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     Title and abstract for lecture by Professor Karen Lucas Breda to nursing faculty and students at Utah Valley University to be held on Tuesday January 24, 2012 at 10 AM. lectures will be held in the Library Auditorium LI 120.

NURSING IN A GLOBALIZED WORLD

     Nurses and midwives make up one of the largest professional groups in the world. Nearly three million nurses exist in the USA alone. Yet, what is the role of the nurse in the global arena? And, how can nursing influence important health and social issues that face humankind? This lecture uses examples from Latin America, Canada and the USA to show how different models of nursing education can influence nursing practice and the nursing image. Participants will come away with an understanding of the craft of modern nursing and be better prepared to take an active role in the social and political evolution of the discipline. breda@hartford.edu

Key Words: nursing, globalization, role, image, social problems.

     Title and abstract for public lecture by Professor Karen Lucas Breda to faculty and students at Utah Valley University to be held on Tuesday January 24, 2012 at 11:30 AM.

PROMOTING GLOBAL ACTION

FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

     Globalization refers to an increased communication and ease of cultural exchange worldwide. Globalization is also closely linked to the development of market power and to the consolidation of economic institutions globally. Is globalization always good for everyone? Does it promote social justice or social injustice? This lecture explores different views of globalization and relates them to health and quality of life. It presents models of health and social advocacy and allows participants to help create a roadmap for enhanced global action and social justice. breda@hartford.edu

Key Words: globalization, social justice, health and social disparities.   

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Diabetes Specialty Center
 
Free Diabetes Education
 
"Starting 2012 Healthy and Fit"
By: Emily Gilgen, Registered Dietician &
Certified Diabetes Educator
 
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
 
6-7 pm
 
Diabetes Specialty Center
3793 S. State Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84115

For those with patients in the general Salt Lake City area, the Diabetes Specialty Center is offering one of their classes open to the community at large.  For additional information, please contact Susan Elms at (801) 369-7138 or selms@diabetesspecialty.com.

Utah Ranks at the Bottom of the Nation for School Nurse Ratio

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) -There is a large gap between the healthcare children receive while at school in Utah and other states. In fact, Utah ranks 49th in the nation for the number of school nurses assigned to kids.

Utah's bottom of the list ranking is a concern for school nurses who say more nurses equals less absenteeism and healthier kids."

Stacy Drew is one of six school nurses in the Canyons School District where there are more than 33-thousand students. "Sometimes we are the only medical professional the under-insured or uninsured students will see, and so we do the best we can with what we have."

Drew says statistics show four out of every 25 students have health conditions that could be a barrier to learning in the classroom, or even life threatening. "We have lots of kids in the school with seizures, anaphylactic reactions to various things, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, and what we do is kind of come up with the emergency plans."

In Utah there is one nurse for every 3,637 students, but in some districts that number is much higher. For example, in the Davis School District there is one school nurse for every 6,006 students, and in Logan, it's one for 6,133.

Stacy Drew says school nurse duty now extends beyond assessing student health, identifying vision and hearing problems, administering medication and caring for students in an emergency situation. Now, they are also responsible for training others in the school to do all of those things in their absence. "Really we act more as a case manager to help teachers and office staff handle the situation in an emergency."

To make sure students are safe, they create a custom emergency health program for each student they are responsible for.

Drew says more school nurses would allow them to add more programs and ultimately provide better care for their students, but she says in the current economy more funding isn't likely. She just hopes Utah lawmakers don't cut spending this year.

Utah Nurses Teach Thai About Neonatal Care

BANGKOK, THAILAND -- Debra Whipple looks out for the tiniest patients at LDS Hospital. As the nurse manager of the special care nursery her days are busy but she never forgets the reason she loves her job.

"For me, (babies) are hope for the future," she says.

The World Health Organization reports that up to 10 percent of babies will struggle to breathe at birth and nearly one million will die worldwide due to various birthing complications. The LDS Church estimates they've trained more than 100,000 birth attendants in their program saving an untold number of lives in more than 30 countries. Whipple has volunteered everywhere from Asia to Central and South America, to Africa. Thailand holds a special place in her heart.

"I feel blessed to work with this group of people," she says.

Part of that is due to the relationship the program has with the Neonatal Society of Thailand, headed up by Dr Sarayet Supapannacharp. Known to many as simply Dr. Supa, he is dedicated in reducing the infant mortality rate in Thailand.

"In every 100 babies that are born, there will be two babies that will die in the first minute of life," he says. "Everyday baby is precious and we don't want accidents to happen."

Whipple, her husband, and three other Utah nurses traveled to Thailand this week to run Thai doctors and nurses through simulations using infant mannequins. The mannequins and other training tools stay in the country. For every person trained the program hopes eight additional people will be trained with the goal of having someone educated by the program at every birth in Thailand.

"This is the most essential thing," says Neonatologist Dr. Meera Khorana. "Just by training us how to start, how to evaluate, we are saving a life."

While the Utah volunteers know they are making a difference, they don't often get to see the direct impact they have. During the Bangkok session, however, they got to meet one of the patients saved by their training.

Puu Kumngern celebrated his third birthday the day he stopped by that training. His mother collapsed while pregnant and delivered Puu early. He wasn't breathing but was revived by a medical team who'd been trained on infant resuscitation. Through a translator his father expressed his fears for his son and wife three years ago and his gratitude that today they are healthy and happy.

Watching the young family had a profound impact on Debra Whipple.

"This is why we're here," she says. "This is what's making the difference."