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Volume 3, Issue 8 February 2016

A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E D U Q U E S N E
U N I V E R S I T Y S T U D E N T N U R S E S ’ A S S O C I A T I O N

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Who We Are

We are members of the Duquesne University Student Nurses Associa-


tion. All views expressed are our own and do not represent the views
of Duquesne University or Duquesne University School of Nursing.

We are members of the BSN Programs at Duquesne University. We


love health! We love patients! We love to write!

The Scope is the proud recipient of the 2013 and 2014 Student Nurses
Association of Pennsylvania Excellent Newsletter Award.

We would love to hear your thoughts on our newsletter! Please email


all letters to the editor to Bridget Seelinger, at dusnapublici-
ty@hotmail.com. All letters to the editor must include name, contact
info, and major.

Like us on Facebook and check out our blog at

DuquesneScope.wordpress.com

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Image from clk-
er.com
Table of Contents
Zika virus hits close to home Page 4
Chelsea and Briana have all you need to know in this EXCLUSIVE

Lead: A Threat to Children and Adults Alike Page 6


Bridget discusses Flint and possible risks in Pittsburgh

The Reality of the Dangers of a Broken Heart Page 7


Holly educates us about this lesser known syndrome

Saving Lives: Heart Failure Nursing Page 8


Abby examines this unique nursing specialty

Faculty Feature: Professor Rost Page 10


Faculty Feature: Dr. Koharchik Page 11
Why do we LOVE Nursing? Page 12
See what we discovered!

Healthy Recipe/News/ NCLEX Nook Page 13


Nursing Horoscopes Page 14
Want to get more involved? Page 16

Join us for DUSNA’s first ever Paint Night with


Painting with a Twist!
When? March 10th at 8pm in Fisher 324

Grab a glass of soda/pop and a few snacks


(compliments of the Alumni Association) and
paint a nursing-specific painting with us!
Register online at Painting with a Twist’s event
calendar. Password for the event is NURSE.
Spots are limited to register TODAY!
Everyone in the School of Nursing is invited!
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Tickets are $35!
The War on Zika
Chelsea Kwong, senior
Recently, the CDC issued travel advisories for several regions af-
fected by the spreading Zika virus. The increasing concern about
this virus has even impacted Duquesne nursing students, as the
annual spring break trip to Nicaragua led by Duquesne faculty has
been cancelled. As international health authorities and impacted
countries work to minimize the impact of this deadly illness, little
information about its effects are actually known. The virus shows
no signs of stopping at this time, and is expected to result in ap-
proximately 3-4 million cases within the next year1.
According to the World Health Organization, Zika is “an emerging mosquito-borne Flavivirus related to dengue,
yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses, and is transmitted by Aedes spp. Mosquitoes” (2015).
Symptoms include fever, myalgia, conjunctivitis, and other unpleasant conditions2. However, its most striking
effects have been neurological and autoimmune in nature. The virus has been linked to an increased incidence of
conditions including Guillain-Barre syndrome, thrombocytopenic purpura, leucopenia, and meningoencephali-
tis1.
Its most devastating effects, however, have been observed in newborns whose mothers contracted the virus dur-
ing pregnancy. Specifically in Brazil, an alarming amount of cases of microcephaly (a condition in which the in-
fant’s head appears shrunken. The smaller head capacity affects the brain, which cannot properly develop as a
result of the condition) have arisen within the past year. Much of the travel advisories and warnings have been
targeted toward pregnant women, whose fetuses are at risk for birth defects2.
The virus was first discovered in Uganda in 1947, but has not been of concern to humans until 2007, when the
virus surfaced in Micronesia. Several years later, in May of 2015, the World Health Organization reported occur-
rence in the Americas, particularly in Brazil. It is said that
Brazil had upwards of 1.3 million occurrences of Zika in
2015. The virus has since spread to several countries in
South and Central America, even reaching Puerto Rico.3
Attention has been directed toward Brazil, a country that
has been most impacted by the virus, as it is to host the
Olympic Games this summer in Rio de Janiero. Already suf-
fering political and financial hardships, the government re-
mains optimistic about the situation, saying that “Zika will
pose no risk to Olympic visitors unless they’re pregnant”,
and that because the games are occurring during Brazil’s
winter, the mosquitoes should not be as active. Despite the
The map above shows the spread of Zika
outward optimism, athletes and prospective spectators of
the international event have raised concerns, and airlines have begun to give re-
funds to those canceling trips to Zika affected areas, particularly Brazil.4
The U.S. Department of Health states that “although local transmission of Zika virus has not been documented in
the continental United States, Zika virus infections have been reported in returning travelers”. Currently, there
are no publically available tests for the disease. People within the affected regions observe for onset of symp-
toms such as the dengue infection, fever, conjunctivitis, etc. There is also no vaccine for the disease, and it has
become especially important for those inhabiting these regions (or those who must travel to these regions) to
engage in standard mosquito precautions. It is critical that pregnant
1Trinfol, M. & Udani, S. (2016). Concern over Zika virus grips the world.
women avoid travel to these areas, and should be assessed by a doctor The Lancet. doi. 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00257-9
2World Health Organization. Zika virus outbreaks in the Americas. Weekly
immediately if exhibiting the various symptoms of the disease within Epidemiological Record, 45(90), 609-616. Retrieved from http://
www.who.int/wer
two weeks of travel.3 Though the United States is at low risk for a wide- 3Hennessey, M., Fischer, M., & Staples, J.E. (2016). Zika virus spreads4 De-
to
new areas- Region of the Americas, May 2015-January 2016. U.S.
spread outbreak of Zika, it is important to be aware of the condition and partment of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 65(3), 55-57.
its devastating effects. 4Walsh, B., Sifferlin, A., Worland, J. & Sandy, M. (2016). Zika’s toll. Time,
187(5), 42-47.
Where to spring break without getting sick
Briana Gavin, freshman
Did the Zika virus ruin your spring break plans? Bummer. But don’t fret
there are still some great destinations that will make your spring break
awesome but won’t get you sick.

