Nursing transfer fair held yesterday

Nursing students visiting with four-year college representatives for transfer after graduation from LLCC
Nursing students at a table talking with a college repThe ADN program hosted a transfer fair for nursing students yesterday, March 16. Representatives from 12 colleges and universities were present to share details with students about continuing their nursing education after earning their associate degrees. Many students attended, and several even signed agreements to attend for their BSN degrees. The transfer fair is part of a two-day event hosted each semester in LLCC’s Nursing Education Center. The second day will feature a career fair in which hiring managers from a variety of health care organizations in the community are invited. It will be held on Thursday, March 30.

OTA IDI Grant debut at Dubois Elementary School

Student standing in a big circle in the gym
Student with their hands over their heads as they stand in a big circle in the gym
LLCC grant funding has promoted a partnership between the LLCC Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois.  The grant initiative aims to increase diversity of OTA student applications by increasing community awareness of the occupational therapy profession. This funding has supported development of a first-year OTA student service-learning project in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs after school program located at Dubois Elementary School in Springfield. The project, “Healthy Minds, Hearts and Hands,” brings engaging activities promoting fitness, emotional well-being and social language development for building student confidence and success at school. Additionally, the program offers traditional school-based occupational therapy strategies to help students who struggle with homework to build skills that will carry over into the classroom.

Thank you to the LLCC Foundation; Dr. Cynthia Maskey, dean of health professions; Tiffany Mathis, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois; Ms. Shamill Hill, Boys & Girls Clubs Site Director; and Hirut Harris, COTA/L, an LLCC OTA graduate and grant co-author, for making this service-learning project possible! The first session brought many smiles during Minion zumba, yoga, relaxation breathing and a craft activity called “Say Hello to Me.”

Yvonne Cosentino, OTD, OTR/L
LLCC OTA Program Director

Radiography students attend national conference

LLCC radiography students pictured on a staircaseSeven members of LLCC’s Student Radiographers Association recently attended a nationwide radiography conference in Las Vegas. This was the 48th annual Association of Collegiate Educators in Radiologic Technology (ACERT) Conference with approximately 600 students from colleges and universities across the U.S. in attendance. The LLCC student radiographers participated in a huge Kahoot student challenge and attended many workshops and activities related to their chosen field of radiography.

LLCC Radiography students seated at tables in a large conference roomLLCC Radiography students pictured with faculty in hotel lobby

Congratulations to Sarah Owens

Congratulations to Sarah Owens, nursing instructor, and husband on the birth of their son, Charlie Owens, who was born on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 8:27 a.m. weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great, and big brother Henry is excited to have a little brother!

Charlie Owens in bassonette

Two nursing faculty awarded $10,000 fellowship grants

Leslie CatalanoLeslie Catalano, assistant professor of nursing, and Bridgette Hudson, nursing instructor, have each been awarded $10,000 Nursing Educator Fellowship Grants from the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). The fellowships are awarded to “help retain well-qualified nursing faculty at institutions of higher education that award degrees that lead to a registered nurse licensure.” They were among 40 nurse educators from Illinois colleges and universities to receive the awards. Both are currently in a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.

Bridgette Hudson

Catalano commented, “The award will help me speed up my program and allow me to finish a year early. For me, the cost of a DNP program prevented me from taking the full amount of credits that I could. This will allow me to take more classes at once.” Hudson added, “This grant will allow me to take the time needed away from work and dedicate it to my doctoral project, as well as cover expenses, such as tuition and doctoral fees. I am very appreciative to everyone who helped me in the process, and I am so thankful received the fellowship grant!”

Congratulations!

LLCC nursing club donates to D186

Kim Young and Sarina Sloman holding winter clothing to donate to District 186 schools.
Recently, LLCC’s student nursing club, the IV Leaguers, coordinated a warm clothing drive to benefit the children of Springfield Public Schools, District 186. Club member and second semester nursing student Sarina Sloman and a club advisor, Kim Young, delivered the donations to the main district office last Friday. The nursing students donated strong — filling three large boxes with brand new coats, gloves, hats, scarves, boots, sweatpants and sweatshirts!

Diagnostic Medical Sonography seeks volunteer models

One student using sonography equipment to scan anotherLLCC Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) is seeking volunteer scanning models for their students to practice abdominal and second/third trimester obstetric ultrasound. All scanning is supervised by a certified sonographer instructor and will take place on the LLCC main campus in Springfield. However, these exams are for educational purposes only and are considered nondiagnostic.

Models are required to read and sign a volunteer waiver form when they arrive at the DMS lab and should expect to spend at least one hour being scanned by a DMS student. Scanning practice takes place Tuesday-Friday each week this semester.

To schedule for a Tuesday or Thursday, 8:30-11:30 a.m. or noon-3 p.m., please email Raven.Horsthemke@llcc.edu.

To schedule for a Wednesday or Friday, noon-2 p.m., please email Leigh.Giles-Brown@llcc.edu.

LLCC Podcast features Nick Ferreira

Lincoln Land Community College Podcast. Nick FerreiraThe latest edition of the LLCC Podcast features Nick Ferreira, program director, emergency medical services. “If you’re an individual who likes a little bit of adrenaline and you want some variety in your job, this profession is for you,” says Nick. Hear more about EMS careers and how a $5 million federal grant will help LLCC expand EMS training facilities at the college.

Nursing Pinning Ceremony

Congratulations to the 55 LLCC nursing students who received their pins Dec. 14! We applaud your hard work and dedication.

Four nursing graduates with college mascot Linc

Brianna Blades, Kaylene Phelps, Trent Ethell, Kaitlyn Phelps with Linc

A pinning ceremony is a symbolic welcoming of newly graduated or soon-to-be graduated nurses into the nursing profession. Students are pinned by an honored nurse of their choice.

Beta Nu selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts

Beta Nu Nursing Honors Club is selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts that will be available for pick up on Dec. 15. The cost is $11 per dozen or purchase a BOGO card for $20 which is valid for a free dozen doughnuts when a dozen is purchased (may be used up to 10 times).

Stop in LLCC Student Life to sign up for a dozen donuts or BOGO card. Hurry as orders will be placed on Monday by noon.