pulse
COLLEGE OF
ALLIED HEALTH & NURSING
Officially Opened! Left to right: President Richard Davenport and Dean Kris Retherford cut the ribbon for the Clinical Sciences Building while community member and donor Marcia Chalgren looked on. Read more on page 10. Photo by Lindsey Beyer
SPRING 2017
Dean’s
Welcome
pulse
COLLEGE OF
It has been an amazing year in the College of Allied Health & Nursing! In August, we admitted our first cohort to the newlyapproved master’s program in Athletic Training. As this discipline migrates to entry-level masters, we are ahead of the curve and well poised to be the program of choice, regionally and nationally. We also had our Wellness Coaching and Disease Prevention master’s program approved in January. Our first cohort will be admitted soon and begin classes in August 2017. Twenty-two Allied Health & Nursing students worked at the Ryder Cup in September 2016. Our students were the “go-to” team for this event—before the golfers arrived, during the event, and after the event. It was an awesome experience for our students and we received great praise for our students’ work ethic and our faculty leadership. In addition, the Maverick brand was visible everywhere! In January, we opened the much-anticipated 79,000-square-foot Clinical Sciences Building (CSB). This facility houses the Dental Clinic, the Center for Communication Sciences and Disorders, and the School of Nursing Simulation Laboratory and multi-bed skills lab. Each of these areas of the building welcomes community members seeking services or customized training provided by faculty and students. The CSB boasts five extraordinary classrooms and three skills laboratories, plus a home health apartment complete with a Murphy bed. I am excited to note that five rooms in the building include hearing loops that allow students and others who wear hearing aids to have direct auditory access to the individual at the podium. More than 100 individuals from campus and the community attended the celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 19, 2017. Our first annual Community Fair was April 22, 2017. Please visit the extraordinary facility and learn about all of the programs and departments in the College.
ALLIED HEALTH & NURSING
These are only a few examples that reflect the dedication of our faculty and students. Other examples can be found in the pages of our fourth issue of the pulse. One article features an alumna of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services—Ann Nelson. She has worked as a Recreation Therapist in a VA hospital for more than 32 years! Other stories showcase the innovative work of faculty and staff across the College. Please enjoy reading our stories and I encourage you to visit soon! My best, Kris Retherford
Table of Contents:
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UNDERSTANDING UNINTENDED EFFECTS While Hans-Peter de Ruiter was working as a mental health program coordinator in Thailand, a rat problem in a refugee camp piqued his interest in understanding the effect of policies rather than imply the intent of policies. de Ruiter is an associate professor of nursing at Minnesota State Mankato.
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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS With a commitment to continuous improvement, faculty and students in the College of Allied Health & Nursing embark on studies, collect and analyze data, and strive to identify best practices in healthcare and health and wellness education. We gathered a few highlights of their recent publications, presentations and current research.
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BIG IDEA IN HEALTH EDUCATION Professor Marge Murray-Davis had a big idea: her health and physical education teacher candidates would assume responsibility for health education at Kato Charter Public School. With curriculum designed to offer the best education to middle- and high-school students, the collaboration also provides unique and valuable experiences for future health and physical education teachers.
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A SECOND CHANCE The Veterans Court offers an array of service connections in an effort to help veterans facing legal actions get their lives back on track. Thad Shunkwiler, assistant professor in the Department of Health Science, is one of the service providers and his former student Curtis Shotliff is one of the Court’s success stories.
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OFFICIALLY OPENED! Minnesota State Mankato marked the official opening of the new Clinical Sciences Building with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on January 19, 2017. It was great way to celebrate this significant campus and community resource with friends and partners.
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COMBINING TRADITION AND PROGRESS Minnesota State Mankato’s new Clinical Sciences Building masterfully combines tradition with progress. According to Paul Cusick, director of technology for the College of Allied Health & Nursing, the process of outfitting the building with the right tools required a lot of preparation.
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SCRUBS CAMP Four years ago, Renee Shellum, associate professor in the Department of Communication Disorders, accepted an unusual invitation to attend camp. Actually Shellum was asked to do more than attend. She was asked to volunteer her time to help organize, plan and implement a new Scrubs Camp hosted at Minnesota State Mankato.
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HIGH-TECH ANATOMY INSTRUCTION For students in programs like athletic training and pre-med, expert understanding of human anatomy is critical. For faculty, teaching what happens inside the body can be a challenge. With the addition of an Anatomage Table™, students and faculty are reaping the benefits of futuristic-style anatomy instruction today.
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SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE As a recreation therapist, Ann Nelson’s primary duties are to enhance veterans’ quality of life through therapy and leisure education. She and her team encourage independence in leisure pursuits as well as provide supportive care to dying veterans, and she has been doing it for more than 30 years.
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SHARING OUR EXPERTISE Faculty and staff in the School of Nursing recognized that there would be periods of time when students would not be using the larger simulation center—especially during weekends and academic breaks. Making the state-of-the-art equipment available for continuing and professional education was an obvious choice for a College accustomed to collaboration.
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COLLABORATIONS IN THE WORKS The School of Nursing, along with the Glen Taylor Nursing Institute, collaborates with community partners to enhance nursing education at every level.
