About the author: Roni DeLaO Kerns is the director of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing(BSN) program at Grand Canyon University’s College of Nursing on main campus.

Students are entering the last half of the semester and are focused on the finish line. Preceptorships, practicums and capstone projects are the stepping stones to convocation, commencement and graduation celebrations.  After four years of long nights, last-minute projects and juggling multiple classes, students may think life becomes simpler after graduation with just one “job” to focus on.  Many times, the anticipated reality is not as easy as it sounds.

It is a nurse’s responsibility to come to work alert and ready to provide safe patient care. Patient Safety Awareness Week (March 4-10) is a great time to remember the impact a nurses’ fatigue can have on a patient’s safety. Fatigue can lead to lapses in attention, a lack of motivation, a decrease in problem-solving ability, confusion, irritability, impaired communication, diminished reaction time, indifference and loss of empathy.  These factors can put both patients and staff at risk.

So what steps can a new nurse take to decrease fatigue and minimize errors?

1. Establish a routine.

• Get enough sleep and take naps when necessary.
• Practice good sleeping habits; routines are important especially when working a new shift time.
• Engage in relaxing, pre-sleep habits, such as reading or yoga.
• Avoid food, alcohol or stimulants (such as caffeine) that can impact sleep.

2. Participate in a work culture that recognizes the impact of fatigue on patient care.

• Provide input into designing work schedules that minimize the potential for fatigue.
• Be supportive of other staff members when they express concerns about fatigue.
• Encourage teamwork and regular safety checks to protect patients from harm.
• Develop your skills of patient hand-offs and evaluate the effect that fatigue may have on the quality of your communications.
• Implement a fatigue management plan that may include engaged conversations, physical activity, strategic caffeine consumption and short naps (if allowed).

Dedication and commitment toward your education will pay off as you begin your career as a nurse.  Developing personal and professional practices that address self-care, encourage a balanced life, and establish good sleeping habits will help ensure that your career as a nurse is rewarding for a lifetime!

Grand Canyon University is continually working to provide an enriching educational experience to all students on campus and online. The College of Education was named a candidate by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) in November and is moving forward with the accreditation process by scheduling a site visit from the NCATE Board of Examiners in April.

Professional accreditation is a fundamental piece of developing a solid reputation in the academic community. NCATE says their system of accreditation provides “an assurance that the school’s teacher preparation program has met national standards set by the teaching field at large and has undergone rigorous external and impartial review by professionals, policymakers and representatives of the public.”

Part of the accreditation process involves a review of our programs by national specialized professional organizations (SPAs). SPAs review programs for alignment to their standards, quality of assessments and excellence in teacher or principal preparation. The College of Education has received National Recognition status from several SPAs. National recognition indicates the programs have been benchmarked against national expectations for teacher or principal quality and found acceptable to the association. The College of Education’s nationally recognized programs are:

• MEd in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (non-IR) by Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
• MEd in Early Childhood Education (IR) by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• MEd in Educational Administration (IR) by the Educational Leadership Constituents Council (ELCC)
• MEd in Secondary Education / Physical Education emphasis by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)
• MEd in Secondary Education / Math  emphasis by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
• BS in Early Childhood Education by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• BS in Secondary Education / Physical Education by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)
• BS in Secondary Education / Math by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)

The College of Education is currently planning for the NCATE Board of Examiners site visit on April 21-25. We are looking for students from various programs within the College of Education to provide NCATE with student feedback on behalf of GCU during a phone conference as part of the site visit. If you are a College of Education student and are interested in participating in the accreditation process, contact Joanne Weiss, Director of Accreditation in the College of Education at Grand Canyon University.

Learn more about why accreditation is important, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education or the College of Education at Grand Canyon University today!

It’s easy to forget about your heart health when you’re on the go! In the daily grind of studying for that big exam, dropping the kids off at day care or rushing to get to that meeting, we often take the health of our hearts for granted.  Show your heart some extra TLC today! The American Heart Association featured an article titled “The Simple 7” that outlines seven ways to improve your heart health.

1. Get Active—Thirty minutes a day of moderate physical activity, five days a week, will lead to feeling better and living longer. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be all at once. Make time for walking in your day. Park in the far end of the parking lot or take the stairs. Take short walks during the workday. Plan a walk with a special person or canine companions when you get home from school or the office, before you get tied up with making dinner or cracking open the books.

