A New Day.

• 5/2/14: Graduation from University of Utah with Doctorate of Nursing Practice - check.
• 5/8/14: Attend commencement for SLCC @ Maverick Center - check.
• 5/9/14: Attend and speak at SLCC nursing pinning ceremony at Grand Theater - check.
• 5/12/14: Finalize grades for 3rd semester students at SLCC - check.

It seems like I should be having a break this week since summer semester starts next week, but NOOOO. There is always so much to do - set up website for summer class, take a Canvas workshop, clean up home and college office from last semester (I'm a stacker), and shred!
I did start something new, however. Jared Covili emailed out an announcement about a "twitterchat" that is starting this week. The chat will be Wednesdays from 9-10 pm. Tonight I was unable to make it (Bonko) but the topic was PLNs - which meant absolutely nothing to me, so I googled and learned a little about Personal Learning Networks. Very interesting and I look forward to learning more about it and joining in on next weeks 'chat'.

Updates for my own good...

I am currently taking on online course called Cyber pedagogy. I am very interested in how to create online course that will engage the learner in many different ways. One of my current assignments asked for me to provide 2 links to my online presence, I provided this link but noted that this blog was not up to date. I was able to leave that comment for about an hour before I decided that it is in my own best interest to update the blog. If nothing else, this will be musing of my last semester of the Doctorate program.
It is the first week at SLCC, where I teach and the second week at the U where I am a student. For the first time EVER in my college career, I have 2 seated classes on different days that require me to go to the campus. This is kind of a bummer as the U is not the most parking friendly campus.
I am also taking a course from Andrew Black. He is the instructor who had the assignment to start this blog. This course is project management. I would like to state for the record, his classes are an example of well done online courses. Back to the homework...more later.

Module 4

I love teaching, not just students but patients as well. I liked teaching my peers and colleagues when I worked in the hospital. Education gives me pleasure - as the giver and as the receiver, I guess that's why I'm back in school.

When asked if there are any nursing/healthcare provider roles that do not involve education and teaching, I would have to answer 'no'. All roles, from LPN to nursing administrators have a part in educating others. Nursing has become a profession of educators, whether it is teaching a new diabetic to self inject, or teaching a new nurse how to chart, education is how we get things done. Education is how we communicate, keep current on new information, it's how we prepare patients to leave the hospital, and how we coach a laboring woman to breathe during contraction. We use the knowledge that we are continually updating to empower others.

The trick is not to teach but how to help others learn. It is not in learning but updating, expanding knowledge.  Phil Collins is no ancient philosopher but he did say: "In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn". I guess that sums up how I feel about nursing and teaching.

For a sample of what other nursing graduate students think and do with information click on this link.  http://editthis.info/nurs_6004_mobile_devices/Main_Page

Module 2 Post

What a week...this module involved information systems, there were several assignments involving information systems and I learned a lot (just when I thought I knew everything).

• Nursing has a definite role in the implementation of information systems that involve healthcare environments. Having been an end user in several system updates and changes, I can honestly say that I have been able to affect how the system ultimately worked. Although these system changes were initiated at the upper administration the steering committee included the nurses as end-uses at the beginning by having structured focus groups. Once some of the system components were ready, groups were invited to utilize a trial version to see how the system worked and if it was 'user-friendly'. 
• Training was bi-level, in that there were group training sessions where the changes were reviewed and shown to the group, questions were answered and the opportunity to see the system changes utilized in a mock demonstration were given. Once the system went 'live' there were NI specialists on each unit, every shift for 3 - 5 days. This allowed nurses to have instant help with any issues that occurred. 
• At the facility where I worked, they have their own development department so the process of getting bids was eliminated. NI specialists were involved every step of the process, but I was especially impressed with the incorporation of the nursing staff opinions and suggestions. I recognize that nurses can and should become involved in every step of this process. Being the person who will utilize the system makes us the valuable members of the steering, implementing, and evaluating process. 
• Just as a side note, when I first started as a nurse, computer charting in Utah hospitals was in it's infancy. The unit were I started was using computer charting but it was so new that we had to back it up with hand-written charting for every patient. Not really the 'good ole days'.

Module 1 Post

This is how much of the technology and informatics information makes me feel, like a kid just trying on some new shoes - that are much to BIG. I am a family nurse practitioner (FNP) who teaches nursing to Associate Degree (ADN) nursing students. I decided that in order to complete my education in nursing as well as a nurse educator I needed to go back to to school and get a DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) with an emphasis on education.

One of my first courses is 'Introduction to Information Technology', for which there was an assignment to create a blog. so, here I am, blog created (check), first posting (check).  It's not all fun and games, however, it is important to be aware of the various uses for technology as well as advances, and the significant role that technology has in nursing and health care. There is a vast amount of data and knowledge that is added to the field of nursing on a daily basis. In order to keep up with any of it, it is imperative to have a working knowledge of what information technology it is, how it works, and how to get the most out of it.

At the college where I work, we have a fairly disjointed department of IT since there are several campuses. Although we have a tech to assist with technological problems concerning the devices, his expertise is limited. We also have a designer assigned to our department however she is part-time and only on our campus once a week. To add a little chaos, we just started using a new system called Canvas. I started as an instructor using it during summer semester, and as a student this semester (fall). The college recently hired a 'Social Media Director' who set up, or modernized our Twitter, Facebook, and internet sites.

Okay, I have to admit, I have a Twitter account I set up to use with my students. I still haven't gotten around to utilizing it since I created it over a year ago. Maybe next semester. I also can see ways that my course site can be utilized more effectively through the excellent sites that the U has set up. So there are things to learn, more things to do....and very little time to get it all done.