College of Allied Health & Nursing Dr. Kristine Retherford Dean Departments Dental Hygiene Family Consumer Science Health Science Human Performance Recreation, Parks & Leisure Services Speech, Hearing & Rehabilitation Services School of Nursing Minnesota State University, Mankato’s College Allied Health & Nursing is dedicated to promoting wellness and improving quality of life through education, scholarship and service to the state, region and global community. The purpose of pulse is to inform stakeholders of the ongoing work of the College of Allied Health & Nursing and its impact on the allied health and nursing fields. Pulse is published annually by the College of Allied Health & Nursing and distributed to faculty, staff, students, alumni, and stakeholders in the allied health and nursing industries. The College of Allied Health & Nursing welcomes ideas for feature stories and other content consistent with the mission of the magazine. Please e-mail story ideas to col-alliedhlth-nursing@mnsu.edu.
pulse
Spring 2017 Volume Four
College of Allied Health & Nursing Minnesota State University, Mankato 124 Myers Field House Mankato, MN 56001 Phone: 507-389-6315 Managing Editor/Writer Carol Jones Designer Teresa Poburka Linda Clavel Contributing Writers William Clark Zachary Duberry Matthew Hillesheim Photographer Pat Christman Print Coordinator Doug Fenske A member of the Minnesota State system and an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University. This document is available in alternative format to individuals with disabilities by calling the College of Allied Health and Nursing at 507-389-6315 (V), 800-627-3529 or 711 (MRS/TTY). AHNU149NE
PUL SE | SPRIN G 2017 3
UNDERSTANDING
Unintended Effects
According to Hans-Peter de Ruiter, as advancements in health technology impact more people, understanding the effects becomes critical. New healthcare technologies are implemented with good intentions and have great benefits, however they often also have unintended effects. "It is those unintended effects that are the focus of my research,” he said. As an associate professor of nursing at Minnesota State Manakto, de Ruiter focuses his research on creating a foundation for further improvements by understanding both the intended and unintended effects of new health technologies — especially for the patient. While working as a mental health program coordinator in Thailand, a rat problem piqued de Ruiter’s interest in understanding the effect of policies rather than simply the intent of policies. The rat population was on the rise at the refugee camp, where he worked. Camp leadership implemented a policy intended to combat the problem: a payment was offered for each rattail handed in. The expectation was that refugees would catch, kill and harvest the rats’ tails for money and the rat population would be reduced. “It didn’t take the refugees long to realize that with one male and one female rat, they could start generating income,” said de Ruiter. “And what do you think happened to the rat population? It skyrocketed!” Entrepreneurial refugees not only began breeding rats and collecting the tails, they even sold the meat. “This profoundly changed my understanding of the importance of focusing on actual effects rather than getting blinded by the intent,” said de Ruiter. Currently, de Ruiter’s research focuses on the impact of the Electronic Health 4 COL LEGE O F A LLI ED HEA LT H & N UR S I N G
Record (EHR) or care delivery and its effect on the people involved. The EHR allows for easy data collection of all types of information needed by the institution, such as billing, risk management, and information required for accreditation. However, this ability and demand to collect information has changed the focus of many patient-caregiver interactions. In his research, de Ruiter explores whether the amount of data collected on a patient has become out of balance—is it affecting the reliability of the information? “A patient visiting a physician for a sore throat might be asked if they wear a helmet riding a bike,” de Ruiter explained. “The patient knows that an answer of ‘No’ will generate a lecture from the physician. What is the patient likely to answer? ‘Yes, I wear my helmet,’ because they just want their sore throat taken care of.” This example provokes more questions for de Ruiter: How do we know that the data we are collecting is the truth? How does that affect, longterm, the trust relationship with the patient’s provider? Is this an unintended consequence of trying to meet institutional priorities with the EHR? Data protection is also a concern. How is collected data being used and protected? The vast amounts of data collected on a patient attract attention from third-party users. “For instance, say that we have an unsolved crime in a city. We know the person’s gender, approximate age group and the fact that they have a scar on a certain location on their body,” de Ruiter explained. “The police can query the healthcare systems database and get a matching result based on that description. Was this the intended use of the information or is it an unintended consequence?”
COLLEGE OF
ALLIED HEALTH & NURSING
Research Highlights With a commitment to continuous improvement, faculty and students in the College of Allied Health & Nursing embark on studies, collect and analyze data, and strive to identify best practices in healthcare and health and wellness education. We gathered a few highlights of their recent publications, presentations and current research.
PUBLICATIONS
Hicks, Jonathan. “Mixed emotions: A qualitative exploration of Northern Illinois whitetail deer-related decision making.” Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. November 2016.
de Ruiter’s research and work extend beyond Minnesota State Mankato. His work has attracted local, national and international recognition. de Ruiter collaborates with researchers at the University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics in an effort to identify ethical and moral issues resulting from the implementation of new healthcare technologies. In 2015, he received an honorary professorship at the University of Applied Sciences in Krems, Austria. This summer, he will begin working with the University of Halmstad in Sweden in evaluating ethical and moral issues that result from implementing new healthcare technologies. His work includes creating a curriculum that incorporates ethical and moral evaluation throughout the development of healthcare technologies. Unforeseen and unintended consequences affect all areas of technology in the healthcare system, not just the EHR. “We need to make technology fit the user by taking a bottom-up approach when creating these new technologies,” de Ruiter stressed. With all voices represented, he is confident we can decrease unintended effects, increase positive results, and make technology work better for everyone.
This study identified and provided initial exploration into the notion that the presence of children can increase or amplify the emotional significance of encounters with white-tailed deer. Qualitative data demonstrated that Northern Illinois natural area decision makers found deer encounters to be more memorable when simultaneously sharing space with children. Hicks, Jonathan. “Children as an emotional amplifier in Northern Illinois whitetailed deer interactions.” The Journal of Environmental Education. May 2016. This study sought to explore the ways in which Northern Illinois land managers and decision makers were influenced personally and professionally by emotional interactions with white-tailed deer. Qualitative data suggested that participants viewed deer as a symbolically significant species; contextual factors influenced emotions toward deer; “outsiders” and trophy hunters were perceived negatively; and personal feelings and management priorities required balance.
