Get a jump start on your New Year’s resolution

Are you thinking about losing weight in 2010? Have you considered surgical weight loss? Are you curious about the different surgical techniques? Would you like to know if surgical weight loss is right for you?

If so, attend CoxHealth’s Surgical Weight Loss Program Wednesday, Jan. 13, from 5:30-7 p.m., in Foster Auditorium at Cox South, 3801 S. National. Attendees can learn about the Lap-Band System for surgical weight loss, the physical and mental requirements that make you a good candidate for weight loss surgery, and more.

You must attend the program to be considered for the surgical weight loss program. For more information, call 875-3593.

Staff members bring early Christmas to students at Campbell Elementary

This afternoon, two kindergarten classes at Campbell Elementary in Springfield will get an early Christmas present courtesy of employees at CoxHealth.

For the second year in a row, staff members in Sterile Processing and Engineering at Cox South have gathered gifts for 37 children at Campbell. The kids will receive a variety of toys and winter necessities when staff members visit the school today.

“We’ve had a great outpouring of support,” says Ellen Gray, director of Sterile Processing. “Not only do the kids get the toy they told their teacher they wanted, they also get jeans, a sweatshirt, socks, scarves, gloves and caps.”

Staff members have also gathered supplies for the teachers — everything from Play-Doh to hand sanitizer.

Gray’s mother taught at Campbell Elementary for several years and last year, Gray had the idea of sharing Christmas with students at the school.

“The principal was more than delighted to let us adopt a couple of classes,” she says. “It’s been very satisfying for the staff, seeing the students opening their presents and just knowing that we’re helping these kids.”

Parents can learn real-world parenting strategies

CoxHealth presents a new series of parenting classes, “Parenting Strategies for the Real World.” Classes are held on Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m., in Classroom C300 at Cox North, 1423 N. Jefferson Ave.

The classes, presented by parent educator Tony Massey, will cover tactics for parenting elementary-, middle- and high school-aged children. Techniques to manage problematic behaviors including power struggles, bullying, drug use, fighting and more will be covered.

There is no fee or registration required for this class. For more information, call 269-3275.

Cox College honors graduating class with commencement exercises today

Cox College held graduation ceremonies for 40 nursing students today in Weiser Gymnasium on the Drury University campus. State Representative Bob Dixon spoke at the event.

Dr. Anne Brett, president of the College, says, “In looking at other colleges and programs, Cox College graduates are continuing to get full-time jobs with good salaries and good career opportunities.” Approximately 70 percent of the graduating class has accepted employment with CoxHealth.

Representative Dixon challenged the graduates: “While health care reform is on the minds of everyone today, as health care professionals you can do more to reform health care than any politicians in Washington. Your commitment to competence, consistency and compassion can change the face of health care.”

Interestingly, this graduating class includes seven men – that’s nearly 20 percent of the class. Nationally, most graduating nurse classes are approximately five percent male.

Cox College began as Burge School of Nursing in 1906. The school has long been recognized for its high standard of nursing education and the quality of its graduates.

Employees make their mark on new ED’s final beam

Cox employees braved the cold temperatures this afternoon to sign a beam that will complete the construction of the steel frame of the new Emergency Department.

The beam, which is painted “Cox Blue”, will be hoisted in place during a “Topping Out” ceremony at 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 11, on the Cox South campus. Employees are invited to attend.

On Thursday, employees added their signatures, messages and artistry to the beam. You can see video of the signing on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywVEUnPJZ8s) or on Facebook. Become a fan of CoxHealth!

Deal opens path for OTC students seeking nursing degree

Cox College and Ozarks Technical Community College are partnering to ease the transition process for students graduating from OTC who want to pursue a bachelor of science in nursing degree at Cox College.

During a signing ceremony on Wednesday, Cox College president Dr. Anne Brett and OTC president Dr. Hal Higdon (above) signed two articulation agreements providing a path for two different groups of OTC students interested in earning their BSN.

The first agreement arranges for qualified OTC graduates who have earned an associate of arts degree to transfer into the Cox College BSN program. The college and OTC have worked together to create a curriculum plan for students enrolled in the associate of arts degree program to meet all of the prerequisites for the Cox College BSN program.

The second agreement allows OTC graduates who have completed the associate of science in nursing degree, which qualifies graduates to take the registered nurse exam, to transfer directly into Cox College’s RN-to-BSN degree program.

“Moving nurses to the bachelor degree level is a goal of the profession, and these agreements will facilitate that process. Additionally, there is now an opportunity for any associate of arts student at OTC, including A+ students, to complete their bachelor’s degree in nursing in 4 years,” says Dr. Brett. “This will benefit not only our students and our institutions, but also the community as a whole.”

As part of the agreement, Cox College will visit OTC once each semester to provide a workshop for interested students detailing course pre-requisites, application processes and Cox policies, in order to ensure a seamless and timely transition. Cox College will give priority consideration to up to seven qualified OTC graduates per year who apply to the BSN program.

Cox College partners with Drury to offer dual degree

Thirty years ago, the average age of someone graduating from a nursing program in the U.S. was 21. Students could expect at least 40 years in the profession.

Today, the average age of nursing school graduates is the mid-30s, giving them less time before retirement. Dr. Anne Brett, president of Cox College, says the aging of the nursing workforce is one of the contributing factors of the current nursing shortage.

Cox College is teaming up with Drury University in Springfield to offer a new program that aims to reverse the trend. The two schools have announced the creation of a dual degree program designed to target high school graduates interested in a career in nursing.

“The goal of this new program is to try to bring the average age of the nurse graduate down,” says Brett. “It will allow Cox College and Drury to attract students together that they could never attract alone.”

Students in the dual degree program will be admitted into Drury University and take general education courses. They’ll then take nursing courses at Cox College. At the end of the four-year program, students will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Cox College and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Drury University.

“This program will capture students who want a bachelor’s degree in nursing but also want the college experience,” says Dr. Brett. “They want to play sports, live in fraternities or sororities and have the social environment that Drury can offer as well as the quality educational experience that both schools can offer. It’s an exciting partnership.”

CoxHealth guarantees an initial employment interview to qualified graduates from the dual degree program for posted positions. Students are also eligible to apply for up to $10,000 of student loan forgiveness over the first two years of employment at Cox.

The dual degree program will be available for students beginning with the fall 2010 semester.

CoxHealth offers educational program for surgical weight loss candidates

Have you ever considered surgical weight loss? Are you curious about the different surgical techniques? Would you like to know if surgical weight loss is right for you?

If so, attend CoxHealth’s Surgical Weight Loss Program Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 5:30-7 p.m., in the Magnolia and Redbud meeting rooms inside Hulston Cancer Center, 3850 S. National. Attendees can learn about the Lap-Band System for surgical weight loss, the physical and mental requirements that make you a good candidate for weight loss surgery, and more.

You must attend the program to be considered for the surgical weight loss program. For more information, call 875-3593.