If you’re like me then you are probably sick of being cold and wet all the
time. So why not go somewhere to get a nice tan and have some fun in
the sun. If this is your idea of a great spring break then head south. Home
to many wondrous sights, beaches and entertainment Georgia or the Car-
olinas are great places to visit. Whether you go Savanah or Myrtle Beach
you are sure to have a great spring break trip.

If you like sitting in a car for hours on end, cranking up the music
and having fun with your friends. Then a road trip would be the
best spring break for you. Packing up the car, setting off onto an
adventure and having memories that will last a lifetime. Whether
you decide on a destination and take your time getting there or
you just grab the map, throw the dart and try to have as much fun
as possible, a road trip can be a great time to experience places
you never would have seen otherwise. Head to the Grand Canyon
or go see the world’s largest ball of yarn whatever just have fun
and take pictures!

Despite the fact that being cold is getting old, some of you may
want to go skiing or snowboarding this spring break. If you real-
ly want to get away there are great slopes in Colorado such as
Beaver Creek. Trying to stay closer there are other places here
too such as Camelback Mountain. As always there are multiple
great destinations to go if you’re looking to spend time on the
slopes.

Saving the best for last. Stay home! I know it’s fun to go away for
spring break but what’s better than home. You can have fun
with all your friends, sleep in your own bed and stay in you pjs’
the entire break and no one will judge you. Also after months of
eating college food who doesn’t want a nice home cooked meal
and better yet; it’s free! Just think of the money you save! Stay-
ing at home you can relax, take a breather and come back feel-
ing better than those that decided to have a little too much
fun for breakJ. So give yourself the gift of doing nothing this
spring break and go home and snuggle with your pets, they
miss you too!

If you are still bummed out about your missed plan just think,
by staying in the United States, you won’t have to travel that
much and deal with the madness of airports, or train stations.
Also where you go may not be as crowded. No matter where
you go have a fun spring break and stay safe.

