A NEWSLETTER FOR THE STUDENTS OF AULTMAN COLLEGE OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES

APRIL 2015

PULSEPULSE PULSE

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

It’s been a special time at the college, as 2014 marked 10 years since the transition from a nursing diploma program to the incorporation as Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences as a degree-granting program. A lot has happened in 10 years

– and we would like to thank the students, educators, administrators and community members who helped us achieve this milestone.

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Spring2015

FEATURED FACULTY: YVONNE LEE

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FROM THE “DESK OF THE DEAN”

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GOLDEN OWLSKATIE FETROW & JAMES FYE

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AULTMAN COLLEGE CELEBRATES 10 YEARS!

April 2015

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There will always be a need for compassionate care from professionals with high-quality knowledge and health care skills. The college’s vision is to educate health care professionals who positively impact society. Our current students and alumni support, guide and serve countless patients every day and are the heart of the institution. Thank you for all of your hard work and your dedication to the health care field!

In February, Aultman College hosted two accreditations visits for the nursing programs. The first being the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. CCNE is the accrediting agency for the Bachelor in Nursing Completion Program (BSN-C). The CCNE serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices.

The second visit was from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. ACEN is the accrediting agency for the Associate Degree in Nursing Program (ASN). The ACEN provides services that anticipate and are responsive to the needs of nursing education programs in the U.S. and internationally.

The accreditation visits resulted in preliminary survey reports that both college programs are meeting the established standards for accreditation. The preliminary survey reports will go through different review processes at each organization. The college will receive official notification of accreditation status in the fall.

I would like to thank the students, staff, faculty and administration for their participation in each accreditation site visit. Without our enthusiastic students and dedicated college employees, it would not be possible to offer exceptional programming.

Accreditation Visits

From the “Desk of the Dean”Jo Ann Donnenwirth, Dean of Nursing and Allied Health

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PROFESSIONALISM is a Journey By Bonnie Link, MSEd, R.T. (R)

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Nothing worth having was ever achieved without effort.”

Students who attend Aultman College on their professional journey understand that their academic achievements require hard work and determination. Students who are enrolled in the Associate of Science in Radiography (ASR) program learn from day one that they will have to take an active role in their learning because of the radiography curriculum rigor.

Recently, I conducted an interview with Miquela Vincent, ASR student, to acquire some information as to how she used her time at Aultman College to grow professionally.

1. What were your personal goals during your initial enrollment at Aultman College? “Grades have always been important to me. My goals were to maintain a high grade point average and become a member of a National Honor Society.”

2. How did you achieve these goals? “My parents instilled the importance of studying hard when I was very young. I strive to perform my best in both the clinical environment and classroom. As an ASR student, I have rotated through a variety of clinical sites, so I utilize every clinical assignment to learn as much as I can.”

3. What is your next stop on your professional journey after graduation? “I would like to pursue a career in mammography. In addition, I would like to be a clinical instructor because I recognize the importance of lifelong learning. The longer you are in the field, the more knowledge you gain as well as new perspectives. I want to share my knowledge with others.”

4. What advice would you give future ASR students? “Give the best care that you can because you may be a patient someday. Seize every opportunity! Most of all, maintain a professional attitude because each clinical assignment is an on-the-job interview. You will not make good impressions if you do not have the right attitude.”

I serve as the faculty representative for Lambda Nu (LN), which is a national honor society for the radiologic and imaging sciences. The objectives are to: foster academic scholarship at the highest academic levels; promote research and investigation in the radiologic and imaging sciences; and recognize exemplary scholarship. Aultman College founded the Ohio Gamma chapter in 2012. To be eligible to join the Ohio Gamma chapter of LN, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 and have completed at least five credit hours in the ASR program.

During the 2014 summer semester, Miss Vincent achieved her goals of maintaining a high grade point average and becoming a member of a national honor society. She was inducted into both Lambda Nu and Phi Theta Kappa. She is the fourth ASR student to be inducted into the Aultman College Ohio Gamma chapter of Lambda Nu. Tammy Quillin, Lindsay Stallings and Holly Wafler – graduates from the 2014 ASR cohort – were the first three students to be inducted into Lambda Nu during the 2013-2014 academic year.

