CONGRATULATIONS:

To Dr. Elisabeth Shelton, who successfully passed the exam to become a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE). The exam was administered by the National League for Nursing (NLN) for the first time in September 2005. It recognizes the nurse educator as an advanced practice role in nursing. If you would like more information about this new certification, contact Dr. Shelton, or visit the NLN website at http://www.nln.org/ and click on Professional Development.

To Jennifer Douglas, senior BSN student, who will be giving her trial/initial sermon at the Greater St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Morgantown on December 18 at 3 pm.

UNDERGRADUATE SPRING COURSES:

All BSN students have been registered for nursing courses for the Spring semester, with the exception of NSG 476, Nursing Research. Please check your registration in STAR and make sure that you are registered for the courses you need for Spring semester. If you think there is a mistake with your registration, contact Terry Shaeiwitz in Student Services at tshaeiwitz@hsc.wvu.edu or 293-1386. NSG 476 can be taken in either semester of the Senior year, and you will need to register yourself for this course. Remember that Statistics is a pre-requisite for Nursing Research.

DECEMBER GRADUATES AND FACULTY:

If you have not already done so, please let the Office of Student Services know as soon as possible whether or not you plan to attend graduation. The School of Nursing ceremony begins at 10 am in the HSC Main Auditorium. Students and faculty should assemble in the lobby in academic regalia at 9:30. A brunch will be held in the HSC cafeteria following the ceremony.

EXCITING NEW OPPORTUNITY IN THE SPRING SEMESTER:

A new program in the School of Nursing will begin in the Spring semester to help undergraduate students. TIPS (Test Improvement and Peer Support) will assist students with learning nursing concepts and with test taking. It will be offered for the entire semester, with weekly study and peer support sessions, and test taking workshops throughout the semester. We are now accepting applications from students who are interested in being peer tutors in the program. These are paid positions, at $9.00/hour, 3 hours per week, for 15 weeks. Requirements for tutors are an overall grade point average of at least 3.25 and at least a B in each nursing course previously taken. Peer tutors can tutor in courses they have previously completed, or in courses in which they are enrolled for the Spring semester. Tutors are needed for NSG 241, NSG 322, NSG 334, NSG 351, NSG 356, and NSG 421. Remember that NSG 322 and NSG 334 are the Child Health and Adult Health courses that now replace NSG 332. If you are interested in being a peer tutor, please contact Dr. Shelton at eshelton@hsc.wvu.edu and indicate which course you are interested in tutoring.

COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS:

Remember to submit your community service hours in SOLE. Hours that were submitted prior to the Fall semester have been entered into a separate database in Student Services. You don’t need to resubmit these hours since we already have a record of them. If you are graduating in December, you should submit your hours in SOLE as soon as possible. Remember that graduation requirements are 100 hours for basic BSN students, 50 hours for BS/BA to BSN students, and 25 hours for RN to BSN students. Community service hours must be in the form of hours rather than monetary donations.

PARKING OFFICE EXCUSING TICKETS FOR FOOD:

In tune with the spirit of giving this holiday season, the Parking Office is “giving” students and employees a break. During the week of Dec. 5-9 those who have a $10 parking ticket or two $5 parking tickets (except violations for handicap parking) can have them excused in exchange for three canned goods weighing 10 ounces or more, or three bags of dry goods. Items should be delivered to the Parking Office located in the Prete Building, 3040 University Avenue. All food collected will be distributed to local food pantries. Last year, the program received and donated 3,230 cans and 237 dry food items.

HOLIDAY DONATIONS FOR CHRISTIAN HELP:

The brightly decorated collection barrel is in the front of Health Restoration. Donated items will be taken to the Armory on Dec. 13, so everything needs to be in before that date. You can purchase news toys for any age group you choose, but pre-teens and the teenagers are often a neglected group. Here are some suggestions for that age group: cologne/aftershave sets, watches, books, fishing poles, sweaters, sweatshirts, basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, movies, jewelry, skateboards, board games, electronic hand held games, music, music players, makeup kits, bath and body products, sports equipment, fashionable purses, remote controlled vehicles. Please don't wrap the gifts - they are displayed on tables so the parents can choose presents for their children - you are welcome to donate gift wrap, bags and ribbons if you like - the parents can then wrap their choices. Financial contributions are always welcome. If anyone is interested in volunteering to help this year, please let Betty Jurick know if Health Restoration. There are 4 different days and lots of different times available for volunteers

STUDENT APPRECIATION DAY:

Student Appreciation Day will be held on Monday, January 9, 2006 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is for all School of Nursing students, undergraduate and graduate. Please stop by the table outside Student Services and pick up your gift. You are appreciated by the School of Nursing.

BSN SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

The Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association is accepting applications for scholarships from pre-nursing, BSN, BS/BA to BSN, and RN to BSN students. Scholarships range from $1000 to $5000 annually. Information and application forms are available in the Office of Student Services. Application deadline is January 13, 2006.

The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Foundation will award a $2000 scholarship to a nursing student applicant residing in Ohio or West Virginia who is interested in and committed to oncology nursing. Applications are available at www.onsfoundation.org, along with scholarship criteria and requirements. Application deadline is February 1, 2006.

GRADUATE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY:

Nurses’ Educational Funds, Inc. has scholarships available for MSN and DSN students. To qualify for an award, applicants must be: a registered nurse; a member of a professional nursing association; enrolled full-time in a professionally NLNAC or CCNE accredited nursing masters degree program or enrolled full or part-time in a doctoral program in nursing or a nursing related field. There is a non-refundable processing fee of $20 for each application. Application deadline is March 1, 2006. Information and application forms are available at http://www.n-e-f.org/application.html .

BLOOD DRIVE :

There will be a blood drive on Thursday, December 15 from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the John Jones Conference Center. To make an appointment log on to www.redcrosslife.org. You may also call the Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE LIFE. Thank you for giving the gift of life. Students receive community service hours for donating blood.

SUMMER EXTERNSHIPS:

Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) is accepting applications for summer externships from October 1 through February 17. An interview session will be held on March 4, 2006, for positions that become available in May 2006. Externships are available for students in their 2 nd, 3 rd, or 4 th year of a BSN program. Additional information is posted on the Student Services bulletin board. Apply online at www.camc.org, or call 1-800-323-5157 for an application. Reference forms from 2 instructors are required and are available from Brandy Toothman in Student Services.

Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh has externship positions available from May through July 2006 for students who have completed at least half of a BSN program, including 2 clinical rotations. For more information and to schedule an interview, contact the Allegheny General Hospital Human Resources Department at (412) 359-8098, email GCZECH@wpahs.org.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: