Siv Sjursen, mother of a five-year-old daughter and wife of a working journalist, is also a college student majoring in liberal arts. Last month she graduated from the Basic Nurse Assistant (CNA) course at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center, Chicago, and plans to use the nursing theory and clinical patient care experience she received during this eight week program to further her dream of one day becoming a registered nurse.

"I had nursing as a career in my mind for a long time," Sjursen says. "I was a candy striper in high school and a couple of my relatives are nurses. But my dad is a philosophy professor and my mother an artist, so I also have an interest in studying literature, psychology, philosophy and the liberal arts."

Sjursen believes there are a lot of people her age thinking of switching careers. "Sometimes I kick myself for not doing this when I was 18," she says. As Sjursen got closer to completing her college degree, she decided to start taking nursing pre-requisites in science and then, after she graduates, enter an accelerated nursing program for people who have bachelor’s degrees in non-nursing fields.

Sjursen says that taking the Basic Nurse Assistant course is a wonderful springboard for anyone considering a career in nursing. ."I recommend that anybody who wants to become a nurse should take a course like this to find out whether or not they will like nursing," Sjursen says. "I think it will be obvious to anybody after experiencing hands-on patient care whether or not nursing is something they will want to do as a career. The very first day of clinical experience, I knew I was on the right path and that I want to be a nurse. It was very affirming and exciting to be so sure."

When Sjursen heard about the Basic Nurse Assistant program at Saint Mary’s, she said it seemed like a wonderful opportunity to get clinical patient care experience, start learning how hospitals work, and begin understanding relationships and responsibilities of each person on a nursing unit. "I feel so lucky to have participated in this particular program because there were only eleven of us and we had three really compassionate and dedicated nursing instructors," Sjursen says. "They made it clear from the beginning that they really cared if we succeeded. They made sure we understood the entire spectrum of care and that nursing is a calling that carries much responsibility. They did a wonderful job."

Graduate Medical Education/Residency Education is the period of clinical education in a medical specialty that follows graduation from medical school, and prepares physicians for the independent practice of medicine.

Those involved in Graduate Medical Education (GME) or Residency Education include the residents (learners) and the faculty (teachers), including the program director and the teaching hospital or institution providing the training. Other position titles include, but are not limited to, Designated Institutional Official (DIO), Director of Medical Education (DME), Administrative Director of Medical Education (ADME), Program Administrator/Coordinator, Vice President Academic Affairs, and Dean for Graduate Medical Education. Others involved in the residency training program include nursing, medical records, pathology, radiology, and quality assurance personnel to name a few.

Preparing residents to take on the responsibility for our family’s health and wellbeing is an awesome task and one that requires careful monitoring from a variety of organizations and agencies. Next month’s article will be on the accrediting agencies.

Reference
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. About the ACGME. Available at www.acgme.org. Accessed June 9, 2004.

Kaplan University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies has introduced a new online program that provides comprehensive geriatric care management training for health care professionals. The Geriatric Care Management Certificate is now offered online as a 12-month, non-credit program.

Kaplan University’s Geriatric Care Management Certificate is the most recent addition to a series of certificate programs called Health Care Pathways. Offerings include certificates in Forensic Nursing, Legal Nurse Consulting, Life Care Planning and Case Management. Offered online through Kaplan University, these 12-month programs are designed to provide health and human services professionals with a competitive advantage in their field.

"Geriatric care managers (GCMs) are increasingly in demand as the baby-boomer generation ages and health care costs continue to rise in a complex health care delivery system," said Barbara Sonderling, Executive Director, Kaplan University’s Health Care Pathways programs. "Our online, self-paced program delivery affords busy health and human services professionals the opportunity to break into this dynamic field."

Kaplan University worked with experts at the top of their fields, including Peter Belson, M.S.W., to develop the curriculum for the program. Belson will serve as the lead instructor for the Geriatric Care Management Certificate program.

The program is open to a select group of health and human services professionals, including, registered nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, rehabilitation counselors, case managers, psychologists and medical doctors.

For more information on this program or to enroll, log onto www.kaplan.edu/hcp.