The ASR program is committed to providing quality education to prepare students as entry-level radiographers. The program advocates lifelong learning and professional growth so that the graduates will continue to positively impact the community.

As a faculty member, I understand the importance of motivating students to set goals and work hard to achieve them. I encourage students to demonstrate professional values and ethical behaviors in both the classroom and clinical environment.

To the prospective 2015 spring graduates, “Congratulations! Stay focused, work hard and make every effort to achieve your dreams.”

For more information on Lambda

Nu, visit www.lambdanu.org

Miguela Vincent

April 2015

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This is the fourth and final article in the CAMO series. During the last week of the workshop, we developed an orientation plan. This was a short week since our Honduran friends were scheduled to leave early Friday morning. The goal for the last four days was the development of an orientation program for all new nurses hired at the Hospital Regionale de Occidente in Santa Rosa de Copan.

Currently, new hires are oriented by the unit where they are assigned to work. Each unit has its own orientation plan and method to complete skills such as medication administration, wound care and isolation techniques – just to mention a few inconsistencies. Therefore, standards of care throughout the hospital are nonexistent. So, what should be included in a hospital orientation plan to ensure employees know what the standards of care are?

The week began with Anne Gunther, chief nursing officer of Aultman Hospital, welcoming our Honduran friends to Aultman as she does all new hires. She told the nurses she was grateful to have them here getting experiences that will help them at their hospital. She also told them that she felt it was important for an administrator to welcome all new employees into the culture of an institution. The Honduran nurses liked the idea of an administrator greeting new employees to the hospital. The discussion focused on who would be the best person to be the greeter at Hospital Regionale de Occidente. Since one of the Honduran nurses is the assistant director or sub-director (as they are called in Honduras) should it be her or should it be the nursing director of the hospital? The final decision was the director of the hospital. It was felt the director should address the mission of the hospital and how this would apply to the new hires; accountability and responsibility of their roles; plus focus on communication using SBAR format as the reporting tool. Currently the technical nurse (similar to our LPNs) or the medical students communicate to the physicians.

With the assistance of Aultman Education and Development (E&D) personnel’s expertise on orienting new hires at Aultman Hospital, topics were discussed that E&D

felt should be in the Hospital Regionale de Occidente’s plan. E&D shared two different plans with the nurses, one for registered nurses and one for nurse aides. The Honduran nurses took the orientation plans and, with the knowledge they had gained over the previous three weeks, started to discuss topics they felt were important for their hospital’s orientation plan.

Aultman’s infection control team came to work with the Honduran nurses for a day. Consequently, it became a problem-solving day based upon the available supplies in Honduras. A comment by one of the infection control nurses was, “We have to think back to how nursing did things in the 1950s and ’60s to better understand how nursing in Honduras is today.”

Hand hygiene was the first topic. Hospital Regionale de Occidente has one sink with a community towel for a ward of 27 beds, some of which might have two patients in a bed. There is anywhere from one to three nurses in the wards to deliver nursing care. It is too far for the nurses to run to the sink between patients for hand hygiene. Plus the hospital does not have Purell® as a stock item. They only get Purell if someone donates it to them, which is not often. However, alcohol is plentiful so it was decided they would use alcohol to rinse their hands between patients, since going to the sink for hand hygiene did not appear to be a viable option.

Aultman College Pilot Project with Central American Medical Outreach (CAMO)

To Improve Health Care in HondurasKathleen Gordon

The second issue was isolation technique. Patients with infectious diseases are placed in the back of the ward without any barriers. One solution was to place a curtain across the end of the ward so there would at least be some separation between infectious and noninfectious patients. Plus items from the infectious patient’s area, such as linen or other supplies, would be placed in different receptacles from the other patients in the ward. The next problem was to develop a way to have an air exchange system to promote a constant supply of fresh air. The wards do have windows so a breeze coming in the windows would promote fresh air exchanges. Therefore the windows were to remain open at all times.

