Program at Cañada College! A little about ourselves, Cohorts 8 and 9 consist of 40 students respectively. As Cohort 8 begins the process of winding down as students in the BSN program, they are supporting incoming Cohort 9 members into their new roles as student nurses. Over the last few semesters NSA has held various volunteer activities and fundraisers in collaboration with California Pizza Kitchen, SF GIANTS, and main campus NSA for a rousing game of kick ball! Each fundraiser has been more successful than the previous, and we look forward to continuing this success! Also, we ve spruced up our website, nsasequoia.com there you ll find updated information for each cohort, plus information on NSA. Please check us out! Current NSA Officers PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: TREASURER: SECRETARY: PUBLIC RELATIONS: Michelle Ribotta Ashley Binger Jennifer Wong Sheila Ashtiani Candice Nguyen By Jennifer Wong Orientation Day Recap Cohort 9 s orientation was a great show of teamwork among the new class of Sequoia/SFSU nursing students. Dr. Davis, Sandy Frojelin, and many other clinical instructors from Sequoia Hospital welcomed the new class and briefly introduced eager students to the rigor and reward of the program that lied ahead. NSA gave an informative PowerPoint presentation on what to expect over the next semesters and volunteer mentors from Cohort 8 were then introduced to the incoming class. The first official Cohort 9 lottery for clinical placements was conducted-- also for the first time was conducting it outdoors where the day was bright and warm. Our prediction: this first meeting of the new Cohort & NSA foretells great collaboration ahead! HISTORIAN: WEBMASTER: Laura Perry LaDell Jorgensen
A Message from the Editor Fall 2012 A great deal of thanks goes to all creative minds who have made this year s NSA newsletter possible. I hope all who read this will enjoy the walk down memory lane as much as we have. ~Candice Nguyen Sequoia Blood Pressure Screenings By Candice Nguyen As part of a Sequoia HealthCare District public health project, Cohort 8 volunteers performed blood pressure screenings of grade school students at Oak Grove Elementary School, Redwood City during a soccer competition. Parents of children with elevated blood pressure scores were subsequently contacted by the Health Care District with their child s score, information, and resources on follow-up care. Lee Michelson, CEO of Sequoia Hospital, was also present to lend support. CERT Triage Training & Victims Volunteer By Stacie Roshon Members of Cohorts 8 and 9 participated in a CERT Triage training program. Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) are volunteers trained in disaster preparedness with basic response skills giving them the tools and ability to react to any hazard that may occur near them. Volunteers learned about START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment), as well as acted (gory makeup and all!) as victims of a natural disaster, giving CERT members a chance to put their training into action! Volunteers were presented with certificates for their contributions. We LOVED the results from our collaboration with the North Country Fire Authority and for the benefit of both nursing students and the community, we plan to continue our partnership into the future. 2 Project Homeless Connect By LaDell Jorgensen Hepatitis B Screening & Parade Cohort 8-9 Mentorship Program By Kim Johnson Volunteers gathered on October 24, 2012 at the Bill Graham Auditorium to assist in the bi-monthly Project Homeless Connect (PHC) program in San Francisco. The 46 th event has helped thousands of homeless people in San Francisco receive basic medical, dental, vaccinations, and food services. PHC also connects the homeless with social services to assist them in gaining employment, housing and medical insurance. Over 50 nursing students from around the Bay Area attended, including 16 students from our very own SFSU/ Canada Cohort. Many assisted the homeless with translation, vitals and medical screens, data entry, medical supply distribution, health education, etc. The next event will be held on December 12, 2012. If interested, please visit their website at: http://www.projecthomelessconnect.com The Mentor Program gives each entering student the opportunity to partner with a Level 4 student as their guide through all the tough questions, the jitters, and a friend to assist them through the transition into the SFSU/Canada nursing program. Cohort 8 mentors follow-up with mentees at minimum three times per semester. Their commitment is ongoing and the program thanks them for their time and kindness!