PRESENTATIONS
Monson, Angela, Brigette Cooper, and Trisha Krenik-Matejcek. “Assessing Calibration among Dental Hygiene Faculty with New Technology (HINT).” American Dental Educators' Association. Long Beach, Calif. March 2017. New technology (Hygiene INstrument Tutor, HINT) is currently in development by Angela Monson and Vince Bush to provide computerized feedback on dental hygiene instrumentation in a simulation setting. This new technology will help build consensus among faculty and
provide unique opportunities for faculty to identify areas of strength and weakness for further development. Monson, Angela. “Hygiene INstrument Tutor (HINT), New Digital Simulation for Dental Hygiene.” International Medical Simulation in Healthcare. Orlando, Fla. January 2017. Krenik-Matejcek, Trisha, Brigette Cooper, and Angela Monson. “Using Videos and New Digital Technology to Assess Faculty Calibration.” American Dental Educators' Association. Long Beach, Calif. March 2017. Calibration and student assessment in dental education is a challenge. Video recordings along with objective feedback from digital technology like HINT (Hygiene INstrument Tutor) can help identify outlying faculty members. This provides a unique opportunity to improve faculty calibration and enhance discussion. Cooper, Brigette, Trisha Krenik-Matejcek, and Angela Monson. “Utilizing Simulation Technology in Preclinical Dental Hygiene Instrumentation: Perceptions and Attitudes of Dental Hygiene Faculty.” American Dental Educators' Association. Long Beach, Calif. March 2017. Study authors explored the perceptions and attitudes of dental hygiene faculty concerning the use of new digital simulation technology: Hygiene INstrument Tutor (HINT), in preclinical dental hygiene instrumentation.
RESEARCH IN PROGRESS
Bissonnette, David, Brooke Burke, Robyn Ceurvorst, Erin Gonzalez, Elizabeth Herrick, Robert Pettitt, and Erin Peterson. “Identifying factors that prevent obese individuals from effectively losing weight.” The team is working on validating an obesity screening tool designed to detect sarcopenic obesity. The goal of the tool is to differentiate
those obese patients who lose weight easily from those who do not. The team hopes to test a total of 40 subjects and expects to conclude the study by April 2018. Frederick, Julie and Stacey Van Gelderen. “Revolutionizing high-fidelity simulation education of Baccalaureate nursing students with smart glass technology as an effective learning tool.” Wearable technology is an emerging trend in healthcare. Use of high-fidelity simulation tools can engage students and may increase adaptability to healthcare technology for nursing students and their satisfaction with new technology. Smart glass technology complements the use of electronic health records and simulation experiences. This paper will describe the utilization of smart technology in nursing practice education and how it may improve the performance of its users during family-focused simulations. Ceurvorst, Robyn, Jonathan Hicks, Rachelle Fuller, Sam Steiger, Davide Childers, and Madeline DuBois. “Barriers to participation and willingness to pay to develop campus outdoor recreation programs.” The Association for Outdoor Recreation Education awarded the group a $5,000 grant to study barriers to participation and willingness to pay to develop campus outdoor recreation programs. Surveys of University students will be distributed in cooperation with classes and student interest groups. Results will be presented to Minnesota Student Senate Association, the November 2017 Association for Outdoor Recreation Education conference and submitted for publication in the Journal of Outdoor Recreation Leadership. This study will also develop an educational video/module for campuses to adopt to promote the benefits and accessibility to engaging in outdoor recreation programs. PUL SE | SPRIN G 2017 5
BIG IDEA
developed videos, made posters and put on skits related to health and first aid. Not only did they enjoy the student teachers and the assignments, but most importantly, they learned the lessons. “Students are learning the content,” said Kato Charter science teacher Laurie Putze. “I know they are because I hear
IN HEALTH EDUCATION
Professor Marge Murray-Davis had a big idea: provide her health and physical education teacher candidates with real-world experience by making them responsible for health education at Kato Charter Public School. With curriculum designed to offer topnotch education to middle- and highschool students, the collaboration provides unique and valuable experiences for future health and physical education teachers. Murray-Davis teaches in the Department of Health Science at Minnesota State Mankato. Her health and physical education students have been teaching at Kato Public Charter School since 2005. Located in Mankato, Kato Public Charter School opened in 2000. The school strives to create customized learning experiences for students without the limitations of a standard, single-paced classroom. Students who enroll at Kato Charter are typically looking for an alternative to the traditional teaching approaches. The project-based instruction seems to fit their learning style best. Currently, more than 40 percent of Kato Charter’s students have individual education plans and students move through lessons at their own pace. Class sizes are capped at 17 students, and lessons are often cross discipline. Murray-Davis approached Kato Charter with her idea for a
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few key reasons. “Kato Charter is a performance-based, independent learning environment and the school welcomes community engagement,” she said. “Since health education is a skillbased curriculum with critical thinking skills taught as the heart of all lessons, we were a match.” As part of their senior capstone project, teacher candidates take full responsibility for the health-education and first aid units at Kato Charter. Although they are not licensed teachers, they have deep knowledge of the Minnesota Board of Education health education curriculum standards and 25 hours of classroom field experience. In addition, Murray-Davis reviews all lesson plans, teacher candidates team-teach and Kato Charter licensed teachers supervise every classroom. Shari Sahl co-taught the Health Issues class with two other teacher candidates. The group helped students use critical thinking to deconstruct health issues in society. Although she was initially overwhelmed by the idea of her role at Kato Charter, Sahl feels better prepared as a result. “I really enjoyed the experience because I was able to try new strategies and ideas, which I loved! It also got me thinking about what I might like to do in the future,” she said. “We received feedback from Dr. Murray-Davis regularly after our lessons—things that went well and
things that could be improved.” “The smaller class sizes allows for our teacher candidates to realize different learning styles,” said MurrayDavis. “Kato Charter’s individual learning approach afforded our students an opportunity to modify lessons and reconsider teaching strategies based on effectiveness.” “I would get super excited on my drive home with all of the ideas going through my head,” Sahl said. “It was fun and helped me feel more confident that I am going into the right profession. I know that not all content areas in the teaching profession have this opportunity and I am very appreciative of this experience.” The education and preparation of teacher candidates is only part of the story. Students at Kato Charter Public School have the opportunity to learn health education and first aid from innovative and energetic, albeit green, educators. Health topics include drugs, sexuality, mental health, consumer safety, disease prevention and more. “Middle- and high-school students gain skills that help them examine what influences healthy behavior, set short and long-term goals, make informed decisions, and effectively communicate and advocate for health behaviors,” said Murray-Davis. “This curriculum is inline with the National School Health Standards and Minnesota standards.” In Fall 2016, Kato Charter students
about it. They are having discussions over lunch, after class, in the hallway. The fact that they are talking about it shows they are engaged and learning.” Murray-Davis’ big idea makes a big impact on students and receives high praise from Kato Charter teachers. “Kato Charter’s relationship with
Minnesota State Mankato is awesome,” said Putze, enthusiastically. “Marge [Murray-Davis] is amazing. She does a really good job. She fully understands the [Minnesota Department of Education] standards and she prepares her students for the job. We appreciate this program so much.”
