Congratulations Nursing Graduates!

I am writing to wish you all the very best and congratulate you on your outstanding achievement! It has been a pleasure working with all of you!

The Friends in Nursing blog is a way for you to stay connected with one another and share your nursing stories. Let us know when you pass your board exam as well as how you are doing in your nursing career.

Additionally, this blog will have Lourdes College Nursing Alumni who will act as "mentors" for you. They will assist and guide you through your first few years as a new nurse, if you desire. If you have any questions, concerns, or just feel overwhelmed as a new nurse....please post a note. If you would like to share your positive nursing stories....please do so as well.

The Friends in Nursing Blog was set up for you....to assist you as you transition into your new career!

On behalf of Lourdes College, and in the Franciscan tradition, we wish you “Peace and All Good” in your new journey.

Sincerely,

Julie Kruse

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 4:11:19 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [3] | 

    As I stated in a previous blog, I am a strong opponent of censorship in almost every situation. It is hard for me to imagine a situation in which I approve of it. There are many reasons for my objection to it, not the least of which is that it tends to be counterproductive and results in more strongly felt anger and resentment. All we can do is hope that people will be concerned about the feelings of others and know that as they don't want to have "stuff" tossed around about them, those on the receiving end of their words have feelings too. Hurt often ends up causing hurt and, in the end, two people are hurt. That is about all that is "accomplished" and that is an accomplishment that I can do without.

 Dale

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:24:56 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

I do not know the content of the blog that was censored. Generally, I am strongly opposed to censoring material. I do know that I have heard on a number of occasions over the past couple of weeks an accusation involving conduct in the recent student government election. I also know that some are upset that in their view nothing, or not enough, was done in response to the charges made. NOTHING can be done in response to accusations that are not documented. No one came forward with any evidence other than "I heard that......" and that is not evidence. Blogs are not evidence. Those of us involved with looking into the charges asked those making the charges for written documentation from those in classes in which the alleged misconduct occurred. Nothing to my knowledge was presented. If there was something done along the lines of that charged then certainly serious investigation was warranted. But, constant, continuous informal chatting about alleged misdoings accomplishes nothing and eventually becomes counterproductive, at best, and destructive, at worst.

 I would hope that all involved would trust those of us who have been consistently supportive to act prudently, fairly and justly. We can only act based on what is presented to us in an appropriate manner. I would hope that all involved would understand that and that anger and disappointment will not result in a never-ending campaign of stinging words and accusations.

Once again, if there is evidence of misconduct, document it and present it in a professional, well written manner. If done, I know that I will view it in an unbiased, objective manner. However, if that is not done, I will look upon the continued talk as little more than idle griping which will result in nothing productive and which, to be completely frank, will be ignored by people who have a lot of other things to focus their attention on. If misconduct occurred, it is important that we get to the bottom of it. However, the current course of action will more than likely result in this ending up in the bottom of a trash can. 

Dale

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:24:48 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

Friends In Nursing is a new Alumni LourdesWorld blogger! Welcome Friends In Nursing!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 10:15:10 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Yes - this may be my last blog at LourdesWorld. 

For those of you who subscribe to my posts, you have already read my latest blog.  For those of you who don't - sorry, you missed out.  The College has censored my blog and placed it "under review". 

Last summer, I took an internship with College Relations to help launch LourdesWorld.  As you can clearly see, it has been a great success. 

When working with "The Webmaster", I expressed my concerns about potential censorship from the College.  Students would be less likely to blog if they knew that the College could censor anything that was written.  A Blog Contract was written for all bloggers.  Basically, the College was allowed to censor blogs if they contained vulgar language, pornographic images, or threatened a member of the Lourdes College community. 

My last blog was pulled because of "defamation of character". 

How many people have been "talked about" on these blogs?  Bush, McCain, Clinton, Obama, Elvis, Chris Matthews, Steven Siegel, Senator Craig, Lourdes College faculty members, Lourdes College staff members, Lourdes College students, and Lourdes College student organizations. 

My latest blog did not mention anyone by name.  It did not even elude to the sex of the individual. 

Well, I guess we'll see where this goes.  It might not be a pretty thing to watch.  Until then, you can catch up on any of my other blogs on the web.

Monday, May 12, 2008 4:36:20 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [32] | 

Lourdes College bestows the Newman Award biannually to a man or woman recognized for educational, social, moral or cultural leadership. The 2008 Newman Award will be presented to Father Richard T. Wurzel during Lourdes’ annual Awards Ceremony in May.

“Lourdes selected Father Wurzel for the Newman Award because he mirrors Newman’s love of learning and education. Through his many years of service, the Church and civic community have been enriched by his priestly ministry and leadership,” says Sr. Ann Carmen Barone, OSF, Vice President for Mission and Ministry.  

Father Wurzel earned a Master’s degree in Philosophy from the Athenaeum of Ohio and a Doctorate degree in Sacred Theology from the Angelicum University in Rome, Italy. In the spring of 1959, Father Wurzel was ordained by the Diocese of Toledo.

Friday, May 09, 2008 3:45:26 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Helene Sheets, Director of College Relations for Lourdes College, is being honored for her achievements at the 2008 Urban All-American Celebration. Now in its 17^th year, the Urban All-American Celebration is presented by the Diocese of Toledo’s Central City Ministry of Toledo (CCMT). The event is being held on Monday, May 19, at Gladieux Meadows beginning at 7 p.m. 