2. Control your Cholesterol—Check your cholesterol regularly. If your total cholesterol is higher than 200mg/dL, interventions are needed. Increasing your activity decreases the bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases good cholesterol (HDL) levels.  At least twice per week, include foods in your diet that can lower your cholesterol, such as oats and other high fiber foods, whole grains, beans, nuts, soy, and fish such as tuna, salmon and halibut. Olive oil can reduce harmful cholesterol, so try to substitute olive oil for other fats in your diet.

3. Eat better—A healthy diet is one of your best weapons in the war against heart disease. Keep a journal for yourself of what you are eating and drinking. Stock your kitchen with healthy foods and leave the junk food at the store. There are many ways to add flavor with spices and seasonings. Mrs. Dash is a favorite of dieticians. Cut back on salt and added sugars. Eat fish twice a week.  Include fruits and vegetable in a variety of colors in your diet every day. Increase your fiber intake with whole grains. Cut back on saturated and trans fats.  Don’t forget to drink plenty of water.

4. Manage blood pressure—High blood pressure, known as the “silent killer,” is the biggest risk factor for heart disease.  Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. You can help lower your blood pressure by eating a heart-healthy, low-salt diet, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and decreasing stress. Positive self-talk and relaxation techniques such as yoga, tai chi or meditation can greatly reduce stress. Breaking big problems into smaller parts can also help to reduce the feeling of added pressure and stress. In a pinch, take some deep breaths and count to ten before speaking.

5. Maintain a healthy weight—Extra weight leads to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Do you know what your calorie needs are compared to how much you’re taking in? There are several online resources for determining your caloric needs for weight maintenance and weight loss according to age and gender.  Track your calorie intake to find out where you are. Write everything down, and you may be surprised where all those extra calories are coming from!

6. Reduce blood sugar—Diabetes is one of the biggest controllable risk factors for heart disease. Obesity can lead to insulin resistance and high blood sugar. Keeping your blood sugar within normal limits is crucial to reducing the damage caused by diabetes. To help lower your blood sugar, avoid intake of simple sugars found in soda, candy and desserts. Keep close track of your overall carbohydrate intake.  Work closely with your healthcare providers to optimize your diabetes management.

7. Stop smoking—Quitting can be tough, but fortunately there are many effective methods. Whether it’s slowly, quickly or cold-turkey, do whatever it takes to stop. Identify “triggers” or habits that give you the urge to smoke. Physical urges should subside after 1-2 weeks but mental urges may be ongoing. Think about how you will cope with these urges and how you will retrain yourself. Most importantly, get some help. You don’t have to do this alone. For more information and resources, visit http://www.lungusa.org/stop-smoking/.

Find out where you stand by taking the American Heart Association’s “My Life Check” Assessment at http://mylifecheck.heart.org.

About the Author: Jennifer Overturf is the director of the BSN program at Grand Canyon University through AT Still University.

The CEO Lecture Series is presented by the Ken Blanchard College of Business at Grand Canyon University in partnership with AZ Business Magazine. Visit the CEO Lecture Series page for information about future lectures.

The first speaker for 2012 in the CEO Lecture Series, Jim Teter, is constantly working to impact some pretty sobering statistics — 2.5 million unemployed in Arizona (approx. 8.7 percent, according to the U.S. Dept. of Labor). Teter is the president and CEO of Goodwill of Central Arizona, a nonprofit organization that uses donation-driven retail stores to create Career Centers to assist the 7.9 percent that are unemployed in the Phoenix-Metro area and act on their mission, “Put People to Work.”

“Goodwill of Central Arizona has a $300 million impact on Maricopa County, Yuma and Prescott, which is more than even the Fiesta Bowl brings,” Teter said. “We’re using that to help the unemployed by placing them in jobs within our organization and in their communities. Our commitment is to ‘Put People to Work’ and 92 cents out of every dollar goes toward that mission.”

Goodwill of Central Arizona operates 47 retail stores and 13 Career Centers in the Phoenix-Metro area. Each store and Career Center is different, focusing on serving their surrounding community best. Goodwill Career Centers offer resume building and interview training, all free of charge.