There was also a session with Aultman’s wound care team since infection rates are extremely high at the Hospital Regionale de Occidente. There are several reasons for the high infection rates: one is the lack of hand hygiene, and another is reusing dressings. Tape is scarce at the hospital. So families either need to buy tape and bring it in – or the dressings are just replaced after an inspection of the wound. However, not all families can afford to provide tape. How might dressing be held in place without tape? The Hospital Regionale de Occidente has a sewing room on-site. The sewing personnel make all the sheets and other supplies for the hospital. One possible solution was to use cloth strips that could be tied around the gauze dressing to hold it in place. These gauze coverings could then be reused if washed in bleach water. This option would be a possibility for them. Additionally, the nurses and physician were able to tour Aultman’s wound care center, talk with one of the wound care physicians and see the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. They were fascinated with the chamber and had many questions regarding when and how it was used.

Day three focused again on formulating the topics to be presented during orientation in Honduras. However, class left out early today. A “thank you” party was hosted by the Honduran nurses, the physician and Kathy Tscheigg in Orrville for all the people who had taught them during the four weeks here. They made some traditional Honduran appetizers as well as American appetizers. It was a very enjoyable evening. At the end of the evening, each nurse and physician gave a testimonial on how important these past weeks personally were to them. At times there were tears shed on both sides. It was very hard to say goodbye, but we all knew we had made friends for life even if we do not see each other again.

Day four focused on the total orientation plan. The nurses were looking to orient all current staff at the hospital, and they chose presenters and topics to cover. They knew only 14 staff members could be oriented at a time, and it would take a full year to finish the orientation process.

Aultman College members held a “graduation” for the four nurses. Each nurse received educational tools to assist them with teaching. The Honduran nurses left empowered, confident and energized to start a historical adventure to help the people in Honduras.

We are happy to announce that progress is being made in Honduras. In late 2014, a new public health clinic was inaugurated in Santa Rosa de Capon. This facility is 19,000 square feet, encompassing three floors. This facility houses a pregnancy clinic, mental health clinic, X-ray facilities, patient waiting areas, offices and educational classrooms just to mention a few services. The new features that were added to this facility that never existed in the old facility were phone service and a backup generator. Ironically, on opening day electricity was lost to the clinic and the backup generator kicked in so no one knew the electricity was out. The facility is bright and cheery with decorations. The first day the clinic was open, they had 500 visits. The physician who came to interpret for us is the assistant director over the clinic.Orientation classes were delayed until November due to some political miscommunication. To date, three classes have been completed. Each class had 14 participants starting with the present staff at Hospital Regionale de Occidente. The orientation classes are being held in the education classroom at the public health clinic, which is six blocks from the hospital so classes go uninterrupted by hospital unit questions. Originally scheduled to have classes once a month but due to unforeseen circumstances they have missed several months training. Our nurse friends are not discouraged by the delays but are still as committed to educating their peers on evidenced based standardized nursing practice and policies and procedures as they were when they left the United States. To further reward these Honduran nurses for their tremendous contribution to nursing care in Honduras, two other hospitals have made inquiries about using their orientation program.

EPILOGUE

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April 2015

I am beyond happy to be back at Aultman College! At the end of the summer of 2014, I took a position as an insurance underwriter for the second largest insurance company in the nation. It was a great job, but I found myself missing everything about life here at the college. I missed the students, the classes, the faculty and staff, and the thoughtful discussions that were so often engaged in. Therefore, when the opportunity arose for me to return, I jumped at the chance. Since then, I have been working hard to learn my new position and responsibilities, but I can’t wait to get back to the classroom and work with students.

On top of all of the remarkable things happening with my career, I also have a ton of fun stuff happening at home. My oldest child will be graduating in May, so we have spent the year getting him ready to go off to college – which is a crazy, chaotic and expensive ordeal! However, it’s also pretty wonderful. When I went back to school to finally finish my undergraduate degree, I was a 30-year-old, single mother of three kids – who were 9, 5 and 4 years old – so it wasn’t an easy task. In fact, there were days when I wondered why I was torturing myself by trying to juggle all the craziness of kids, work and school. We made it through, though, and I even decided to continue on and get my master’s degree! So, to see that kid who was 9 when I started my journey come full circle and have the opportunity to now start his journey is a nothing short of amazing!

1. What led to your decision to pursue the degree(s) that you chose? I started my college career by majoring in elementary education, but that eventually morphed into biological anthropology. Then, I took a few years off and tried going back to be an ASL interpreter. However, none of these paths felt right, and my grades reflected that. Eventually, when I was much older and had endured many of the ups and downs that life had to offer, I realized that what I have always had a passion for is reading and writing. Therefore, I decided to get a bachelor’s degree in English. I had no idea where that

degree might take me, but I was up for the challenge. I enrolled at Kent State University at Stark and had the opportunity to work as a peer tutor in the writing center. What I discovered there was a passion for helping college students navigate the world of academic writing. I have been happily walking that path since.