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Lead, a Threat to Children and Adults Alike
Bridget Seelinger, DUSNA Publicity Chair
The disaster in Flint, Michigan has raised awareness for rising levels of lead in drinking water. Some reports say that
our very own Allegheny River may have near-toxic levels of lead in the
water, which raises questions as to how much this can affect one’s health.
What makes the situation in Flint so perilous is the fact that the lead that is
in the water is originating from the pipes. In 2014, the town’s water source
was switched from Lake Huron to the Flint River. Pipes were used that
were not properly treated against corrosion, so throughout the years, the
pipes have worn down and leaked literal poison into the water. There are
very legitimate fears that the high levels of lead in the children of Flint’s
bloodstreams, may lead to permanent neurological damage. The state of
Michigan, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the federal govern-
ment are seeking to prosecute the officials responsible for the decisions
that led to the water crisis.
Lead works as a poison in the body, mimicking the actions of important
vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, and zinc. As a result, lead can cause severe mental alterations as the brain
has decreased oxygenation and decreased muscle function, since calcium is vital for healthy muscle contractions. Lead
is odorless, tasteless, colorless, and virtually undetectable until symptoms start to occur. The only way that lead can af-
fect you is if it is ingested, which is why it is important to check one’s home for lead paint, especially if there are chil-
dren in the home.1
After reports indicated high levels of lead in Pitts-
burgh water sources, the Pittsburgh Water and Sew-
er Authority (PWSA) began testing our own pipes
for corrosion and came up with a safeguard against
the poisoning of our water supply, the decision to
switch from caustic soda to soda ash, a chemical
that will create a film over the pipes to prevent cor-
rosion.
In a report by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette2, John
Jeffries, supervisor of the county health depart-
ment’s Public Drinking Water & Waste Manage-
ment Program, said, “I think this is a good oppor-
tunity for people to understand the water systems of
Allegheny County have been using the same
sources for a very long time, and they are comforta-
ble treating those to meet rules and regulations… For what it’s worth, I drink the tap water.”
Symptoms of lead poisoning in children include developmental delays, irritability, hearing loss, nausea, vomiting, ab-
dominal pain, loss of appetite, and weight loss. In adults, symptoms include high blood pressure, muscle pain, joint
pain, decline in mental functioning, miscarriages, and constipation. If you present with the symptoms above, it is im-
portant to get help right away. Treatment for lead poisoning is Chelation Therapy, a process of ingesting a chemical
and excreting the lead through the urine. In severe cases, EDTA therapy is used, where an even harsher chemical is
used to excrete the lead.3
It is important for people to understand the true danger of lead, especially lead in the drinking water, and be vigilant for
signs and symptoms of possible toxicity. Hopefully, as the investigation in Flint continues, proper actions may be taken
to resolve this very critical issue.
1, Delaware Department of Public Health: http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/files/leadpoisonfaq.pdf
2, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2016/01/22/Pittsburgh-water-sewer-authority-using-new-
6
lead-fighting-chemical/stories/201601220121
3, Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/basics/definition/con-20035487
Photos from NBC and Wikipedia
The Reality of the Dangers of a Broken Heart
Holly Storm, freshman
You have just broken up with your significant
other and feel like you could die from a broken
heart. Even though it sounds silly to say you
could die of a broken heart there is actually a
chance you could. Broken heart syndrome is a
stress-cardiomyopathy which means the heart
muscle is abnormal that can be misdiagnosed as
a heart attack. And even though these two things
are similar in some aspects, Broken Heart Syn-
drome actually is very different from a normal
heart attack.
In Broken Heart Syndrome, your body reacts to a
sudden increase of stress hormones and a part of
your heart will enlarge and start pumping badly
while the rest of your heart will be functioning
fine. Even though the effects of Broken Heart Syndrome can be very severe and threatening like short-term
heart failure, the good news is that more than likely you can be back to normal within a week or two. Some
things to look out for when experiencing Broken Heart Syndrome are severe chest pain, shortness of
breath, and irregular heartbeats. The reason that Broken Heart Syndrome is not the same as a heart attack
is for several clear reasons. Heart attacks are a
result of plaque building up in the arteries
over long periods of time which then puts
pressure on the junctions of the arteries. So
heart attacks are the result of a poor health
whereas to experience Broken Heart Syn-
drome, you do not need to be in bad health. It
can happen in healthy people, even though
what happens during the attacks are very dif-
ferent.
So when you are extremely upset over some-
thing such as a breakup or a death, do not push
aside what is happening to you, as that could
become life threatening. Though it sounds ri-
diculous to say that you experienced Broken
Heart Syndrome, it is something that should be
taken seriously and your heart will thank you.