A health and physical education teacher candidate and Kato Charter School student reviewed student-made posters promoting healthy habits.
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A Second Chance Physical and emotional scars are common but brutal side effects of military service. The Fifth Judicial District Veterans Court helps Blue Earth County veterans mend the wounds that most people cannot see. One Veterans Court success story is U.S. Marine Corp veteran Curtis Shotliff. Shotliff served as a civil affairs specialist in Iraq from February 2008 to February 2009. Upon his return to the U.S. and eventual discharge, Shotliff struggled with his transition to civilian life. “I was lost,” he said. “The Guard and Reservist when they come home, they
actually come home together. After my enlistment I came home alone. I drank and drugged my way to living out of my car with my cat. I could not understand how the world worked anymore. My values did not match the values of the civilians around me.” Soon, Shotliff was facing legal consequences for his actions. Thad Shunkwiler, assistant professor in the Department of Health Science, has been working with the Veterans Court since March 2016. A 13-year veteran of the Minnesota Army National Guard, Shunkwiler served as a member of a field artillery
“Although Veterans Court directly provides tools and resources for veterans they likely didn't have before, at the end of the day, it is still the veteran who has to use them,” Shunkwiler said. If the conditions of the Veterans Court are met, the veteran graduates from the program, often avoiding a lengthy prison sentence. Presented with two options— incarceration or the Veterans Court— Shotliff chose the latter. The accountability required by the Court was key to Shotliff ’s recovery. “I had already been in contact with or involved in some form or another with the social services provided,” he said. “Accountability was my greatest need.” This constant interaction with the Court was the motivation and guidance he required to put his life back together. As an undergraduate student in Alcohol and Drug Studies Program at Minnesota State Mankato, Shotliff found a mentor in Shunkwiler. “He taught me how to transition from being a person in recovery to being a professional in the field of recovery,” said Shotliff. Shotliff graduated from the Veterans Court program in September 2015. He completed his Bachelor of Science from Minnesota State Mankato in Fall 2016 and became a licensed drug and alcohol counselor in November 2016. Without the Veterans Court and Shunkwiler’s mentoring, Shotliff ’s life may have been radically
unit and as a behavioral health officer within the Office of the State Surgeon. The Veterans Court offers an array of service connections in an effort to help veterans facing legal actions to get their lives back on track. Various counselors and mental health providers convene to provide a sort of one-stop-shop of resources. Shunkwiler and others sit in on hearings while the veteran checks in with the court judge. Together, the judge and veteran determine which services are needed. Afterward, the service provider works with the veteran to arrange an action plan.
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Left to right: Judge Bradley Walker, Curtis Shotliff and Thad Shunkwiler discuss services of the Veterans Court at the Blue Earth County Courthouse.
different. “I married my wife, went back to college and became a father. I just achieved three years of sobriety,” he said. “The Court gave me a chance to recover from my previous criminal involvement and I am truly grateful.” Thank you to Matthew Hillesheim for his contributions to the article. Hillesheim was a student in Abigail Bakke’s Technical Communication course “Writing in the Health Professions.” n p
Advanced Correctional Healthcare (ACH) Named Thad Shunkwiler Qualified Originally, Thad Shunkwiler sought a degree in law enforcement. However, after returning home from his tour of duty in 2003, he decided law enforcement wasn’t for him. "I didn't want to carry a weapon every day anymore," he said. While working at a treatment center, Shunkwiler’s conversations with professional staff led him to a “eureka” moment. He decided that helping others through counseling was his real interest and thought, ‘This is the kind of work that I want to do.’ He currently teaches in the Alcohol and Drug Counseling Program at Minnesota State Mankato.
Mental Health Professional of 2016. The award recognizes excellence in providing mental health treatment, assessment and healthcare documentation for inmates in the correctional system. In addition to teaching at Minnesota State Mankato, Shunkwiler provided training to local law enforcement on the signs of mental illnesses and suicide. He also worked with community partners to provide better coverage to inmates requiring mental health treatment upon release from a correctional setting. ACH is one of the country’s largest service providers of healthcare in correctional systems.
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OFFICIALLY OPENED
Minnesota State Mankato marked the official opening of the new Clinical Sciences Building with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on January 19, 2017. It was great way to celebrate this significant campus and community resource with friends and partners. “I am very pleased to officially open this beautiful new building,” said Minnesota State Mankato President Richard Davenport. “We thank our state legislators for sponsoring the legislation that led to Governor Mark Dayton signing the bonding bill for this project in 2014.” Kristine Retherford, dean of the College of Allied Health & Nursing, said she was looking forward to showcasing the new building to the University and community.
