The DSN Digest
Happenings at DSN…
INTERESTING
NURSING
SPECIALTIES
Andrea Mitrovka (pictured above)
is the Perinatal Loss Coordinator at University
of Colorado Hospital. She began her nursing
career in 1979 at the Ronald McDonald House;
in 1984 she worked for the Denver Hospice
and began nursing school while raising two
children. Through transitions and graduation
Andrea started working at University of
Colorado Hospital as a Level II nursery nurse.
She would later transfer to high risk labor and
delivery for the next 25 years. Andrea is still
committed to patient care along with her new
role as the Perinatal Loss Coordinator.
Perinatal
loss
includes
miscarriage, termination due to either fetal
abnormalities, genetic disorders, or choice,
still births, and IUFD. Regardless of the loss it
can be devastating to a parent and family. If
the loss is known at admission then Andrea is
contacted and she will come to the family’s
room to begin her support. The RN assigned
on duty will assist in the family support during
this time of loss. If the loss is unexpected or
unknown then Andrea is notified and she will
see the family as soon as possible. When the
loss has happened Andrea or the R.N. who is
taking care of the patient will create
“memories” for the family. This consists of
photos, locks of hair, hand and foot prints,
books, and a variety of other mementos.
Andrea will then have a follow-up visit with
the family within two weeks after the loss to
assess needs.
Assessment of needs is
dependant on age, maturity level, culture,
personal experiences of the mother, along with
mental and physical needs.
Support
groups
are
very
important. There are many resources Andrea
taps into for her patients. For a term or genetic
loss, resources are Difficult Decisions
(counselors and psychiatrist), M.I.S.S.
(mothers, in sympathy and support), Surviving
twin counseling, Spanish speaking only, and
SHARE (for any type of loss).
Educational
resources
and
pamphlets are also given to the parents in a
packet that includes, Empty Cradle Open Heart
(perinatal loss book), handouts such as milk
production, depression, physical needs, etc.
When I asked Andrea why and
what is fulfilling about her job she stated, “I do
it because I can, society is uncomfortable with
death in general and I am not. There is a need
there that has to be satisfied and I am that
person.”
For anyone interested in working
with any type of loss weather adult or perinatal
you must know it is not as much physically
demanding as mentally challenging. You have
to look within yourself and compare your
cultural and moral values. Training programs
are out there to guide you in the right
direction. Resolve through Sharing located at
Gunderson Lutheran Medical Center in
Wisconsin and SHARE are great starts for
someone interested in this field of nursing.
Written by June Lamb
Did you have a great
experience with a Faculty
member? Let everyone know!
Nominate he/she for July’s
MVP Faculty!
SNA WELCOMES A NEW ADVISOR
In June, DSN appointed a new Director of Student Services,
Michael Ruschival. Mike not only leads the Student Services department,
but will act as the SNA advisor, and a great advocate for students across the
school! He previously worked in Academic Support for two years, and is
excited about his new position.
Mike graduated with his Bachelors of Arts from Metropolitan
State University, in St Paul Minnesota in 2008. He recently celebrated his
1st anniversary to his wife, and they have a dog named Roadhouse. Ask
Mike, about his guitar skills, rumor has it he is in a punk rock band.
Feel free to stop by and welcome Mike in his new position!
DSN JOINS THE CROHNS AND COLITIS
WALK
On Saturday, June 16 a group of 46 students and faculty, and their families
together participated in the DSN Hates Crohn’s Guts team. We raised
$2,526.00, $526.00 above our goal, for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
This was the first time DSN participated in the walk, with great success!
Everyone looks forward to the event again next year!
Nutrition tips for 12 hour shifts
At some point, all of us will be working 12 hour shifts, whether in clinical or
in our practice. Although nurses are great at taking care of others, sometimes
we can overlook our own health. It is not always easy to prepare healthy
meals ahead, let alone make time to eat these meals with a large patient load,
but as nurses, we have to remember to take care of ourselves too. Skipping
meals can lead to health problems, as well as poorer job performance. There
are many healthy snacks that can take less than 30 seconds to prepare, and are
quick and easy to eat when you have little time in between seeing patients.
