VCU School of Nursing Blog

Please join us at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing for a free hands-on training sponsored by the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals.

A Clinical Update on Intrauterine Contraception is a didactic lecture and hands-on practicum event on Friday, December 4th, 2009 from 9:30 am - 1:00 pm. The lecture and clinical will be presented by Wendy Grube, MS, NP from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

Join us for this free IUC training and learn:

• Details on efficacy, side effects, and appropriate candidates for both forms of IUC currently available in the US
• Strategies for meaningful dialog between providers and patients about intrauterine contraception
• Skills for gaining facility with pelvic procedures
• Techniques for proper insertion and removal of the LNG IUS and Copper T IUD in both standard and special cases

Posted by Sue at 3:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Oct. 28, the VCU School of Nursing presented the second speaker in its 2009-2010 Lecture Series. The guest speaker was Teena McGuinness, PhD, APRN, BC, a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing and 1982 graduate of our master's program. She discussed the important role that psychiatric nurses play in the health of their patients.

Click here to see a recording of the lecture.

Posted by at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Oct. 28, the School will host the Legacy Lectureship in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing. Established in 2002 by four former nursing faculty members (Drs. Lorna Barrell, Katherine Bobbitt, Gloria Francis and Barbara Munjas), the Legacy Lectureship brings prominent scholars in the field of psychiatric-mental health nursing to the School to raise awareness of mental health issues and underscore the importance of psychiatric nursing.

This year's Legacy Lecture will be given Teena McGuinness, PhD, APRN, BC, a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing and 1982 graduate of the VCU School of Nursing's master's program. The title for Dr. McGuinness' lecture is "A Psychiatric Nurse on Every Street Corner."

She will talk about access to mental health care and the huge global disease burden of mental disorders, exploring why we need a psychiatric nurse on every corner. The lecture will be held in the Younger Auditorium at the VCU School of Nursing building at 4 p.m. A reception will immediately follow the lecture at 5 p.m.

Posted by at 3:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Captain Elizabeth A. Hoettels is a 2005 graduate of the VCU School of Nursing's accelerated bachelor's program. She is currently serving a tour of duty with the United States Air Force Nurse Corps in Iraq. We got a note from her recently:

It is exhausting. We are busy for hours. I do not mind working, but putting in 120% everyday is exhausting. So all I want to do when I come home is sleep. Just remember finals week and make it for 1/2 a year. That is what I equate it to.

We take care of infant to elderly - host national, contractor, U.S. military, etc. If they are ICU patients, we will take care of them.

Now I was freaked during Peds [in nursing school] and it has not gotten much easier. My saving grace back then was my clinical instructor - Ms. Taylor - she gave me at least the adolescents (which some argue are harder, but they did not scare me as much). However, here I have no option. I have to do Peds. I am learning - trial by fire. It is not as scary the more I do it, just sadder.

My worst day was when a 2-year-old girl was brought in after a rocket exploded in her house. She had irreversible brain damage. I had to provide comfort care for her. I was a wreck. My saving grace was the pediatrician. He stayed with me the entire time to help. Basically I sat with her until she died. It still makes me cry every time I start talking about it. My Chief Nurse was great - she sat and hugged me until I stopped crying. She is one of the most wonderful people I have met to date in the military. She takes care of patients AND staff. But I digress. We take care of everyone.

We have been really busy lately. By the time I get home I go and swim and then crash. This is the daily routine. Thirteen three-hour shifts are killing me - no time for recovery either. I know - I signed up for this - totally volunteer. I am still tired.

Posted by at 2:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sigma Theta Tau Gamma Omega Chapter invites members and nonmembers to attend:

“Educating the Nurse on Political and Ethical Decision Making”

Presented by:

An application for 1.0 contact hour has been submitted to the Virginia Nurses Association Continuing Education Approval Committee, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation

Posted by Sue at 7:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rita Pickler, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN was featured in the Fall 2009 issue of Nursing in Virginia. The article recognizes Dr. Pickler for receiving the Award of Excellence in Research from the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses.

Posted by at 2:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)