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“We are thrilled to include this state-of-the-art facility as part of our comprehensive preparation for allied health professionals,” said Retherford. “We are excited to welcome the community to receive top-notch health-related services and continuing education in this extraordinary setting.” The Clinical Sciences Building is a 79,131-square-foot, three-story facility that opened for classes January 9, 2017. The $28.883 million total project budget for the building included a $2 million capital bond for design in 2012 and the $25.8 million capital bond for construction; an additional $1 million in campus funds is being invested to add a basement, which is currently unfinished. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held September 26, 2014, and construction began in January 2015. n PUL SE | SPRIN G 2017 1 1
TRADITION and PROGRESS Combining
Minnesota State Mankato’s new Clinical Sciences Building masterfully combines tradition with progress. The impressive clinic was made possible with a $25.8 million appropriation from the 2014 Minnesota Jobs Bill. On the outside, beautiful, locally sourced limestone—Minnesota Stone—reflects academic traditions while inside, creative installation of state-of-the-art technologies reflects the progressive nature of the College of Allied Health & Nursing values. The building will serve as a University centerpiece of community access and education. According to Paul Cusick, director of technology for the College of Allied Health & Nursing, outfitting the building with the right tools for the job required a lot of preparation. “Technology is integrated into the design, the classrooms and even the furniture,” he explained. 12 C O LLEGE O F A LLI E D HEA LT H & N UR S I N G
“Everything is tied to technology.” From simulation labs to computer systems to collaborative learning areas, the task was monumental. The result is a multi-functional health and education resource for the College, the University, the community and the region. All seven of the departments within the College will use the collaborative workspaces—training and learning environments designed for collaboration. For example, a dietetics student and a dental hygiene student may meet with a family whose poor nutrition has negatively affected their oral health; a therapeutic recreation student and a communications disorders student may meet with someone whose leisure needs and interests have been affected by a gradual loss of hearing. The primary focus of the space in the building
By William Clark
is expanded labs and clinics. Three departments have significantly expanded their programs into the new space: Dental Hygiene’s Dental Hygiene and Oral Health Clinic; the School of Nursing’s Simulation Center; and the Department of Speech and Rehabilitation Services Center for Communication Sciences and Disorders. The Department of Dental Hygiene’s Dental Hygiene and Oral Health Clinic more than doubled its previous patient capacity, with 24 total chairs now available. Students will treat patients using modern equipment and maintain patient records with computers designed to be used during the dental exam and treatment. The Dental Hygiene and Oral Health Clinic provides excellent dental care at an accessible location at affordable rates for people living in and around Mankato.
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Paul Cusick, Director of Technology for the College of Allied Health & Nursing
The School of Nursing increased its use of simulation and collaboration to prepare students for clinical environments. Research shows that simulation improves student competence as they transition from classroom to exam room. Computer controlled mannequins help simulate a wide variety of situations. For example, mannequins bleed, cry and sweat. They experience cardiac arrest. They deliver babies. They refuse treatment. They vomit. In turn, students can practice communication, procedures and medication delivery. Perhaps most importantly, students can review and reflect on the simulation to improve their learning. The Speech, Hearing & Rehabilitation Services Center for Communication Sciences and Disorders expanded from 4 to 10 clinic rooms with various technologies, such as one-way mirrors and cameras for observation and review. To maximize the efficiency of space, faculty and staff tried to account for every possible treatment scenario. “In the child treatment rooms, the cameras need to be on a pantilt-zoom controlling system because the children move around when they’re talking,” explained Cusick, “We had to think about how technology impacts the environment and how the environment impacts the technology.” Cusick has experience maximizing efficiency and integrating technology. In 2015, the Highland Center 2010 classroom was designed as a high-tech, collaborative space for the College. That experience helped prepare Cusick and the College to leverage technology in an effort to improve teaching and learning through collaboration. Planning and preparation helps the College of Allied Health & Nursing remain a leader in health and wellness education. In the Clinical Sciences Building, the ability to train students hinges on the successful implementation of technology. Better-prepared students graduating from the new facilities have improved chances for employment. Minnesota State Mankato’s reputation for producing quality graduates continues to grow. “Everybody wins,” said Cusick, smiling. William Clark was a student in Abigail Bakke’s Technical Communication Fall 2017 course “Writing in the Health Professions.”
