Volume 2, Issue 3
April 9, 2010
College of San Mateo
VITAL SIGNS
Nursing Newsletter
Inside this issue:
1-2
The New Health and
Wellness Building
3-4
The Future for New
Graduates
4
NCLEX Checklist
5
Get to Know Your
Instructor: Amanda
―Mandy‖ Anderson
5
References
6
Nurstoon
6-9
Pictures!!!
The New Health and Wellness Building, on a rainy afternoon.
The New Health and Wellness Building
By: Wendy Chin, Ruth Palmeri, & Amber Rhodes
On March 24, 2010, the College of San Mateo welcomed its new Health and Wellness Building (Building
5) with a ribbon cutting ceremony. This 3-story building is to house the cosmetology, dental assisting, and
nursing programs. In addition, the new building includes the new San Mateo Athletic Club and Aquatic
Center, and a fitness center for physical education programs. This new building was built in part of a $220
million CSM Design Build project funded by the bonds from the voter-approved Measure A and C of the
San Mateo County. Other improvements seen on the CSM campus (repaving of roads and parking lots,
landscaping, lighting) are also funded from these bonds.
Since the beginning of the CSM nursing program in 1963, skills lab had always been held in Building 23.
With the new facility, nursing students will be able to practice their skills in an environment suitable for
today’s modern technology. We have interviewed Jane McAteer, Director of Nursing, about the specifics
of the new facility.
Who is involved with designing and constructing the new building? Kwan Henmi Architecture and
Planning firm and McCarthy Building, Inc.
Who designed the layout of the skills lab? Jane McAteer, Janis Ryan, and Susan Hantz, with the help of
the Media and IT department.
VITAL SIGNS
Volume 2, Issue 3
Continued from page 1—The New Health and Wellness Building
What are the skills lab rooms like? There are 8
rooms—6 regular rooms with 2 beds each and 2
simulation rooms, equipped with cameras. There is
a one-way mirror in the control room that looks out
into each simulation room. Available in each room
are sinks, bedside tables, linens, vital sign monitors,
IV pumps (double pumps!), and IV poles.
However, no call lights have been installed.
When will the students begin classes in the new
building? Unfortunately, the new lecture room
(that seats 60 students) is not yet ready for use.
Skills lab in Building 23
Sadly, the graduating class of 2010 most likely will
not be able to utilize this new facility. For those of
you who have not toured the new building, here are
our thoughts…
Amber Rhodes—I was so impressed when I first
toured the new building under construction. It was
obvious that a great deal of planning and funding was
needed for this project. It was amazing to attend the
ribbon cutting ceremony and finally see the finished
product! My favorite part about the new classrooms is
the pop-up outlets on the desks to charge our laptops
(and of course the magnificent view). The skills
lab replicates hospital rooms, which helps us relate to
working in the hospital when practicing our skills. I
also think that having the fitness gym is a great bonus
to the building since it promotes health and wellness;
which is a major focus of nursing. I joined the gym
along with a few of my classmates and I am looking
forward to using the facilities as often as possible.
Skills lab in the Health and Wellness Building.
Ruth Palmeri—Stepping into the skills lab feels like
walking into an ICU – huge gleaming windows and a
foot pedal for the sink too! I’m envious of future
nursing students who will be able to study in such a
modern and expansive space.
Wendy Chin—As I walked into the new building, I
was in awe. It’s an amazing feeling to know that the
cosmetology, dental assisting, and, of course, the
nursing program will be taught in such a modern
facility. Like Ruth, I found the skills lab to be the
most impressive. It looks better than some hospital
rooms!
Page 2
Lecture room in the Health and Wellness Building
Special thanks to Jenny Kinsel for providing all the
images of the new Health and Wellness Building and
of the current skills lab.
VITAL SIGNS
The Future for New Graduates
By: Wendy Chin, Katrina Pangilinan, Joanna
Udasco, & Lisette Varela
As graduation lurks around the corner, many of us
fear what the future holds for new nursing
graduates. For years, we have heard about the
―nursing shortage,‖ which has now become the
―nursing job shortage.‖ In this article, we will
present to you our findings about this difficult
situation and what opportunities are out there for
you as a new graduate.