“In 2011, we put 35,000 people to work,” Teter said. “Over 12,000 of those weren’t within our organization, they were jobs out in the community.”

With organizations like Goodwill of Central Arizona actively assisting the jobless population at such significant numbers, the 8.7 percent unemployment rate in Arizona is lower than the national average of 9.3 percent.

“We want to give people a hand up, not a hand out,” Teter said. “We want to teach people the power of work.” Teter’s vision for Goodwill of Central Arizona embodies the servant leadership emphasis that the Ken Blanchard College of Business teaches, along with entrepreneurial spirit and innovation.

Grand Canyon University’s Ken Blanchard College of Business offers a variety of programs of study that give students the knowledge and leadership skills to make a difference in their communities through business, such as the B.S. in Businesses Management or the Executive MBA.

The College of Fine Arts and Production at Grand Canyon University is busy preparing for their spring lineup of shows from the theatre, dance and music departments. Here’s a quick preview of what to look forward to in 2012:

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Feb. 10-12, 17-19

Friday and Saturday: 7:30 p.m., Sunday: 2:00 p.m.

Ethington Theatre

“The course of true love never did run smooth.” Never was this truer than in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Follow the hilarious angst of teen love out of Athens and into the forest as four more of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers try to find a safe place to love who and how they please. Add into the mix a fractured fairy kingdom and a group of construction workers turned artists, and you have one of Shakespeare’s best loved plays. Written soon after Romeo and Juliet, the Bard takes a shot at the blindness of love and hits a bull’s eye.

Opera and Broadway Concert

Friday, Feb. 24, 7:00 p.m.

The First Southern Baptist Church of Phoenix

The music department presents a program of Opera and Broadway favorites featuring The Canyon Chorale, The Canyon Singers, The New Life Singers, students and faculty soloists. This event is free and open to the public

University Dance Series: Student Spotlight

March 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Location: The Sanctuary Room of the GCU Recreation Center

This event is free and open to the public

The Boy Friend

April 13-15, 20-22

Friday and Saturday: 7:30 p.m., Sunday: 2:00 p.m.

Ethington Theatre

This Broadway hit brings us back to the roaring 1920’s to find love on the French Riviera. A jazzy score and smart, sassy dialogue bring us the story of Polly Browne, the only girl in Madame Dubonnet’s School for Young Ladies without, you guessed it, a boyfriend. Will she settle for one of the wealthy fellas, or will Tony, who seems to be nothing more than a lowly delivery guy, stand a chance? Rest assured, everyone finds a match in what the British Theatre Guide calls, “a…virtuous production…a ripping evening’s entertainment.”

Mendelssohn’s Elijah

Friday, April 27, 7:00 p.m.

The First Southern Baptist Church of Phoenix

The Music department presents a performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s magnificent Oratorio Elijah performed by the Grand Canyon Choral Union, with students and faculty soloists. This event is free and open to the public

University Dance Series: Spring Dance Concert

April 27-28, 7:30 p.m.

Ethington Theatre

Cost: $10

Awards and Commencement Concert

Wednesday, May 2, 7:00 p.m.

The First Southern Baptist Church of Phoenix

Enjoy this “Best of the Best” program at our awards concert.  The Canyon Chorale, The New Life Singers, The Canyon Singers, and student soloists will perform a wide variety of musical selections including some of the best musical performances of the year, along with command performances by some of our most outstanding students. Join us as we honor our excellent graduates along with some of the best performance students of the year.

For additional information regarding all performances visit College of Fine Arts and Productions website.

To RSVP for a free event or to purchase tickets for events at Ethington Theatre contact us at the box office at (602)639-8880 or ethington@gcu.edu.

In today’s job marketplace, it’s no surprise that students carefully choose their degree paths based on the best projected job opportunities post-graduation. Many students choose a highly specialized major with the goal of getting a job in their career field right out of college. However, in the current job climate, specialization may not always be the answer.  Liberal arts degrees offer students a broad learning experience and are a classical education option because they help students to develop a wider skill set, which can be applied to nearly every field imaginable.