Is Broken Heart Syndrome Real? (n.d.). Retrieved February 17,


2016, from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/
Cardiomyopathy/Is-Broken-Heart-Syndrome-
Real_UCM_448547_Article.jsp#.VsTaADY0tlI

Photo from SaraSotaMagazine.com


Saving Lives, Heart Failure Nursing Picture from Access Nursing

Abigail Schwing, senior


With heart failure on the rise, the strain it will create on the health care
system is imminent. Heart failure comes with a poor prognosis (around
50% of severe cases lead to death), high admission and readmission rates,
and lengthy hospital stays. These conditions perfectly pave the way for
the emergence of nursing specialty in heart failure.
The heart failure nurse specialist manages the complex care of patients
with heart failure. Patients with heart failure often receive less than opti-
mal treatment and management of care, which ultimately leads to read-
missions. Of the readmissions, 54% are preventable. Heart failure nurse specialist work to improve the care of pa-
tient and ultimately decrease the readmissions of their patients. Through collaboration, patient education, and
support, these nurse specialists improve care for heart failure patients. Heart failure nurses also coordinate care
for each patients and recognize that it takes a multidisciplinary team to manage patients care.
With the aging population and the increased survival after a myocardial infarction, heart failure is on the rise.
Management of heart failure patients is complex, and many nurses are overstretched which leads to poorer pa-
tient outcomes. This not only creates a great financial burden on the healthcare systems, but it also creates a poor
quality of life for heart failure patients. Generally, a minimum of two years of cardiology and five years’ post-
registration experience is required. A Master’s level education is also preferred. A home based specialist caseload
is about 200 patients per nurse. http://heart.bmj.com/content/88/suppl_2/ii33.full.pdf

Roses: Romantic Gesture or Joint Supplement?


Ashley Altieri, senior
When one thinks of roses, an immediate connection is made with Valentine’s
Day or a romantic gesture. However, roses and rosehips, the fruit that grow
from certain varieties, have a myriad of practical uses.
Besides brewing a delicious cup of tea made from rosehips, scenting a room
with rose fragrance, or making rosewater cookies, there are supplemental pur-
poses. Fresh rosehips are known to be packed full of vitamin C1. In addition
to the antioxidant properties of vitamin C, rosehips have protective properties
for the joints1. Trials in patients that suffered from Rheumatoid and Osteoar-
thritis showed that rosehips made a positive impact in their quality of life1.
Systematic reviews of two randomized control trials found improved hip flexion and reduced pain when using rosehip
supplements in the treatment plan for hip and knee osteoarthritis1. In one trial, LitoZin (or five grams of rosehips) was
used in one group, and a placebo in the other1. The second trial was similar in that one group was given a placebo, and the
other group given Hyben Vital tablets (five grams of rosehips) 1. The results were not perfect, as one person developed an
unexplained case of vasculitis (possibly due to the other medications the patient was on), and others reported little im-
provement in their hip rotation or degree of knee flexion1.
So, how do rosehips make any improvement possible? A study examining the effects on a chemical level found that rose-
hips have anti-inflammatory properties that are ideal for osteoarthritis patients2. Although rosehips are not something
commonly found in the local supermarket, there could be a day when more research allows trials of complementary rose-
hip treatments for those that suffer from joint ailments
Rosehips and other herbal or homeopathic remedies can one day help to slowly decrease the agonizing and often deadly
side effects of current drugs and first-line treatments. Until more concrete studies can be done and interactions thoroughly
investigated, all supplements should be consulted with one’s primary care provider and pharmacist. Nurses play a vital
role in educating patients on the harm that can be done when patients fail to 1, http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/complementary-and-
8
research or question the medications and supplements that are mixed in an alternative-medicines/cam-report/complementary-medicines-for-rheumatoid-
arthritis/rosehip.aspx
effort to find relief. 2, http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mi/2014/105710/
3, https://nccih.nih.gov/research/results/gait/qa.htm
Peace, Love, and Nursing: Christina Levi
Bridget Seelinger, DUSNA Publicity Chair
Hailing from the sunny west coast, Christina Levi, currently a sopho-
more in the School of Nursing, is an active participant in the on-campus
theater company, The Red Masquers. The Red Masquers are notably
known as the oldest amateur theater company in the city of Pittsburgh,
having been performing since the late 1800s. Levi says that although
she is in love with nursing, she also loves theater and the Red Masquers
give her the opportunity to combine the two.

“[Theater] gives you leadership roles and helps you delegate, both
things that you do a lot of in nursing,” she says.

Levi’s role in the Red Masquers’ latest production, a 1960s version of


William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is Assistant Light
Design, something that she is
equally passionate about.

“We have Christmas lights and we borrowed a moving light from Car-
low, those are two special features for this production,” Levi says,
adding, “We’re really enjoying the new theater as well.”

Duquesne recently constructed a new black box theater on campus,


named the Genesius Theater, which cost about $4.5 million and now
includes dressing rooms, a set building workshop, in addition to flexi-
bility in seating arrangement for the set designers, something that the
theater in Rockwell Hall does not have. “A Midsummer Night’s
Dream” certainly takes advantage of all of this.