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EXPERIENCING THE WORLD OF WORK IN HEALTHCARE Four years ago, Renee Shellum, associate professor in the Communication Disorders program, accepted an unusual invitation to attend camp. Actually Shellum was invited to do more than attend. She was asked to volunteer her time to help organize, plan and implement a new Scrubs Camp hosted at Minnesota State Mankato. Scrubs Camp allows students in grades 9-12 to explore various careers in healthcare. Shellum immediately agreed. “I agreed to be involved because I think it is super important for us to help kids become aware of the different medical professions,” said Shellum. “These three days give campers the opportunity to actually get an idea of what specific area of healthcare they might be interested in.” Not only does Shellum volunteer her own time, she also recruits about 15 students in the Communication Disorders program to do the same. “Our students serve as activity supervisors, camp counselors, gofers, photographers, check-in helpers, whatever,” she said. Students are members of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) and Shellum serves as their faculty advisor. Although the camp requires University students to give up some 14 C O LLEGE O F A LLI E D HEA LT H & N UR S I N G
of their time off, Shellum contends that they absolutely enjoy it. She hears experienced camp counselors tell other students, “You have to do it. It is so much fun.” “I think they see a younger version of themselves in the campers,” said Shellum. “They love being able to help them.” It also helps students accrue some of the community service hours required by the program. The Scrubs Camp was started by HeathForce Minnesota—a collaborative partnership of education, industry and community. A Minnesota State Center of Excellence, HealthForce was created to increase the number and expand the diversity of healthcare workers; to integrate health science education practice and research; and to build capacity for education and industry to collaborate to enhance patient care. Camps have been held in Bemidji, Fergus Falls, Mankato, Minneapolis, Rochester, Rosemount and St. Paul. Shellum is excited to have campers visit the new audiology lab in the Clinical Sciences Building this year. “We get the campers involved
in video otoscopy where they can see their own eardrum up on a screen. They get to have a middle ear system check and they get to practice on each other,” she said. “Some are fascinated by what they see in the ear canal and others are grossed out and immediately know this profession is not for them.” Shellum went on to explain that it is equally valuable for campers to learn what they don’t like as it is for them to discover what they do like, especially before they begin post secondary education. Campers move in groups of 10-12 from one medical profession to another. They wear scrubs and participate in hands-on l earning and exploration activities. Shellum said in years past,
campers have checked their blood types, worn aging suits, visited a prosthetics lab and toured a helipad. “And, because they are not necessarily assigned to a group of friends, campers have a chance to meet new people during the activities and form some new bonds,” she said. The first day of camp includes activities on the Minnesota State Mankato campus led by area healthcare professionals. On the second and third days, campers tour local healthcare facilities and healthcare programs at local colleges. Local camp collaborators include Minnesota State Mankato, Ecumen, HealthForce MN, Mankato Area Public Schools, Mankato Clinic,
Mayo Clinic Health Systems, Minnesota Center for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence, Rasmussen College, South Central College and South Central Workforce Council. Kim Mueller, career and college readiness coordinator for Mankato Area Public Schools, said, “Each day, campers are exposed to a variety of health careers in a hands-on, interactive way. They use the tools and learn a few basic techniques from professionals. They learn about education, training and the characteristics and talents it takes to be successful in healthcare.” Mueller serves as one of the Mankato Scrubs Camp coordinators. “Renee has been actively involved in the camp from the beginning. She helped with grant writing and implementation, organizing and coordinating volunteers each year from the NSSLHA, as well as running engaging sessions to allow kids to explore audiology and communication disorders,” said Mueller. “Overall, this partnership group has a great vision of providing opportunities for exposure and mentorship for students to learn, experience and thrive. We couldn't do it without her!” “Being a part of Scrubs Camp has been phenomenal,” said Shellum. “All the campers are energetic and have a good time. They are eager to learn, they are excited about discovery and that makes it fun for me and my students. I love doing it.” n
Photo courtesy of Mankato Free Press
SCRUBS CAMP
Scrubs Camp
serves students in grades 9-12. Cost of camp is $150. Scholarships are available. For more information about Scrubs Camp, visit www.healthforceminnesota. org/scrubs-camp/
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Pat Sexton stood next to the Anatomage Table™, a lifesize virtual dissection table containing three high-resolution, 3D cadavers, as well as hundreds of three-dimensional case study images.
HIGH-TECH
ANATOMY INSTRUCTION
anatomy: a-nat-o-my, əˈnadəmé/, noun. a study of the structure or internal workings of something For students in programs like athletic training and premed, expert understanding of human anatomy is critical. For faculty, teaching what happens inside the body can be a challenge. Teaching and learning anatomy recently got a whole lot better at Minnesota State Mankato. With the addition of an Anatomage Table™, students and faculty are reaping the benefits of futuristic anatomy instruction today. The Anatomage Table is a life-size virtual dissection table containing three high-resolution, 3D cadavers, as well as hundreds of three-dimensional case study images. Using a computer with high-definition touch screens, it displays the high-resolution images of anatomical structures and organs that have been virtually dissected from cadavers. These digitized images provide multiple interactive ways to show the structures of the human body. Seeing images of each anatomical structure in the body makes a big difference when it comes to learning anatomy. “You can tip, turn and rotate the table,” said Pat Sexton, professor of athletic training. “You can turn the [image of the] body on the table. You can look at the body in any position. You could travel right down the spinal canal if you wanted. You can go inside and see anything.” The table offers a life-size, iPad-like experience for high-tech collaborative learning in the lab. This high-tech imagery comes with a high price tag—one that was not within any individual academic department’s budget. Its acquisition was the result of the collaborative effort between Sexton and biology faculty members Michael Bentley and David Sharlin. The group put together a presentation for the University’s Strategic Priority funding grant during the 2015-16 academic year. The 16 C O LLEGE O F A LLI E D HEA LT H & N UR S I N G
presentation helped them to achieve their goal of securing the $70,000 required to purchase the table. The Anatomage Table arrived on campus in Fall 2016, just as the semester was beginning. Although the table is currently located in the anatomy lab, it is on wheels and very mobile. It is moved between buildings, from the anatomy lab in Trafton to the athletic training lab in Myers Field House, on a regular basis. “We had some training at the beginning of October 2016,” said Sexton. “Now students taking courses in human anatomy, upper-level biological sciences and athletic training use the table regularly.” Sexton is excited about what the Anatomage Table offers students both in the masters-level Athletic Training Program and in other programs. “In the athletic training world, as a health profession, we do a lot of work with injury evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation; it’s important for our students to know anatomy,” said Sexton. He continued, “Our goal is to add more tables and build a high-tech anatomy lab on campus that would be used by both biology students and students in other health professions within the College of Allied Health & Nursing.” A high-tech anatomy lab would certainly be a welcomed addition to the education experience of the approximately 1,600 Allied Health & Nursing and biology students who take anatomy-related courses each year. n Thank you to Zachary Duberry for his contributions to this article. Duberry was a student in Abigail Bakke’s Technical Communication course “Writing in the Health Professions.”