Michael Roth, the president of Wesleyan University, wrote an article for the Huffington Post titled, “What’s a Liberal Arts Education Good For?” In it he discussed the benefits of the well-rounded learning experience a liberal arts education provides. “A successful liberal arts education develops the capacity for innovation and for judgment,” Roth says. “Those who can imagine how best to reconfigure existing resources and project future results will be the shapers of our economy and culture.”

Degrees in liberal arts are founded on learning through art, language, mathematics, literature and history. They are a significant piece of the core curriculum many universities require regardless of the degree a student plans to obtain. People who are well-educated in liberal arts might not focus on a single career path, but rather open themselves up to myriad opportunities because of the critical thinking and communication skills mastered,  which are easily applied to a variety of professions.

Many economic, business and political leaders obtained their bachelor’s degrees in a liberal arts field and applied their knowledge and skills in the marketplace or pursued further education in a more specialized area of interest, such as finance, leadership, business administration, healthcare administration, secondary education or another content area. Because of today’s dynamic marketplace, businesses often seek employees with a broad base of skills and knowledge like critical thinking, communications, society and history, which are the primary focus of a liberal arts degree and gives them the training needed for their specific industry.  Others build their career on the skills learned in their bachelor’s program and lessons learned from experience in their profession.

The classical education offered by the liberal arts provides the foundations for lifelong learning, but what kind of careers can you pursue from a broad education? Careerbuilder.com compiled a list of the most common liberal arts degrees and job opportunities available with further training, such as counseling, public relations, teaching, law, advertising, etc.

Liberal arts degrees are of tremendous value to students and provide the knowledge and flexibility that graduate programs and today’s dynamic job market demand.

Grand Canyon University’s College of Arts and Sciences offers a variety of liberal arts degrees. Learn more today.

It’s that time of year again! High school seniors are working on finishing up college applications and making the all-important decision about where they’re going to spend the next four years of their life.

Getting ready to attend college takes a lot of hard work. There’s a laundry list of big decisions to make, applications to submit and details to be sure are taken care of. We’ve created a checklist for seniors with some of the major tasks you must complete:

• College applications—if you haven’t already started, get to applying! College Board recommends finishing up college applications early to meet priority deadlines, which may include scholarships (make sure to ask your Admissions Counselor about those!).
• Submit test scores and transcripts—be sure to submit SAT or ACT scores if you have them, along with all official transcripts to the college and any application fees the college has (GCU doesn’t have an application fee. You can apply online for free).
• FAFSA— This is an acronym you’ll hear a lot. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. If you’re looking in to any type of financial aid, FAFSA, which is provided by the U.S. Department of Education, is a great tool for assessing what financial aid is available to you. Each state has a deadline for applying for FAFSA, make sure you submit on time.
• Visit campus—campus tours are a great way to gauge what student life is like and whether the school is a place you’ll enjoy living and learning. If you can’t visit campus in person, many schools have virtual tours such as this one, which can give you a good feel for the amenities and environment on campus.
• Register for classes—As soon as you let your Admissions Counselor know you’ll be attending their school, you can start registering for classes!
• Apply for housing—freshmen typically live on campus their first year of school. It’s a great way to get involved, create relationships and get the full college experience. Watch for housing application and registration deadlines so you can get the dorm room of your dreams!

No two colleges are the same. Students need to be proactive about their future school and should frequently check to make sure they’re meeting deadlines and completing checklists. Admissions counselors can assist students with getting a checklist that is created specifically for their school.

Stay organized, stay ahead of deadline and you’re sure to be on the right path for a great college experience!

If you’re thinking about attending Grand Canyon University you can find everything you’ll need at http://www.gcu.edu/Admissions.php.

Good luck with finishing those checklists, and we can’t wait to meet you, Class of 2016!

Grand Canyon University is regularly adding features to enhance the vibrant student life that campus students experience. GCU’s exciting newest addition, the Thunder Alley Bowling Lanes, opened November 14 in the Thunder Alley basement.

The bowling alley features six lanes plus a game room with pool tables, ping pong, a Golden Tee Arcade Game, air hockey and two lounge areas with big screen TV’s. The space is designed to be a relaxing and fun area for students, faculty and staff to hang out, watch the big game or bowl a few strikes or pick up a few spares. The facility is also available to reserve or rent for special occasions. Reservations can be made through Stacy Haddow in the Office of Student Life.