“I love that we can walk through our grid standing up, in the old thea-
ter you had to crawl on your hands and knees,” Levi says laughing.

Levi’s interests were not always aligned to nursing. At first, she


thought about medical school, biomedical engineering, and even
teaching. She chose Duquesne School of Nursing because it was a little
taste of all of those aspects. Right now, Levi is considering the Neuro
ICU as a possible unit to pursue after school.

“Seizures, and dealing with all of those precautions interests me,


especially after a guest speaker we just had in Adult Health,” she
says, “I’m happy that nursing has so many opportunities.”

In future years, Levi hopes to assume the role of Head Light Design-
er for one of the main productions on campus and hopes to move
beyond her current board position, Historian, for the Red Mas-
quers.

“I like to help actors be seen, although it sometimes can go unno-


ticed, but it is a vital part to the production.” Levi says.

Tickets for Red Masquers productions are free for both faculty and students and can be found online at
www.DuqRedMasquers.com.
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Photos by the Red Masquers and Christina Levi
Faculty Feature: Why do I Love Nursing?
Cynthia Rost, BA, BSN,MSN, RN
Answering this question is tantamount to asking
what I like about being alive. For me, nursing is
such an integral part of who I am as a human being
that it seems impossible to separate the nurse from
the person. Nursing was not something that I
dreamt about as a child, it was not, in fact, my first
choice as a career. I was an audiologist, working
with the elderly in a large county-run nursing facili-
ty when I first noticed what is was that nurses do. I
saw that individuals relied on nurses for health ed-
ucation, activities of daily living, medication man-
agement, and life sustaining treatments. Wanting
to be the person that provided these many services
to those in need, I came back to Duquesne (yes, my first degree was earned here as well) and enrolled in the
B.S.N. program.

Throughout the past 35 years, I have to say that, while I have


worked for persons that made the job difficult, I never dis-
liked the nursing. When you become a nurse, you begin to see
everything through a different lens. You are able to assess
objects, persons, environments, and entire communities as
you walk alongside them in your daily life. You can never
“turn off” the nurse you have become. It colors every aspect
of your personality, and changes you at your very core. You
may leave your patients at the end of your workday, but you
never stop thinking like a nurse.

It is through nursing that I became a better person, wife and


mother. It is because of a long career in Behavior Health and
Public Health nursing that I am the community member I
have become. Nursing has provided me with a job, an atti-
tude, a desire for lifelong learning (for those who don’t know
me, I will be 60 years old in a few years and graduating with
a DNP to celebrate), and the ability to think critically in all
aspects of my existence.

Do I recommend nursing? It is certainly not for everyone,


but if you have made the decision to try it, please open your
eyes to this new and fascinating way of seeing the world
around you. You will have days when you are bone tired and
frustrated, but I promise you, tomorrow will bring new op-
portunities to change someone’s life. Go for it!

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Faculty Feature: A Love for Nursing and Writing?
Linda Koharchik, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE
Being an author or co-author of manuscript chosen for publication in a journal of nursing can be a gratifying expe-
rience. Nurses write for a number of reasons and in a variety of venues. Nurses seek publication to share personal
nursing experiences, to make a commentary, or to disseminate research findings or evidence-based practice im-
provements. Publication is an expectation of the role of the nursing professor.

Hundreds of nursing journals are available from which to choose when


deciding where to submit a manuscript and choosing the right forum
for a particular manuscript is vital. A nurse writing about high-level re-
search they have completed might appropriately seek publication in a
journal such as Nursing Research or the publication of the National
League for Nurses’ (NLN) Perspectives. Nursing educators seeking to
publish their evidence-based teaching may direct their manuscripts to
journals dealing with nursing education, such as Nurse Educator or
Teaching and Learning in Nursing. Other journals dealing with special-
ties in nursing, such as The American Association of Operating Room
Nurses or Critical Care Nursing, attract nurses publishing manuscripts
dealing with these specialties. Other nursing journals publish articles of
nurses’ perspectives and personal experiences as a nurse. Each journal
has a designated “impact factor” which is “a measure of the frequency with which articles in a journal are cited in a
particular time period” (Oermann, 2012, p.299). A higher impact factor denotes that the journal is more often read
and cited by others, and impact factors are sometimes used as an indicator of the scholarly value of a manuscript.