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SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE Remaining at the same job for an entire career is rare, especially in the field of human services. Ann Nelson, recreation therapist for the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System cannot imagine her career any other way. Nelson graduated from high school in Beresford, S.Dak., in 1980. She joked that her primary goal was to go to college where her brothers weren’t. Mankato State University, as Minnesota State Mankato was known at the time, was the perfect choice. Fortunately for hundreds of veterans, she found the Therapeutic Recreation Program. “I was referred by another professor and wasn’t really sure what I was getting into at the time,” said Nelson. “Joanne Ardolf-Decker was my advisor and she and I bonded. She was definitely the main influence on my loving the field of therapeutic recreation.” One of the long-standing graduation requirements of the Therapeutic Recreation Program is a clinical experience. “I was fortunate to do my clinical experience at the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System in 1984,” said Nelson. She loved it and has stayed for more than 32 years. As a recreation therapist, Nelson’s primary duties are to enhance veterans’ quality of life through therapy and leisure education. She and her team encourage independence in leisure pursuits and provide supportive care to dying veterans. Nelson’s list of initiatives and accomplishments is long. One of the programs she started years ago is called Wishes for Heroes. Offered in cooperation with several other departments, the program provides opportunities for veterans receiving hospice care to experience a meaningful event. Wishes range from special family meals and music lessons to zoo visits and baseball games. Perhaps one of Nelson’s most popular initiatives is the adaptive sports program—an interdisciplinary effort with occupational therapy, physical therapy, visual impairment services team, physiatrist and the chief of prosthetics.
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Although the program began small, it gained momentum quickly. “We began in 2013 with one kayaking event and a golf clinic. In 2016, we offered 36 events, which included two golf programs, archery, kayaking, bocce ball, downhill skiing and cycling,” said Nelson. “We also refer veterans to sled hockey, lacrosse and Project Healing Waters. Our program was developed with cooperation and support from several private organizations and the support has been instrumental in helping us integrate veterans into the community.” Her passion to serve has kept Nelson at the VA since graduation. She credits Ardolf-Decker for uncovering that passion. “She taught me how important recreation is in everyone’s life, no matter the circumstance,” said Nelson. “There are so many things we take for granted as young people. Joanne helped me realize that someone who is differently challenged still deserves a chance to enjoy life. As a recreation therapist, I know I make a difference in the lives of my veterans and their families.” n
Ann Nelson, front, and Jeffrey Frank rode a tandem bike during a recreation therapy session. Frank served in the United States Air Force 1961-1987.
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SHARING OUREXPERTISE “As we rebuild and reconstitute our continuing and professional education on the non-credit initiatives at Minnesota State Mankato, the most logical way to go about that is to leverage programs of distinction—strong programs with powerful expertise and high impact. Health and wellness education is one of those programs. It is so evident by the industry support we received.” ~Louise Dickmeyer, interim director of the Center for Talent Development
From a modest start with one mannequin in 2008, the School of Nursing simulation lab is poised to become a regional training center for healthcare education in 2017. Recognizing the value of simulation in healthcare education, the program prioritized the practice and continued to expand the size and scope of the simulation experience as funding would allow—adding lab space, mannequins, the Maverick Family, observation rooms, recording equipment and more. With the completion of the Clinical Sciences Building in January 2017, the simulation center training capacity increased fivefold. The simulation center now includes one pediatric, one obstetric and four adult simulation rooms; one home suite; five integration stations; and an eightbed multi-bed skills lab. With 18 unique mannequins, the Maverick Family of simulators represents a range of ages, skin tones and cultures. Faculty and staff in the School of Nursing recognized that there would be periods of time when students would not be using the larger simulation center—especially during weekends and academic breaks. They wanted to make the state-of-the-art equipment available to
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community partners for continuing and professional education. However, nursing faculty and staff did not have the time or capability to launch a customized training program. For that particular expertise, Kris Retherford, dean of the College of Allied Health & Nursing, called Lou Dickmeyer, interim director for the Center for Talent Development. “When I heard the description of services provided by the Center for Talent Development, I knew right away it was something we wanted to tap into,” said Retherford. “So in Lou’s first few days on campus, I asked her to meet with the team and help us identify ways we could use our extraordinary facility to serve the regional medical professionals. She went to work for us right away, making community connections and looking for funding assistance.”
Center for Talent Development The Center works with faculty and departments across campus to develop and implement continuing and professional education programs. “The dean expressed interest in having us work
with faculty and staff to discover how we might be able to launch a simulation training program for external partners,” said Dickmeyer. “She called us because she understood that building a quality program would be a major undertaking.” Dickmeyer began meeting with representatives from the School of Nursing and the Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for Family and Society. “I met with a number of faculty and staff to brainstorm about potential customized simulation center training options. There was clearly a will to build the program; they knew the potential. But they are already working their tails off. I feel lucky they didn’t run
me out of town,” she said, smiling. It wasn’t long before the group drafted a plan and began laying the groundwork with the hope of securing some training grants. One of the first steps was talking with industry and gauging its interest in simulation training. Members of the group met with local representatives from Pathstone, Mayo Clinic Health Systems, Open Door Health and Mankato Clinic to present a ‘what if ’ scenario: What if we could offer customized training in the simulation center?’ “All of our community partners responded very positively,” said Dickmeyer. “Ultimately, there was a high degree of interest.”