2. Why did you select Aultman College to pursue teaching students? Honestly, when I started here as an adjunct in 2012, I came here because it was a job, and I needed one. However, I fell in love with the school because of the environment and my appreciation for the education and the vision that this school provides for its students. The students here are lucky because they are surrounded by faculty and staff who are invested in their success and well-being, people who are truly interested in students as individuals. That is pretty rare in today’s world.

3. Where do you come to us from? Most recently, I was an underwriter for Allstate insurance. Prior to that, I was an adjunct instructor of ENG 105 and 205 here – and I taught at Kent State University at Stark, The University of Akron and Southern New Hampshire University.

4. What is your favorite book? I can’t say that I have a favorite book because I love and find value in so many. (A crazy thing for an English instructor to say, I know!) However, a fantastic series that I recently finished reading is Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy. It is in line with the recent trend toward post-apocalyptic narratives; however, Atwood’s take is unique and entertaining. I highly recommend these novels. However, I must include the caveat that they are definitely not for the easily offended.

Featured Faculty Yvonne Lee, MAEnglish Instructor, Policy and Accreditation Coordinator

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5. What is your favorite movie? While I cannot claim a favorite, a movie that I really enjoy and respect is Neil Blomkamp’s District 9. It’s a fabulously told story with layers of meaning and cultural critique. It’s a definite must-see.

6. What is your favorite quote? There are so many sound bites out there, but one of my favorites comes from the former president of Uruguay, José Mujica. In an interview with Jonathan Watts from The Guardian, Mujica said, “The world will always need revolution. That doesn’t mean shooting and violence. A revolution is when you change your thinking. Confucianism and Christianity were both revolutionary.” Education should be an act of revolution!

7. If you could share advice with Aultman College students, what would it be? Writing is difficult, even for those who do it well. It’s difficult because it’s personal, and it’s messy. It’s like putting a little piece of yourself out there for evaluation and scrutiny, and that is rarely a comfortable place to be. However, if you let yourself do it, if you allow the process to be messy and if you allow yourself those moments of uncomfortableness, the reward will be well worth the struggle. You may never be Shakespeare, but you will grow as a writer, as a critical thinker and as a student.

8. Is there any personal information you would like to share in this article (information about family, hobbies, etc.)? One of my favorite things to do on a beautiful day is to take the whole family out and walk along the nature trails found in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. For me, there is no better way to decompress than to disconnect from the city and all of its trappings and to escape into nature.

Upcoming Student Life Events: Stress Less Week: April 20-24 • Activities will include: Happy Tails dog teams,

peppermint table, coffee bar, massages, Student Senate bake sale and 50/50. If we reach the Student Satisfaction Survey goal of 60 percent participation, we’ll have a pizza party! Keep an eye out for details of each event.

Relay for Life: June 26-27• Aultman College has teamed up with the Massillon Relay

for Life committee. If you are interested in being a part of our team, please sign up at main.acsevents.org/goto/aultmancollege. The Massillon Relay for Life is being held Friday, June 26 at 6 p.m. through Saturday, June 27 at noon at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon. This activity does count toward service learning.

Graduation and Pinning Spring 2015 Information • ASN pinning: May 4 at 4 p.m. in Morrow House

Auditorium• Graduation: May 9 at 10 a.m. at R.G. Drage

April 2015

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Please remember to program Aultman Health Foundation’s Security Services Department phone number in your cellphone in the event of an emergency or safety concern.

Security/EmergencyExt. 36777 • 330-363-6777

Aultman Health Foundation’s Security Services Department is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide a safe environment for students, employees, patients and visitors. Services include:

• Escorts to and from parking lots. • Vehicle assistance.• Investigation reports. • Vehicle accident reports.

For non-emergency situations, security personnel can be contacted directly by calling 330-363-6268 or ext. 36268 from a college or Aultman Hospital phone. Security phones are also located across the Aultman Health Foundation campus and connect directly to security personnel when the receiver is lifted. Students are encouraged to report all unusual incidents immediately to the Aultman Security Department. Security personnel are empowered with the authority to detain persons and to obtain proper identification of persons detained on AHF property. If an arrest is deemed necessary, security personnel will contact the Canton Police Department.