Here are some tips to eating healthier on your long days:
Don’t skip meals! Skipping meals makes your body use less efficient energy
sources such as protein (remember your patho?). It also causes your glucose
to drop, which can make you tired and irritable. And because glucose is what
your brain uses to function, your decision making processes may slow down,
and you may feel physically unstable. Skipping meals can also cause
cravings, glucose spikes, and elevated triglycerides, which actually leads to
weight gain.
Don’t binge on a single large meal! Eating just one large meal overwhelms
your body, and the calories you take in are not processed. It is best to take in
your daily calories in several small meals, not one big one.
Limit your caffeine intake! Most of us rely on caffeine from time to time, if
not on a daily basis. Caffeine may make us feel more awake initially, but
when it is no longer in our system, we crash. Caffeine can also cause
insomnia, GI upset, and act as a cardiac stimulant.
Stay hydrated! Keeping well hydrated helps with bowel function,
circulation, and overall body temperature regulation. Dehydration causes
cardiac strain, increased body temperature and can contribute to fatigue. Take
a large water bottle to work every day, and try to drink 8 cups of water or
decaffeinated liquid every day.
Take your own meals and snacks to work! The hospital cafeteria may be
tempting, but most of the meal choices are not very healthy.
Relax while you eat! It had be hard to take time out to relax during a
stressful day, but stress can decrease your appetite, which can lead to missed
meals, or insufficient meals. Take the time to relax before taking that first bite
to be sure you can take in your whole meal.
Now that you know how, and what to eat to keep you going over your long
shifts, it’s time to get to the grocery store to buy the ingredients for these
simple, inexpensive snacks!
Written by Brooke Phillips
DSN ROCKIES GAME DAY
An event that students look forward to each year
is quickly approaching. DSN has150 tickets
reserved for students to purchase at a discounted
rate of $10 a piece. Up to four tickets can be
purchased in the book store per person We will
be attending the Rockies game on Friday, July
27th at 6:40pm against the Cincinnati Reds.
Reserve your tickets today!
Did you know that…

It is possible to lead a cow upstairs
but not downstairs

In the Caribbean there are oysters
that can climb trees.
NEED HELP FINANCING
SCHOOL?
As we move towards a career in nursing, many
of us are faced with overwhelming debt that
will follow us for years to come. Luckily, there
are scholarships and other opportunities to help
fun our education and pay back our debt.
http://www.fastweb.com/
Create a profile that is unique to you and get
matched with a database of over 1.5 million
scholarships to help see what you may qualify
and apply for.
http://www.scholarshippoints.com/
ScholarshipPoints is a point based reward
program for students that awards over $100,000
in scholarships to high school and college
students each year.
http://www.nursesco.org/default.asp?PageID=10002697
The Colorado Nurses Association keeps an
ongoing list of scholarships available in
Colorado for those currently in nursing looking
to further their education and for those
interested in entering nursing as a career.
http://www.nationalguard.com/life/incentives/st
udent-loan-repayment-program
The National Guard will pay back up to
$50,000 in student loans with at least a six-year
commitment. They are not the only branch of
the military that offers this type of program, so
do your research!
http://www.coruralhealth.org/programs/loanrep
ayment/index.htm
Colorado offers loan repayment & scholarship
programs in exchange for service in certain
underserved areas and to certain underserved
populations. These areas and populations are in
rural communities and in urban underserved
clinics that serve the uninsured and
underinsured. Scholarships are funds you
would apply for and receive while in school;
loan repayment monies are funds you would
apply for and receive after school, when you are
working.
Written by Lindsey Lavely
Upcoming SNA Meetings:
Thursday, 7.12 at 11
Wednesday, 7.25 at 11
Monday, 8.6 at 11
Thursday, 8.23 at 11
Friday, 9.7 at 11