According to Advance for Nurses, the economy is
responsible for the lack of jobs. Experienced nurses
are taking on more shifts or nurses have come out
of retirement, filling up job opportunities for new
grads. In addition, healthcare has been hit hard by
the recession—as evidenced by the lack of new
graduate programs. So…what does this mean for
us new grads?
Deloras Jones, MN, RN, the executive director of
the California Institute for Nursing & Health Care
(CINHC), states that ―because hospitals can’t afford
new grad programs,…new graduate nurses could
return to school and…they would complete a
residency program.‖ (Advance, 2010) There are
many bachelors and masters programs available in
the Bay Area. Included are California State
University (CSU), East Bay, Dominican University
of California (in San Rafael), Samuel Merritt
College (in Oakland), San Francisco State
University, San Jose State University, University of
San Francisco, and the University of California, San
Francisco. However, do note that deadlines for
applications may have already passed or are coming
to an end soon.
Many nurses in the hospitals now are advising us to
move out of the area (meaning the Bay Area) for a
couple of years to gain experience. In fact,
Michelle Hughes, BSN, RN, ACIR, CDR, nurse
recruiter at St. Mary's Hospital in Reno, states that
"new nurses may have to work in long-term care, or
move to another area to start.‖ (Advance, 2010)
Page 3
Volume 2, Issue 3
There are free websites that allow you to search for
―New Grad programs‖ by state. Try going to
http://www.joined.com/ and type in New Grad RN
and the state that you are interested in. You’ll be
amazed at the amount of jobs available. Other
websites, such as http://allnurses.com/ , allow you
to connect with other new graduates. Try searching
California 2010 New Grad Program and you’ll find
that many new graduates have shared an abundance
of possible job opportunities.
But, many of the students in our program are unable
to move out of the Bay Area due to family
obligations. What opportunities are available to
those who need to stay in the Bay Area? According
to Advance for Nurses, the California Department
of Labor is applying for funding to develop training
programs for nurses. In fact, Samuel Merritt and
CSU East Bay are offering RN Residency Programs
right now. As part of these programs, you will be
able to practice your clinical, critical thinking, and
professional skills.
Please visit http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/t2p and
https://adhayweb13.csueastbay.edu/events/rnresidency/online-app.php for more information.
Do note that you need your RN license to be
eligible for these programs.
Well, we have approximately 6 more weeks before
graduation…what can we do now? Nicole Sutter
and Sarah Fong (graduates of the CSM nursing
program of 2009) have a few words of wisdom for
us…
N242—Stay focused. Don’t take this last
course lightly. You wouldn’t want to fail out so
close to being done.
Transition from student RN to RN—Make
contacts at the hospital. Get letters of
recommendations from your instructors. Ask if
someone at your clinical rotations will be your
reference.
VITAL SIGNS
Volume 2, Issue 3
Continued from page 3—The Future for New Graduates
NCLEX—Take Kaplan (it’s worth the
money). Take the test as soon as possible…DO
NOT POSTPONE IT.
Fortunately, the shortage of nursing jobs is
expected to be short-term. The aging population
(Baby Boomers generation) will soon bring about
another wave of nursing shortage. (San Francisco
Business Times, 2009) In the meanwhile, we
should all do what we can to make ourselves
marketable and take it one day at a time.
----------
----------
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What have you done to
prepare for the NCLEX?
Nothing??? Well, cut
out the checklist below
to get started!!!
----------
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NCLEX Checklist
By: Ruth Palmeri
Second year students – will you be ready to sign up for the NCLEX when the time comes?
Congratulations! We are almost finished! In addition to care plans, reading, and study groups don’t forget to
ensure your paperwork is processed so that you can sign up for the NCLEX as soon as possible. Have you
taken the necessary steps?
___Meet with Jane to ensure all graduation requirements are completed
___Turn in the BRN transcript request form to Jane
___Livescan fingerprinting (cost: $70 to $90). Don’t forget to take 3 copies with you to your appointment.
___2‖x2‖ passport picture. Want to save the $15 cost of taking a passport picture? Use your own digital
camera and have a friend take your headshot against a white background. In a photo editing program, crop
your picture to 2‖x 2‖ and paste it six times on a 4‖ x 6‖ canvas. Place your file on a USB flash drive and take
it to your local drugstore and print one 4x6 print. I spent 29 cents for a print and have 6 passport size pictures.