The Aultman Security Services Department reviews security policies and procedures during student orientation. In accordance with the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, on-campus crime statistics and other security information can be found on the college website at www.aultmancollege.edu.

Safety and Security on Campus

Marks the Art! Did you notice the exciting new general education classes on the summer and fall schedules? If not, look again and find the “X” classes! We have partnered with Xavier University (Cincinnati) to give you more choice in your course work, including art, history, religion, literature and several foreign languages! These online courses are fabulous options for ASR and BSN completion students to meet your arts and humanities elective requirements.

It’s easy to register for an “X” course! Check it out! • See the academic advisor to register.• Xavier University delivers courses via its LMS and

according to its calendar.• You pay tuition to Aultman College.• Aultman will transcribe your credit and final grade.• “X” courses are not considered transfer credit.• Broaden your knowledge with new topics.• All classes are offered fully online as asynchronous

experiences (no set meeting times).

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Student Organization SpotlightSTUDENT SENATEStudent Senate is a student-led, student-run organization that plays an important role in the college’s administrative structure. The organization’s mission is to encourage students to become engaged in social, professional and service activities within the college, and to facilitate communication between students, faculty, staff and administration. Student Senate meets regularly to discuss activities and college-related issues that are important to students. In addition, Student Senate hosts town hall-type meetings to give all Aultman College students an open forum for discussion. Senators are elected at the beginning of the academic year and in January for cohorts entering the college in spring semester. Have a question you would like addressed by Student Senate? Fill out the Student Senate Comment Form, located at the suggestion box in the main hallway or attend a town hall meeting in the spring or fall.

Senate Officers for Summer 2015:• President: Jackie Parr• Vice President: **OPEN**• Secretary: **OPEN** • Secretary: Justin Ward• Treasurer: **OPEN**• Student Affairs Rep (Rad): **OPEN**• Student Affairs Rep (Nursing): James Fye• Student Affairs Rep (BSN): Kira Evans• Faculty and Student Dev Rep: Jessica France

Interested in joining Senate and filling one of the open positions? Be sure to fill out an application for summer semester! They are due the first week of each semester.

College Credit Plus: THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME NEW KIDS IN TOWN!Beginning in the fall of 2015, Aultman College will offer College Credit Plus (CCP) to students in grades 7 through 12. Qualifying students can enroll in general education courses and receive college and high school credit. This is important to current students for two reasons. First, we will have younger students on campus and in some general education classes. As Aultman College students, they will be held to the same standards and policies as current students. Secondly, since many of our current students have families at home, CCP may be of interest to your 7-12th graders. They can apply online just like any prospective student but must select CCP as their program on the application. All application fees are waived, and the deadline for fall admission is May 1.

We recommend that you and your student contact his/her high school guidance counselor to discuss participation in CCP. Students must meet the minimum college admission requirements of high school GPA of 3.0 or ACT composite of 20. We strongly recommended that CCP students be juniors or seniors in high school because of the inherent rigor and responsibility that accompanies taking college classes on campus rather than at the high school. The high school covers the tuition and textbooks for CCP students who successfully complete courses. Contact Sheri Storlie or Amanda Espenschied-Reilly with questions.

You Can Use!

April 2015

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Now is the time to complete the Free Application

for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Remember,

the FAFSA must be completed each academic

year in order to remain eligible for financial aid.

The academic year at Aultman College is defined

as summer, fall and spring semesters. Before

beginning the FAFSA process, you must have a

Personal Identification Number (PIN). You can

apply for a PIN or have an existing PIN resent at

www.pin.ed.gov. To complete your FAFSA, visit

www.fafsa.ed.gov. For faster processing, use the

IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing the

FAFSA online. FAFSA provides instructions to

link to the IRS while completing the FAFSA.