Fall 2012 Dr. William Kennett Memorial Scholarship By Sheila Ashtiani Scholarship recipients include: Dr. William Kennett Memorial Scholarship Sheila Ashtiani, Ashley Binger, Janine Bullis, Maria Kalinina, Sabrina Lee & Laura Perry Have a Ball Foundation Scholarship Robert Hecht On October 11, 2012, nine SFSU/Canada nursing students were honored and recognized as recipients of the Dr. William Kennett Memorial Nursing Scholarship Program. The Sequoia Hospital Foundation scholarship program awards several nursing students in their 3 rd level of the nursing program. This year over $80,000 was awarded amongst nine recipients! Robert and Sue O Donnell Scholarship Emily Hsin-Yi Tu Pete Uccelli Memorial Scholarship Marketa Injayan CONGRATULATIONS!! San Mateo Co. Annual CPR Training By Emily Hsin-Yi Tu On June 9, 2012--the opening day of the annual San Mateo County Fair--students volunteered at the free basic CPR training for the public. The event was hosted by the San Mateo Central County Fire Dept. There were no age limitations and each session had a great turnout with diverse participants ranging from 5 to 80 years of age. Perhaps most memorable was a creative skit to the song Stayin Alive, which won lots of laughs from the audience. Volunteers observed and assisted participants body positioning, hand placement, technique, and rhythm as they practiced their new skill. Make time for Fitness By Marketa Injayan One day a year, all 4th graders from Redwood City School District arrive at Red Morton Park to play games, exercise, and learn about nutrition. Volunteers participate in set-up, take-down, running events, managing booths, and student teaching on health and fitness. One booth students conducted focused on health outcomes related to tobacco use where teaching was designed to be age appropriate yet engaging through the use of shock photography of healthy lungs vs. diseased lungs, props, games, and quizzes. A guest mascot, Lou Seal from the Giants, was present to add to the excitement of the day. 3
Fall 2012 Kenyan Fundraiser By LaDell Jorgensen Cohort 8 raised over $1500 for the Smart Center (a selfsustaining educational center) located in Ukwala, Kenya. Families at the Smart Center learn to read, write, finance, agriculture, and develop skills in selling products at the market. Inspired by Dr. Van Dam s annual trips to volunteer for the Matibabu hospital in Ukwala, the money raised has already dewormed over 100 patients. In addition, funds are also being spent on anti-malarial medication and other medical needs such as transportation of severely ill patients to full service hospitals. Dr. Van Dam s trip to Kenya: she joined Cohort 8 on October 15, 2012 for a slide show and sharing of stories of patients she served on the latest Kenya trip. Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) By Alan Lee A Message from the Health & Wellness Committee We need your suggestions for events and activities to provide wellness and team-building for both Cohorts! Let s create fun activities to manage the stress of nursing school. We re open to suggestions! The Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) program's purpose is to encourage young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. To that end, members of Cohorts 7 and 8 created teaching plans centered on nutrition to empower adolescent girls. Nursing students spent the day at Skyline College to provide teaching on diet, activities, and even how mindsets can shape and improve lives. One station showed students how to interpret food labels for calorie value. Another table simulated shopping trips. While in another corner, students were asked to estimate the sugar content of various drinks. For those with nerves of steel, an array of actual pig hearts were laid out to examine and handle. Feedback was very positive and we are excited that our future professionals may have gained greater insights into a future career and/or healthy lifestyle choices from the workshop. 4
Blood Pressure Screens at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church By Candice Nguyen Once a month, volunteers arrive at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and perform blood pressure screenings for church goers after Sunday mass. The members of the church love and appreciate the service students provide. Patient teaching is also incorporated and churchgoers learn how important it is to adhere to their schedule of antihypertensive meds. In the past, several individuals have been assessed high risk and were made aware to seek follow-up medical interventions as a result. Please continue the tradition by contacting Sandy Frojelin at sfrojelin@comcast.net for details on how to sign-up to volunteer. Fall 2012 Support the Canada SFSU Nursing Program Need a gift for a family member or friend? Consider purchasing one of the pictured items below. All proceeds support the Canada SFSU Nursing Program. Prices: Racerback (White): $18 T-Shirt (White): $15 Sweatshirt (Dark Grey): $35 Contact sfsu.seq.nsa@gmail.com for more info or to order. Payment is due with order. Deadline: Sun. Dec. 9, 2012. OFFICER ELECTIONS & CLOSING THOUGHTS By Michelle Ribotta NSA elections were held October 31, 2012 and Cohort 9 came out in full SFSU/Cañada spirit! We would like to congratulate the 2013-2014 officers of NSA for the SFSU/Cañada Cohort! President Elect: Vice President Elect: Treasurer Elect: Secretary Elect: Public Relations Elect: Historian Elect: Webmaster Elect: Stacie Roshon Nicole McAleavey Lisa Cox Alexa Logothetis Maria Chamness Bridget Harrison Lydia Marque We are excited to be a part of this new venture in your budding nursing careers and we welcome you to your new leadership roles! We wish Cohort 9 all the success we have had as you begin to create lasting memories and friendships all your own. 5