BSN Info Sessions – July

In preparation for the September classes, please plan to attend either of these informative hour long presentations to learn more about the program, the requirements for admission and then to begin your journey for enrollment. Register here!

Meet The RN Advocating For Disabled Candidates

Applying for a new job can be overwhelming and stressful. For candidates with disabilities, the hiring process can be a disheartening experience.

According to the CDC, one in four adults in the U.S. has a disability; the unemployment rate for that community is double that of non-disabled workers.

Andrea Dalzell can relate to those who face unjust barriers when searching for employment. She is a disability advocate and New York State’s first wheelchair-bound Registered Nurse.

Dalzell fights for those like her, qualified candidates who face discrimination and obstacles when applying for jobs.

Andrea was diagnosed with transverse myelitis when she was 5 years old and using a wheelchair full-time by the age of 12.

Her experiences with Nurses inspired her to become one. She received her Nursing degree from the City University of New York, College of Staten Island.

Even with her Nursing degree it was difficult to find work.

“I once went through 76 clinical Nursing interviews. I was rejected from them all until COVID demanded my help during the peak in NYC. The rejection from ever having a bedside Nursing position was flipped on its head as my wheelchair was seen for what it is: a mobility device”, said Dalzell in an American Nurses Association interview.

Dalzell uses past negative experiences and turns them into a positive, as she can relate to patients who struggle with disabilities, and give them hope. She encourages them to persevere in the face of adversity.

However, she finds it frustrating that in the field of caring, many still face discrimination.

According to Employee Benefit News, Dalzell said, “We’re forgetting that [enabling] technology has advanced so much, and should allow our healing touch and compassion to come into the profession and give hope in a way that is normally not seen. And yet when [people with disabilities] are saying they want to be Nurses or be on a healthcare team, we’re saying well, you have a disability — you’re not good enough.”

Employers need to do more than just talk about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), they need to actually be about it.

“You cannot tell people you are an equal opportunity employer, tell them to come on in through the door,” Andrea says, “but then be unprepared and your doors are not even big enough to accept someone.”

“Disability is the fastest- and largest-growing minority in the world. Without disability inclusion, you could very well be limiting opportunities for your future selves,” says Dalzell.

Andrea is a Pioneer and an inspiration to many. In recognition of her achievements, she’s earned many spotlights, such as New Mobility’s Person of the Year (2021). She was also one of the inaugural recipients of the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Visionary Prize of $1 million.

Dalzell is still figuring out how she will use the money, but has already started a 501c3 nonprofit foundation called The Seated Position to create awareness around those with disabilities in education and the workforce.

According to New Mobility, Andrea attributes her tenacity to her parents, first-generation immigrants from Guyana, who encouraged hard work and perseverance. “I told Andrea, don’t let anyone ever tell you there is something you can’t do,” says her mother, Sharon Dalzell. “Just look at them straight in the face and say, ‘Watch me.’ As long as you do it in the right way, you’ll reap the benefits in the years to come.”

Andrea knows it’s important for people to see someone like her — a black, disabled woman — out in the world, making a life for herself and changing the lives of others.

You can follow Dalzell on Instagram @theseatedNurse where she posts her everyday life along with great motivational content. Also check out her website theseatednurse.com to learn more!

 

Article shared from DiversityNursing.com. Originally posted Feb. 23, 2023.

 

NCLEX Study Strategies

Expert Test-Taking Strategies

One of the first things you should do when you begin preparing for the NCLEX is to determine your learning style to maximize your efforts. There are a variety of learning styles, and they can include:

• Auditory Learning: From listening to lectures, podcasts, or recorded discussions.
• Visual Learning: From seeing, watching videos, or observing.
• Tactile Learning: From hands-on experiences, return demonstration, or simulation.

Sometimes, individuals can be learners that combine these learning styles. No matter what type of learner you may be, it is important to know how you best learn, retain, apply, and analyze your learning.

Identifying The Topic

There are several essential steps that test-takers must follow to be sure that they understand what the question is asking. Many times NCLEX questions have several components that can be confusing and cause candidates to get distracted from the topic. The following steps can help test-takers weed through the fluff and get straight to the point of answering NCLEX questions correctly.

Here are the steps in identifying the topic:

Step 1: Read the question carefully and thoroughly – from the first word to the last word. Be sure to read slowly. Do not skim or skip any part of the question.

Step 2: After reading the question, you want to identify the nursing concept you are working in. This step is not so easy at first, but with practice, you will improve.

Remember that the nursing concept is the bigger picture process that guides nurses in their practice. Sometimes, the concept is what we are trying to address, also known as the topic, focus, or problem.

Here’s an example:

The nurse is caring for a 46-year-old male patient who came into the ED with chest pain 10/10 and tachycardia of 156 at rest. The patient states “I am scared, I feel like I am going to die.” Which response, if made by the nurse, would be most appropriate?

• Nursing Concept = Therapeutic Communication
• Topic/Focus/Problem = Priority response

Step 3: (Not always necessary) If you cannot identify the nursing concept and topic, read all the answer choices for clues, then identify the nursing concept and topic/focus/problem.

Once you have identified the topic of the question, it makes it much easier for you to stay focused on the topic and avoid getting distracted by other information that is not important or relevant to the topic/focus/problem that needs to be addressed.

Reviewing What’s Important

Once you have identified the topic of a question, it is helpful to take a few moments to think about everything you know to be true about the topic. For example, if the topic of the question is teaching about cast care, you want to list out all the things you remember to be truly related to teaching a patient about cast care.

The following are true about teaching for cast care:

• Do not get the cast wet
• Do not stick anything under the cast to scratch
• Do circulatory checks of the casted extremity
• If any findings are concerning, such as an odor, new or increasing pain, swelling, or drainage, notify the doctor immediately.