Camp Scrubs For the fifth year in a row, Aultman College Community Education will offer Camp Scrubs, a week-long day camp for kids entering grades 6-9. Camp Scrubs 2015 provides participants with an introduction to the fields of nursing and health care. Activities will include learning to use a stethoscope, taking a behind-the-scenes tour of Aultman Hospital, participating in a code blue simulation, exploring the world of science, learning about eating healthy and exercise, and much more! If you are interested in volunteering to help with the camp activities during the weeks of July 13-17 for service learning hours, please email ACCE coordinator at NicoleBorbonus@aultman.com. Sign-up sheets will be posted the first week of June.

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JUNE – Men’s Health MonthThe purpose of Men’s Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Did you know... decreased testosterone levels could cost you your life? Here are Five Easy Ways to Increase your Manpower.

1. Uncover Your Abs When your waist circumference increases, your testosterone level decreases. A four-point increase in your body mass index (BMI) can accelerate your age-related testosterone decline by 10 years. Is it time to start an exercise program and diet that will effectively help you drop 20, 30 or even 50 pounds? It is time to flatten your belly forever!

2. Build Your Biceps Research shows that men who lift weights regularly experience an average of 49 percent boost in their testosterone levels. It is a well-known fact that as you strengthen your muscles, the amount of testosterone your body produces increases.

3. Fill Up on Fat Trimming fat from your diet may help you stay lean; however, eliminating fat from your diet will cause your testosterone level to plummet. To protect your heart and preserve your testosterone, eat foods high in monounsaturated fats such as fish and nuts.

4. Push Away From the Bar Happy hour is fun but will wreak havoc on your male hormones. Limit your drinking to one or two glasses of beer or wine a night to avoid a drop in testosterone.

5. Stop Stress Mental or physical stress quickly decreases your testosterone levels. Cardio exercise is a great means to eliminate tension. Injuries and fatigue are signs that your workout is more likely to lower testosterone than raise it.

To learn more check out http://www.menshealthmonth.org/.

April 2015

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Q & ALearn More About Katie!

What led to your decision to pursue your degree?I have always wanted to be a nurse for as long as I can remember. My mother, aunt and two cousins are all nurses – and I see how much they all love what they do. Growing up with nursing all around me really inspired me to go into the field. I got my LPN about three years ago, and I knew I always wanted to further my education. Why did you select Aultman College for your education? Aultman has a good reputation in the community. I also liked the fact that most of the teachers are people who are currently working in the health care field.

You were nominated based on your demonstration of the Aultman College values of Quality, Integrity, Caring and Knowledge. Why do you feel these characteristics are important for a health sciences student?As a heath science student, these are essential qualities to be successful. These are the qualities that future employers are looking for in the people they hire.

Is there any personal information you would like to share in this article? (information about family, hobbies, etc.) In the little spare time I have between two jobs and going to school full time, I like to spend time with my friends and family. I also like watching movies and reading books that are not textbooks.

Please share the following: Favorite Food: Chicken wingsFavorite TV Show: “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”Favorite Song: “Colder Weather” by Zac BrownFavorite Book: The Harry Potter seriesFavorite Class (so far): Anatomy and Physiology 1 & 2Best Advice for Firsts-semester Students: Read the chapters, and do not procrastinate studying for tests and quizzes.

Golden Owl Student of the Month FEBRUARY

Katie Fetrow

Katie has been nominated

by a college staff member for

demonstrating the values of

Quality, Integrity, Caring and

Knowledge.

“Katie exhibits great

leadership skills. She is not

afraid to jump in and take

charge of a situation. She’s

always willing to help and

strives to make sure she

does her best. Katie has

an uplifting personality

and makes everyone feel

welcome.”

At Aultman College, our goal is to “live our values” every day! The Golden Owl Student of the Month program recognizes students who have gone above and beyond in displaying the values that are the foundation for our institution. Students may be nominated by faculty, staff, hospital employees, patients or other students. The Golden Owl Student of the Month is acknowledged in The Pulse newsletter, on the WiseLine and by posters in the hallway kiosks. One of the perks of the award is a reserved, front-row parking space in the Aultman Education Center parking lot. Nomination forms are available on the WiseLine or outside the Student Life Office.

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Q & ALearn More About James!

