These announcements feature many great resources and events each week, and provide a way for you to see all the latest information.  Check back weekly for the newest announcements!

Highlights for this week:

• Don’t forget to sleep!
• Flu season is approaching.  The Health Services office has you covered.
• Go to Beauty and the Beast & Comedy on the Bridge at Ethington Theatre.

Click here to view the announcements!

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!

‘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 Cooke Health and Wellness Center is now offering expanded counseling hours for all students at no charge. Three professional therapists, Teresa, Kim and Travis, are now available at the Center on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

Please call or stop by the Cooke Health Center at 602.639.6215 to make an appointment. The Cooke Health and Wellness Center is located in the Student Union.