CampusRN Job Blog
Growing patient count pushing health service
Thursday, June 04, 2009
In March and April, Community Health Center of the Black Hills treated 1,000 more patients than it did during the same period in 2008.
It also saw a 3 percent increase in the number of Native American patients. Likely repercussions of a struggling economy, the increases are not necessarily bad news for Community Health.
“It’s a good thing because that’s what we’re here for,” said chief executive Crystal Jordan.
But the increases have re-emphasized the need for more space at Community Health, Jordon said.
posted in: news, South Dakota
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Nursing school grads see opportunities shrink
Monday, May 11, 2009
When Whitney Lenz began nursing school in 2007, nurses could basically pick and choose their dream jobs.
Not anymore.
Under the weight of a worsening economy, hospitals nationally are cutting pay, eliminating raises and laying off employees. Rapid City Regional Hospital, which employs 777 registered nurses, hired 64 nurses last year. This year, the hospital expects to cut back to just 40 to 50 new hires.
posted in: news, South Dakota
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Addressing health care worker shortages
Friday, April 10, 2009
South Dakota is one of a growing number of states to introduce programs that address health care worker shortages that are straining providers and threatening patient care.
A study released last year by the Washington, D.C.-based Association of Schools of Public Health found that the U.S. will need more than 250,000 additional public health workers by 2020. An estimated 56 million Americans lack adequate access to primary care due to physician shortages in their communities, according to a report released last fall by the Bethesda, MD-based National Association of Community Health Centers.
posted in: news, North Dakota, South Dakota
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Nursing Students Association of South Dakota Convention
Friday, March 27, 2009
Nursing Students Association of South Dakota State Convention
Join us in Yankton for the 2009 State Convention
Go and Grow: Gleaning the Past, Sewing the Future
Hosted by Mount Marty College
Best Western Kelly Inn
March 26-March 28, 2009
Click here to learn more about the NSASD.
The state convention is a great place to meet nursing students from all across South Dakota, learn more about different areas of the nursing profession, and visit with vendors about jobs and internships.
If you’re planning on attending the convention this year, please stop by and speak with a recruiter from Bryan LGH. Please see below and click to learn more, view current jobs, and ask questions.
posted in: South Dakota
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Stimulus money to buoy Medicaid
Monday, March 02, 2009
The federal stimulus package will pay South Dakota about $100 million in the next nine fiscal quarters to offset increased demand for Medicaid services and declining state revenue.
The money will boost a program facing a shortfall. But health care officials here hope the influx of money also will cause the state to rethink budget cuts proposed before the stimulus sent hundreds of millions of additional dollars to South Dakota.
posted in: South Dakota
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SDSU offers doctor of nursing practice degree
Thursday, January 29, 2009
BROOKINGS, S.D. — South Dakota State University is responding to changes in the nursing profession with a new advanced degree, the doctor of nursing practice.
Recently approved by the South Dakota Board of Regents, the first classes in the new degree program will be held in the fall of 2009.
According to Roberta Olson, dean of the college of nursing, the program will accept 20 nurse practitioner graduates with bachelor of science degrees and 20 nurse practitioners at the master of science level who already hold national certification.
Students with a B.S. will need to fulfill 80 credits and students with an M.S. will need 31 credits to complete the advanced degree.
“The doctor of nursing practice is becoming the national standard for advanced practice nurses,” Olson said. That standard is set by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
Other medical disciplines are setting doctoral-level standards as well. Olson noted that doctoral-level programs are now the norm in pharmacy, physical and occupational therapy and audiology.
“As a doctor of nursing practice, our students will be able to more quickly assess current research and apply it to their care of patients in a busy practice environment,” Olson said.
posted in: South Dakota
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Certified nurse midwives
Friday, January 23, 2009
In response to the Jan. 4 letter in the Argus Leader, the author points out that there are “certified midwives” in Sioux Falls and then at the end of her letter says that the “nurse midwives” have access to good help.
I would like to point out that what we have in Sioux Falls are certified nurse midwives, often called CNMs. They hold a nursing degree and have gone on for extra education in midwifery with a focus on providing a more natural birth experience in a hospital setting. They also provide yearly pap smears and other well-woman care to nonpregnant women.
What the Home Birth Safety Act would legalize is the ability of certified professional midwives to practice in South Dakota. The certified professional midwife credential is nationally recognized. These midwives’ training focuses on home birth. They carry and are qualified to use some emergency equipment such as oxygen. But more importantly, they have studied the normal physiologic processes of pregnancy and birth. They immediately can spot anything that does not fit with this picture and refer the mother to a doctor.
I also would like to point out that anyone who does not qualify for Indian Health Service services at Pine Ridge or Rosebud or who is not willing to travel to Sioux Falls or Rapid City does not have access to a midwife in South Dakota. In fact, if you live on the west side of the state, other than Indian Health Services, your options for hospitals that provide birth services are Rapid City, Pierre and Winner. That leaves many people with the possibility of delivering a baby en route to one of these places.
posted in: South Dakota
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Schools need nurses
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Thank you for the Argus Leader editorial on the status of the school nurse shortage in South Dakota.
I agree with you that it is heartbreaking, and I also understand the fiscal challenges of our small school districts in providing nursing services.
However, it seems that when a nursing shortage exists in South Dakota (as is the case in some hospitals and many nursing homes), we do not look at the shortage of nurses in community health services such as school nursing, home health and other preventive services.
The school nurse shortage problem in South Dakota has existed for many years and has not been adequately addressed.
In regard to the statement in the editorial that there is no evidence that we are putting children at risk, I must disagree. School nurses actively can and do save lives. Children with diabetes, seizures and asthma are treated actively by school nurses on a daily basis.
posted in: South Dakota
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South Dakota Reports Two Cases In National Salmonella Outbreak
Monday, January 19, 2009
South Dakota has identified two ill children, between the ages of 1 and 8, as part of a national outbreak of salmonella Typhimurium linked to King Nut peanut butter. The South Dakota children became ill six weeks ago. As of January 12, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had reported 410 cases in 43 states. King Nut peanut butter is produced by the Peanut Corporation of America and is distributed nationally, including in South Dakota.
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posted in: South Dakota
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Foundation offers $11,000 in health care scholarships
Friday, January 16, 2009
For the 2009-2010 academic year, the Northern Plains Eye Foundation (NPEF) in Rapid City is offering a total of $11,000 in health care education scholarships for deserving students in the Northern Plains region.
This region includes all of South Dakota, northeast Wyoming, northwest Nebraska, southeast Montana and southwest North Dakota.
Six Health Care Education scholarships of $1,000 each are available for graduating high school seniors planning full-time post-high school health-care related studies.
Winners are selected based on academic performance, school and community involvement, health-care related activity and leadership.
posted in: South Dakota
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