What led to your decision to pursue your degree? In my previous career, I did not see the future I wanted. I knew that something needed to change. I have been in the medical field in some sort of way for over 20 years, and nursing was a natural progression. Why did you select Aultman College for your education? I wanted a two-year nursing program so that I could work sooner and help support my family. I met with all the schools in the area that offered that educational path and felt that Aultman’s program offered the best education and program. You were nominated based on your demonstration of the Aultman College values of Quality, Integrity, Caring and Knowledge. Why do you feel these characteristics are important for a health sciences student?All of the values should be at the core of every nurse, lacking in any of these will hinder both your career and your patient care. Learning and working together at an educational level will hopefully carry over into our practice. Nurses have to work together on a daily basis and, in some instances, that teamwork can mean the difference of life and death. Is there any personal information you would like to share in this article? (information about family, hobbies, etc.) I am married and have two children; my oldest is a senior at Perry High School and was just accepted to The University of Akron. Our youngest is in second grade and ready to rule the house. I am an avid sports fan, loving all sports teams in Cleveland!

Please share the following: Favorite Food: Burgers and PizzaFavorite TV Show: “Blacklist” and “House of Cards” Favorite Song: “Come Sail Away” by Styx Favorite Book: The Holy Bible Favorite Class (so far): There is no favorite, they are all great classes in my mind! Best Advice For First Semester Students: Go out and make friends. Those people are with you for the next two years, and they will be your support system. Never give up; this is a tough journey but if it was easy it wouldn’t be worth it.

Golden Owl

James Fye

Student of the Month MARCH

James has been nominated by a college staff member for demonstrating values of Integrity and Caring.

“James has a high level of dedication to the college, its student body and leadership. His efforts to get more students involved do not go unnoticed. He spends a lot of extra time assisting with activities and trying to get other students to join ACSNA and Student Senate. We look forward to seeing James grow as a student and a nurse!”

April 2015

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DigestIt is our goal at Aultman College to promote and encourage a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. We strive to be a facility where differences are recognized, accepted, appreciated and celebrated. Each month, the Diversity Digest section of the Pulse will share multicultural concepts and information, understanding that a diverse student body has far-ranging and significant benefits for all students, as well as the community at large.

April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day What is World Autism Awareness Day and Light It Up Blue?

World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD), celebrated each year on April 2, was adopted by the United Nations in 2007 to shine a bright light on autism as a growing global health crisis. Autism is one of only three health issues to be recognized with its own day by the United Nations. WAAD activities increase world knowledge of autism and impart information about the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. Additionally, WAAD celebrates the unique talents and skills of persons with autism around the world. On WAAD, Autism Speaks celebrates its international Light It Up Blue Campaign. Thousands of iconic landmarks, communities, businesses and homes across the globe unite by shining bright blue lights in honor of the millions of individuals and families around the world affected by autism. Source: https://www.autismspeaks.org/liub/what-liub

May 5 – Cinco de MayoCinco de Mayo – or the fifth of May – commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations. Cinco de Mayo traditions include parades, mariachi music performances and street festivals in cities and towns across Mexico and the United States. Source: http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/cinco-de-mayo

June 19 – JuneteenthJuneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official Jan. 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new executive order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April 1865 and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance. Source: http://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm

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Campus Happenings

Past and Present Lunch Feb. 26 was a special day on our campus for the alumni from the classes of 1970-1975. They were invited to meet present students to share lunch and stories about their nursing school experiences. Among the laughter, alumni reminisced about their dorm rules, silly roommates and the nursing procedures that seem so archaic to the nursing practices of today. Alumni discovered that students today must juggle studying with their work and family obligations. When alumni attended school most were young, single students living in a dorm and focused solely on their studies. Although life as a student nurse in the ’70s is different from today, nursing is still a special career that requires compassion and a lifetime of caring for others.

Alumni Phone-a-thon The Phone-a-thon was held March 24-26. Students, faculty, and staff joined together to call potential donors to support the 1892 annual campaign. The money raised during this appeal is used for student scholarships. In just three nights nearly $6,000 was pledged. Great work everyone!

April 2015

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Campus HappeningsGet ConnectedAultman College teamed up with United Way of Greater Stark County Women’s Leadership Council for the fifth annual Get Connected event. On March 4, 2015, Aultman College opened its doors to Canton City high school students interested in health care careers. These students learned about the importance of networking and got a chance to practice their networking skills while at Aultman College. This growing program provides for meaningful mentoring relationships to flourish and inspire students. The goal is to help students understand career opportunities available locally by visiting businesses, molding professional relationships and building skills with area professionals.