Good health is one of the most precious gifts given to us by God. Taking care of that health is essential for making the most of life! This is true during every stage of life, including time spent earning a healthcare degree. These tips can help you with staying healthy while pursuing your degree:

By Lisa G. Smith, PhD, RN, CNE
Dean, College of Nursing and Health Care Professions

Nurses and other health care providers spend countless hours caring for the needs of other people. In an effort to care for others, many times these same health care providers neglect caring for themselves.

You might think that how you care for yourself (body, mind and spirit) has no real impact on how effectively you care for the physical needs of others. Or, perhaps you believe it is a personal matter and no one else’s business.

Whether you are working as a registered nurse or currently earning your bachelor’s degree in nursing, you know how important it is to stay healthy and not burn yourself out. However, with the busy schedule that often comes with being a nurse, it can be easy to focus on the health of others and put your own on the backburner. By making your own health a priority, you can do your best possible work. So, here are five simple ways to help avoid nurse burnout:

By A. Veronica Perez, MPH
Faculty, College of Nursing and Health Care Professions

Zika virus has received a lot of media attention over the last few months due to recent outbreaks of the virus in Latin American countries. To date, there have been no locally acquired cases in the U.S., but there have been reports of travel-associated acquired cases in the U.S. and locally acquired cases in U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and American Samoa.

You may have questions about the virus and concerns about your risk of transmission. Here is some information that may be helpful in addressing those questions and concerns.

By Steve Peterson, MEd, MAIS
Faculty Training and Development Specialist, College of Nursing and Health Care Professions

There is a negative social connotation associated with the word “ego.”

“Well THAT person sure does have a big ego!”

“Walk behind him because his EGO has to fit through the door first!”

We tend to associate ego with a personal superiority complex or inflated sense of self-esteem. There is a sense of judgment that we often pass onto the reference of someone’s ego, and we compartmentalize that judgment into a place that we do not necessarily want to visit. We may label it as an unpleasant personality trait and disassociate ourselves from that person.

Often overlooked is the presence of low or undeveloped ego strength, which results in a lack of confidence in one’s personality, thinking and motive in life; herein lies the possibility for long-term self-esteem issues, depression and failure to connect and develop positive and healthy relationships.

By A. Veronica Perez, MPH
Faculty, College of Nursing and Health Care Professions

Thanksgiving provides an opportunity to reflect on what is important and give thanks for the blessings in our lives. As a public health professional, Thanksgiving is an especially good time to be thankful for the gift of health and the ability to promote health as a profession.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time for me to give thanks to God for the opportunity to educate and train the next generation of public health professionals. It is an honor and a privilege to serve my students in this capacity.

Here are some additional thoughts about Thanksgiving from my fellow colleagues in the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions at Grand Canyon University:

By A. Veronica Perez, MPH
Faculty, College of Nursing and Health Care Professions

It’s that time of year again!

The leaves are changing colors, and there is a chill in the air, signaling the arrival of fall and the beginning of the holiday season.

This time of year is filled with celebrations, traditions and gatherings with loved ones. Maintaining healthy habits during this time can be difficult because of changes in schedules, harsh weather, traveling and indulging in special foods or treats. For example, in my family, Thanksgiving is not complete without my sister’s pumpkin pie and Christmas is not complete without my mom’s tamales. I don’t deprive myself of those foods, but I try to balance those choices with healthy choices.

By Steve Peterson, MEd, MAIS
Faculty Training and Development Specialist, College of Nursing and Health Care Professions

Unlike the brain that is fueled by blood at its core and electrical connections throughout the grey matter, the mind is a bit more ethereal and is fueled by experiences, interpretations and memories that guide the brain to carry out certain physiological functions.

The brain is composed of nerve cells and blood vessels. It is an organ, the center of the nervous system and responsible for coordinating movements and carrying out thoughts, expressing feelings and emotions.