“We’re working on getting lots of events planned  for next semester,” said Haddow. “We’d love to get bowling intramurals and pool tournaments going. The space is so multifunctional, we want to make great use of it for students.”

Bowling is a fun, social activity that even doubles as exercise for those students who would rather mingle than log a sweat session at the Student Recreation Center. In research done by the Mayo Clinic on the benefits of exercise for weight loss, bowling can burn more than 300 calories in an hour.

Whether you’re looking for a study break, low-impact exercise or just a place to hang out with friends and let off some steam, Thunder Alley Bowling is a great place to go.

Bowling Alley and Game Room hours are Sunday-Thursday, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. to midnight. The cost is $1.50/game for students, $2.00/game for staff and $2.50/game for guests. For more information about Thunder Alley Bowling Lanes and reservations visit GCU Today.

‘Tis the season for sniffles, sneezes, coughs, colds and the flu. What’s more, with lots of hugs and handshakes at holiday parties and family gatherings the exposure is even greater, so it’s important to protect yourself from winter germs that spread easily.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an average of 200,000 Americans are hospitalized with the flu or flu symptoms each year.  Because of the highly contagious nature of the flu, the CDC recommends that certain groups, including the elderly, children, pregnant women and healthcare workers and caregivers be vaccinated.

A recent article on MSNBC, however, called into question the effectiveness of the seasonal influenza (flu) vaccine, citing a 59% rate of effectiveness in adults. This rate is lower than the medical community’s previously held belief, causing some to wonder if it’s worth it to get the annual shot.

“This percentage it is far from being ineffective,” notes Veronica Perez, Assistant Professor of Public Health at Grand Canyon University’s College of Arts and Sciences. “It’s important to note that no administered vaccine will ever be 100% effective in all populations, and with regard to the flu vaccine, it is still the best protection for staying healthy during flu season.”

In addition to getting a flu shot, there are other precautions you can take to protect yourself during flu season.  Dr. Anne McNamara, Dean of Grand Canyon University’s College of Nursing, offers the following tips to keep cold and flu germs at bay:

1. Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze with a tissue. Throw the tissue in the trash when finished.
2. Better yet, do not use tissues when sneezing, but rather sneeze into your upper arm and clothing.  This avoids germs from being transferred through your hands.
3. Wash your hands often with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds. Or, use hand sanitizer when you can’t wash your hands. (Some suggest singing a simple song, such as “row, row, row your boat”)
4. Avoiding touching your eyes, mouth and nose, because germs are spread this way.
5. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
6. Limit contact with others if you are sick. If you experience flu-like symptoms, the CDC recommends staying home for at least 24 hours  after your fever is gone, unless it is to seek medical attention.

The United Nations estimates that the world reached a population of 7 billion people on October 31, 2011. That many humans has an enormous impact to the planet and to each other. To discuss some of the implications of this landmark number, we reached out to Veronica Perez, MPH and Assistant Professor, Public Health. Below is some of her perspective on global health in a very populated world:

“The world has more humans than ever…7 billion to be exact, give or take a few! National Public Radio (NPR) recently highlighted a report by the United Nations, stating that our global population has reached 7 billion. Most of that growth has occurred in Asia and Africa. Does this affect us in the United States? Absolutely. As our global population grows, I think it’s important to reflect on the public health implications of this growth.

Global health is public health. Diseases are not limited by national boundaries. An increase in international travel and changing immigration patterns can contribute to the global spread of disease. Political and social unrest in many developing nations may lead to people seeking refuge in our nation, making it important to understand the health issues faced by refugees.

Science and technology have helped to improve patterns of infectious disease in many developing nations. As a result, people are living longer, putting them at risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Public health measures relating to early detection and self-management of these diseases will be increasingly important.

Health is influenced by many factors…social, cultural and environmental factors all play a role. As our population continues to grow, we will need strengthened global partnerships to help develop health systems to address these determinants. Improved health diplomacy, such as global responses to national disasters and disease outbreaks, will also be key.

An increase in the number of people in our world will continue, and will continue to bring new health challenges. It will be up to us to rise to those challenges through innovation and collaboration.”