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However, offering a customized training through the simulation center with current University resources was impossible. External funding was critical. So, in addition to meeting with industry partners, Dickmeyer began investigating grant opportunities. She had been successful in securing Minnesota Job Skills Program grants for other projects. The grants require matching funds, either cash or in-kind contributions such as lab space, employee wages, equipment use, etc. With enthusiastic support for simulation center training opportunities, community partners committed to nearly 1,500 staff trainings at all levels, from certified nursing assistants to physicians. “Considering employee wages paid during the training, lab space and equipment use, it was enough for us to meet the in-kind grant match,” said Dickmeyer. “We actually landed two grants, including a $50,000 grant for pre-development. This was hard cash the University used to off-set some costs for staff overload and strategic planning sessions required to get the ball rolling.”
Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for Family and Society “It is our goal to be the regional destination for healthcare training in the Midwest. Simulation has come such a long way, and the healthcare industry considers it a valuable addition to their training,” said Lynn Kuechle, coordinator for the Glen Taylor Nursing Institute. “Our faculty and staff have the expertise and now we also have the space to offer training to our community partners.” Geographically, there is a gap of simulation center training services in the area. Several healthcare systems have simulators, but that equipment is for the exclusive use of their employees. “The training opportunities are especially difficult in rural healthcare,” continued Kuechle. “Even if they work within a larger healthcare system, people often have to drive hours for training.” According to Kuechle, the School of Nursing uses both internal and external research to develop best practice, applied nursing curriculum. “What we do differently than other nursing and healthcare training programs is teach with the family and societal-nursing focus,” she said. “All of our simulations have that component built in.” Research shows that patients have better outcomes when families are involved.
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Typically, nurses educated outside of Minnesota State Mankato do not get the broad base of family-focused training. “Nurses may implement family nursing strategies,” said Kuechle, “but they may not be able to articulate what they do or why they do it. Consequently, they struggle to teach and mentor colleagues on the practice.” In the simulation center, nurses and other healthcare providers can practice techniques in a safe, simulated environment. Although all scenarios include a family component, customized training means the simulation scenarios will be built to meet the needs of industry. Community partners expressed excitement about designing their own experience to meet the needs of their staff, including skills like leadership and communication and mentoring. “We will not be using the same simulations with professionals who have 20 years of experience that we use with our first-year nursing students,” said Kuechle. “We design scenarios to meet the learning objectives of our partners. Working with industry risk managers, we complete a needs analysis and identify any gaps in experience and/or knowledge and focus training in those areas. “For example, rural hospitals don’t see a lot of high-risk births,” she continued. “But, as a healthcare professional, when you need the skill and experience, you need it, practiced or not.” The simulation center provides highly impactful training scenarios with observation, videotape for live stream or later review, and debriefing. These options offer multiple levels of instruction for continuing and professional education. Kuechle stressed that the simulation center trainings are for all people working in the healthcare industry, from physicians to therapists to housekeeping, not just nurses. “We want to include entire team scenarios. When a person is in the hospital and someone comes into your space, even if it is to empty the garbage, it has an impact. If a provider talks at a level that the consumer doesn’t understand, it is not helpful,” she said. “At Minnesota State Mankato, we have the knowledge and skills to make healthcare better for family and society. We want to make it better. Working with the Center for Talent Development gives us the means to share our expertise.”
School of Nursing Collaborations in the Works Family-Focused Nurse Training Center— Hennepin County Medical Center A Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Program Grant Program Video recordings of HCMC nurses sharing their stories of meaningful family interactions are used to initiate face-to-face training with other HCMC nurses. The recordings help identify strengths as well as some gaps in HCMC family nursing knowledge, experience and practice. Minnesota State Mankato nursing faculty using evidencebased tools and research to teach HCMC nurses techniques to talk with families, help them put information into practice immediately, increase their competence and confidence and thereby increase the satisfaction of their patients and families.
Mayo Clinic Health System, Southwest Region Partnership The Mayo systems in Western Minnesota have identified the simulation center at Minnesota State Mankato as a training resource for its outstate clinics. The University will provide the Mayo Health System Western Region with training related to patient satisfaction, obstetrics and labor/delivery, nurse rounding and rooming, care coordination and coaching/mentoring.
Health Informatics
Credentialing Center
Designed for professionals working in IT, nursing and related fields, the Healthcare Informatics Program prepares professionals to successfully analyze healthcare information. Healthcare professionals who understand health informatics can effectively use data analysis to share information and positively impact personal, family and societal health.
Minnesota State Mankato has initiated the process for becoming an American Nurses Credentialing Center. The process mandates that a Lead Nurse Planner review course objectives and materials to ensure program quality. As an approved ANCC, the University would be able to offer the type of continuing education units required by Advanced Practice Nurses for license renewal.
Intro to Family Nursing Course Family-focused nursing is the cornerstone of the Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for Family and Society and serves as the curricular foundation for the School of Nursing at Minnesota State Mankato, which is one of the few universities in the country specializing in family-focused nursing. An online course including theory, research and techniques will introduce practicing nurses and other healthcare team members to the foundation of family-focused nursing care. Eventually, the University hopes to create a professional certification in family-focused nursing.
Long-Term Care Career Training In conjunction with the Chesley Center on Aging, the School of Nursing will work to educate the public and healthcare professionals and promote the benefits of working in the long-term care industry.
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COLLEGE OF
ALLIED HEALTH & NURSING
Lead, Partner, Achieve.
College of Allied Health & Nursing Minnesota State University, Mankato 124 Myers Field House Mankato, MN 56001
Dean's Discretionary Fund An investment in the Dean’s Discretionary Fund provides a unique
COLLEGE
OF
ALLIED HEALTH
& NURSING
opportunity to shape the future of Allied Health & Nursing—producing tomorrow’s leaders in health and wellness while supporting the foundation required for success today. The flexibility of the Dean’s Discretionary Fund helps meet the highest priorities such as scholarships and equipment, respond quickly to emerging opportunities and invest in areas of the highest potential. Dean Retherford, along with faculty and staff, thank you for all you do to help our students excel!