The Urban All-American Award is presented to a graduate of a CCMT school who has achieved extraordinary success in his or her personal and/or professional life. “My education at SS Peter & Paul Parish instilled in me the values of community and service to others,” says Helene. “As a Director at Lourdes College, I feel blessed to be part of a community that also values service to others.”

Central City Ministry’s Catholic elementary schools provide a life-lasting, faith-based education to 600 children in the central city, many of whom are considered “at risk.” The CCMT campuses provide clear goals and expectations, strict discipline, and strong academics in a safe and secure environment

Friday, May 09, 2008 1:42:34 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [3] | 

   It all seems so pointless when we spend countless hours hard at work for a grade but it will all be well worth it come graduation!  Give yourself a pat on the back for makin it through the semester.

   Examine the opportunities, the challenges you’ve given yourself.  - Michael Johnson

Thursday, May 08, 2008 12:59:28 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [2] | 

Sr. Shannon Schrein, O.S.F, Ph.D., Chairperson for the Department of Theological Studies at Lourdes College, has been named Vice President of the College Theology Society.

Sr. Shannon has been an active member of the College Theology Society since 1984 and has served as a session convener and as the Executive Director of the National Convention. “I am very pleased to have been elected to the role of Vice President because it provides me with another opportunity to serve the society and to interact with and on behalf of my colleagues within the discipline of Theology,” says Sr. Shannon. 

The College Theology Society is a professional association of college and university professors. Founded in 1953 as a Roman Catholic organization of lay and religious teachers of undergraduate theology, the CTS currently includes over 900 college and university professors throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.  

Wednesday, May 07, 2008 1:39:16 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [25] | 

Yeah - I should be studying for my last exam.  I'm waiting for the full count to come in from the Indiana Primary.  Until then, here are my ramblings:

The Gas Tax Holiday:

Come on now.  Please, tell me that Americans are not buying this.  Okay - let's give a "Gas Tax Holiday" this summer to help relieve the financial strain from American consumers.  Yeah - give our wallets a break and help us use our money for other things. What a joke.  Has anyone actually crunched the numbers?

Gas Tax: 18 cents a gallon

Gallons per Tank: 15

Number of Fill-Ups: once a week/ 17 weeks of summer

Average Savings per Fill-Up: $2.70

Average Savings for Summer: $45.90

Come on - what a dumb idea.  Not only will ignorant Americans believe that they are actually saving money, but then they will drive even more, spending even more money than was saved.  Then, what happens to the US deficit?  That gas tax is actually taking money away - money that our government claims not to have - from other things, mainly road repairs.

Number of Gallons Used This Summer:  255 per American

Number of Americans: 304 million

Money Not Being Collected: $14 billion

So - take away $14 billions dollars to save each American an average of $50.  Thanks, but I think I'll pass.

College Drug Bust:

Dummies.  So far, 75 students have been arrested for drugs at San Diego State University.  I'm not talking about some pitiful amount of pot or a couple of pills.  This was some serious drug trafficking going on.  Some of the students arrested were at the top of their class, and graduating next month. 

One of them was preparing to graduate with a Master's in Homeland Security.  When they arrested him, he expressed concern that this arrest "might" keep him from getting a job with the federal government.

Idiot.

Tuesday, May 06, 2008 9:48:49 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [15] | 

I suppose that sooner or later it would dawn on me that I've been out of touch with the "real" world for some time now.  I just found out last night that John McCain is not running against anyone, that's why the focus is on Hillary and Obama right now.  Not that I'm one to follow politics, I sway neither Republican nor Democrat, I vote the person who has a better platform.  Now, this all hit me last night while watching the 11pm news following CSI:Miami, which I apparently have not caught up on lately as one of the characters left the show and I knew nothing about it. 

My dad said, "Yeah, it was on the previews from last week."

I replied, "When did the writer's strike end?"

I guess that's what happens when you essentially live, eat, and breathe hospital.  Most people assume that on a day off one would kick back and watch TV, catch up on their soap opera, be a couch potato.  Not me.  I get out of the house.  I drive to different places around northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan and I enjoy the fantastic weather.  And I try to get some sleep.  I am caught up in things other than what is really going on this world.  Except gas prices.  You can't ignore that no matter how hard you try. 

So I came up with a plan: 

1.  Read the newspaper.  Even though the Blade's proofreading leaves little to be desired, I vow to partake in it long enough to get in touch with the goings on around here.

2.  Utilize my DVR more often.  That way I really can spend a day being a couch potato.  I can't tell you the last time I watched Top Chef or Hell's Kitchen the same week they aired. 

3.  Click on the top stories on the AOL homepage when I check my email.  That way I can get in touch with some of the more tabloid aspects of life. 

Whether or not these will work, I don't know.  But maybe I should focus a little less on the fact that I live, eat, and breathe hospital. 

Tuesday, May 06, 2008 6:19:59 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

Dear Campus Community,

The 2008 TAU has been posted on current students/student life. Now that the semester is drawing to a rapid close, I hope you will take the time to read it. It contains some stories, some essays, and some poems. All have been written by Lourdes students, staff, or faculty. There is a great diversity of theme, so there should be something satisfying for everyone.

The TAU is published every spring by the Language and Literature Department. We accept manuscripts at the beginning of second semester, and we publish during National Poetry Month (April). If you like to write, think about submitting next year.

If you would like to discuss any of the readings, add your comments here. We can have a kind of on-line book club going.

Enjoy,

Nancy

Monday, May 05, 2008 12:05:10 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] |