When you take a few seconds to remind yourself of the following details regarding cast care teaching, answering the question is much easier. When you have some criteria to compare against the answer choices, it helps to keep you from getting distracted and to focus on the topic of the question. If the answer choices do not match what you know to be true, then it is most likely not the correct answer.

Eliminating Answer Choices

There are several things that candidates should consider when deciding which answer choices to eliminate and which ones to keep in consideration. We’ve already discussed that taking the time to review what’s important about the topic of the question to create a set of criteria is one beneficial way to eliminate answer choices confidently. Another helpful tip is to consider every single word in an answer choice carefully.

The creators of the NCLEX are masters at writing test questions that challenge the test-taker to be careful and apply what they’ve learned in school to answer questions correctly. Sometimes answer choices sound like the correct answer, but they may have just one word incorrect, which makes the entire answer choice incorrect.

Candidates must be confident in their ability to move through the questions and answers thoroughly, making sure not to miss a word so they don’t fall for the many NCLEX traps set by the test creators.

Here is an example of how reading every single word can help in confidently eliminating answer choices:

The nurse is instructing a student on how a midstream clean catch urine specimen should be collected. The nurse knows the student understands the instruction provided if the student states which of the following?

1. “Cleanse the urinary meatus with a disinfectant towelette, have the client urinate into a sterile specimen cup, avoid touching the inside of the container, and cover immediately after.”
2. “Cleanse the urinary meatus with iodine solution, and insert a urinary catheter to obtain the sterile urine specimen.”
3. “Cleanse the urinary meatus with a disinfectant towelette, have the client empty their bladder ½ hour before the test, and then keep all other urine voided on ice for 24 hours.”
4. “Cleanse the urinary meatus with a disinfectant towelette, void a little bit of urine first, then stop, and then void the remaining urine into a clean specimen cup, avoid touching the inside of the container, cover immediately after.”

The correct answer is 1.

When you take the time to read every single word while carefully considering whether the answer choice is true or false, you can see that answer 1 is the only one true regarding collecting a midstream clean catch urine specimen. Many test-takers may choose 4 as the answer; however, if the answer choice is read closely, one would note that a “clean specimen cup” is not the appropriate collection container for a midstream clean catch. This specimen collection procedure requires a sterile container.

You want to be very careful every single time you’re answering NCLEX questions. If you skim, read the question too fast, or focus on information that you think should be present rather than remaining objective and seeing the answers for what they are, then you may find yourself falling for many of the well-designed NCLEX traps.

Here is one more example of how reading every single word can help in confidently eliminating answer choices:

The nurse is observing an LPN perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation for a patient that is a full code. The nurse knows that the LPN is correctly performing CPR if which of the following is observed?

1. The LPN is using the heel of her hand to compress the chest at a depth of 1 inch.
2. The LPN is compressing at a rate of 99 compressions per minute.
3. The LPN is delivering 30 chest compressions for every two breaths.
4. The LPN is using her arm muscles to apply force to the chest with each compression.

The correct answer is 3.

When you take the time to read every single word while carefully considering whether the answer choice is true or false, you can see that answer choice 3 is the only one true regarding the correct CPR technique. Many test-takers may choose other options as the answer because each answer contains components of the correct technique. This question, in particular, challenges the candidate’s understanding of the correct CPR technique. It seems pretty straightforward; however, skimming or reading too fast may miss important information that could get you into trouble.

Article and topic shared from allnurses. For more information on the exam and test taking strategies visit LINK

Sumner College: an excellent choice for those wishing to pursue a career in the health care field

In a message from our College President, Joanna S. Russell, she touches on how one of the strengths Sumner has is student engagement; focussing on participation, idea sharing, and respect to bring together each class to form a community that wishes to pursue a career in the health care field. Read her full statement on our website here.

Nursing Specialty Quiz

Unsure of what nursing specialty suits you best? Take this quiz to see what options align with you best!

Content shared from J&J Nursing 

Happy 4th of July! Office is closed

Sumner college is celebrating our nation’s independence! Our offices will be closed Thursday 7/4 and Friday 7/5.

BSN Info Sessions – Register for July

We’ve opened up a few more seats to the BSN Info Sessions in July.

In preparation for the September classes, please plan to attend this informative hour long presentation to learn more about the program, the requirements for admission and then to begin your journey for enrollment.

Register online 

 

Nursing School Study Tips

Our Career Services Department has a number of great resources for students, including study tips for nursing school. Visit Career Services Study Tips 

 

The Pulse | Summer 2024

Sumner College Newsletter | Summer 2024

Dream It! Do It! @SumnerCollege

Are you dreaming of becoming a Registered Nurse, but worried about the hurdles of prerequisite courses? Look no further! Sumner College offers a unique and accessible path to your nursing career through our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

Download an informational booklet to learn more. Schedule a tour to visit the school, labs and classrooms and then visit with an admission rep.

Dream It! Do It! @Sumner College

Is nursing your passion?

If you’ve always dreamed of making a difference in people’s lives through compassionate care, then it’s time to take the next step! Enrollment is now open for September 3rd classes in our nursing program.

Whether you’re starting your journey or advancing your career, our program offers hands-on training, expert instruction, and a supportive learning environment to help you succeed in this rewarding field.

Don’t miss this opportunity to pursue your passion and become a part of the healthcare community. Enroll today and let’s embark on this journey together! 🌟 #NursingPassion #EnrollNow #SeptemberClasses 📚🩺

Welcome New Students – June Classes Start Today!

Today is the day that our new BSN, LPN and RN to BSN June 10th students embark on their nursing career. They’ve dreamed about it and now they are on your way to doing it.

Enjoy!