___Check or money order for $105 for the application fee (if you get an interim permit)
___Completed BRN application to test form (look in the N241 syllabus). Double and triple check that your
full name is correct! Does your full name match the CSM school record, your driver’s license and BRN
application? If it does not match, it can cause trouble later when you go in to take the test. This especially
applies to students who have gotten married within the past 2 years and have legally changed their name.
___Mail together: one copy of the livescan form, passport picture, check or money order, and completed BRN
application form. It is recommended that you send your application certified mail with signature upon delivery.
You will have proof that your application was received by the BRN, and peace of mind that nothing was lost in
the mail.
___Pass N242. Once all the grades are turned in, Jane will forward our transcripts to the BRN as proof that we
have completed all the courses.
___Wait for your authorization to test (ATT) that will come through regular mail. Once you have the ATT,
you can go online and sign up for a testing date.
Page 4
VITAL SIGNS
Get to Know Your Instructor:
―Mandy‖ Anderson, RN, MPA
By: Jill Wylie & Amber Rhodes
Volume 2, Issue 3
Amanda
What inspired you to become a
labor and delivery nurse? I was
a pre-med major for 2 years, and
then I got married and became
pregnant, so I enrolled in the
Medical Assisting Program at the
College of San Mateo in 1985. I
knew that I always wanted to work in obstetrics, so
I applied to the College of San Mateo Nursing
Program in 1990. During nursing school, I worked
as an Obstetrics technician 32-40 hours per week on
the night shift.
What inspired you to become a teacher?
Teaching has always been a part of my background;
I’ve taught summer school, perinatal classes, CPR
certification courses, and neonatal resuscitation
classes. ―I have a passion for teaching and nursing,
and to combine the two, I get the best of both
worlds.‖ After I graduated from CSM, I went to
California State University East Bay to receive my
Bachelors in Heath Science in 1997, and then
furthered my education with a Master’s in Health
Care Administration in 1999.
What is your favorite part of nursing? I started
working as a nurse on the night shift as a labor and
delivery nurse. There were two nurses that made
my life miserable by assigning me the worst
patients without any support. There was one nurse
who was very positive and compassionate. She
taught me if you truly love what you do; you will
do anything to keep doing your job. I love assisting
a delivering mother through the birthing process,
especially the mother who says ―I can’t do it.‖ I get
the joy of proving to her that she can do it, and I’m
there to encourage her every step of the way. This
is such a personal life changing event, and it’s an
honor to be able to share this experience with
mothers.
Page 5
What are your hobbies? When my son was
young, I took him on a fly-fishing trip, hoping to
bestow a new hobby upon him. It turns out, I found
a new hobby for myself, and my son didn’t care for
it much. I enjoy fly-fishing in the Sierras for trout,
but I prefer the Sea of Cortez in Baja. I enjoy going
on road trips, and I have a license in massage
therapy.
What piece of advice do you have for new nurses
entering the field? During nursing school, I had a
skills lab instructor who told another student and
me that we would never make it because we both
had children and were working during school. We
proved to her that if you put your heart and soul in
it, you can accomplish anything. My advice for
nursing students would be to treat your clinical
rotations like a job interview. It’s important to make
a good impression because these facilities could
potentially be your future employer. I also make it a
point to respect the staff equally. You will get more
cooperation from other staff members when you
treat them with kindness and show that you
appreciate them.
References:
The New Health and Wellness Building
 http://www.americantowns.com/ca/sanmateo/news/ribboncutting-ceremony-for-csm-s-new-health-and-wellnessbuilding-267743
The Future for New Graduates
 http://nursing.advanceweb.com/Editorial/Content/PrintFriendl
y.aspx?CC=214042
 http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2009/
02/23/story7.html
VITAL SIGNS
Volume 2, Issue 3
PICTURES!!!
Thanks to Shelly Greene, Connilee Hayes, Bryan Lo, Kimberly McNease, Ruth Palmeri, Michelle Nerona for sending in pictures
Page 6
VITAL SIGNS
Volume 2, Issue 3
HEALTH FAIR
Page 7
VITAL SIGNS
MORE PICTURES!!!
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Volume 2, Issue 3
VITAL SIGNS
Page 9
Volume 2, Issue 3