Whatever journal is chosen for seeking publication, the potential author must closely follow the author guidelines
of the journal. The style of writing will be specified and may be the
American Psychological Association (APA), the American Medical Associ-
ation (AMA), or Chicago style, just to name a few. The guidelines will
suggest a word count for the submission, varied according to the type of
venue; a simple commentary may be as few as 500 words, but a research
manuscript may be allotted 3,500 words. The tone of the manuscript al-
so depends on the forum of where publication is sought. Scholarly writ-
ing is expected when reporting research, but a commentary may employ
a more conversational tone. The potential author must follow the jour-
nal’s guidelines and carefully upload his or her manuscript as directed.
It is an expectation that authors will submit to only one journal at a time,
as simultaneous submissions to more than one journal is considered un-
ethical. Publication in a peer-reviewed journal is sought by those who
wish to disseminate their work in a credible source. When works are peer-reviewed, the manuscript has been
scrutinized by experts in the field, who then may accept, reject, or suggest revisions to the author. Rejection is not
uncommon, with a reported 65 to 80% rejection rate in some journals (Jasper, Vaismorandi, Bondas, & Turunen,
2014). Rejection doesn’t always mean the end to pursuing publication of a manuscript. The author may consider
the comments provided by the reviewers, constructively revise the work, and then resubmit to another journal.

Being a published author is an impressive feature to place on one’s resume, but it is not necessary to have an ad-
vanced degree before seeking publication. Student nurses have im-
Jasper, M., Vaismorandi, M., Bondas, T., &
portant perspectives to share. A great start is publishing in a student Turunen, H. (2014). Validity and reliability of the
newsletter, such as The Scope! scientific review process in nursing jour-
nals—time for a rethink? Nursing Inquiry, 21(2), 92-
100.
Oermann, M.H. (2012). Editorial: Impact factors and
11
clinical specialty nursing journals. Journal of Clinical
Be sure to check out Dr. Koharchik’s column in the American Jour- Nursing, 21(3/4), 299-300.
nal of Nursing!
Why do we love Nursing?
The Scope asked students across ages and classes about their top reasons for loving nursing!
See why Duquesne nursing students LOVE nursing!
“I love to make a difference...no matter “I love how the field has so
where you're working, you get to make a many opportunities for direct
difference." -Briana T patient care as well as indirect
patient care. Nursing gives us
the opportunity to engage in a
“I'm constantly being
certain type of nursing and
challenged and learn-
then move on to a different
ing new, interesting
type if we decide one day that
things all the time.
we want to do something else.
And I love that I'll be
~Brooke C.
helping people." -
Hayley B Nursing makes
me happy! I get
to help people!

I can make a - Lauren C.


difference every “I am able to touch the
single day lives of others every
– Chelsea K. day." -Megan P

It is unexpected; you teach


patients something new and they
teach you something new.
—Monika S.

It gives me a chance to have an impact on


others.—Lydia P. 12
News & Announcements
DUSNA School of Nursing
 Interested in running for office? DUSNA will be  Need help with classes? Check out the
having board elections in March! NAP Recitation schedule below! Times
 Look for DUSNA’s next meeting, the first week of
don’t work out? Contact NAP tutors on
March, after spring break.
 DUSNA’s Paint Night with Painting with a Twist is Starfish.
March 10th at 8pm in 324 Fisher Hall!
 Preview Day is coming up in March.
Contact Professor Simmer or Barb
Marone if interested in helping out

NCLEX Nook
Question is from Elsevier Evolve

Answer on Page 15

A client with cirrhosis of the liver


and ascites fails to respond to chlo-
rothiazide (Diuril), a thiazide diuret-
ic. Spironolactone (Aldactone) is
prescribed in addition to the chloro-
thiazide. What should the nurse
explain to the client about why spi-
ronolactone was added to the medi-
cation regimen?

A. Promotes water excretion


B. Stimulates sodium excretion
C. Helps prevent potassium loss
D. Reduces arterial blood pres-
sure

Spaghetti Carbonara
MarthaStewart.com Instructions:

Ingredients : 1. Set a large pot of water to boil (for pasta). In a large skillet,
cook bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8
1 pound spaghetti to 12 minutes; transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.
8 ounces (8 slices) bacon, cut 1 inch
thick crosswise 2. Salt boiling water generously; add pasta and cook until al
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper dente, according to package instructions.
3 large eggs
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus 3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together eggs, Parmesan,
more for serving and half-and-half. Set aside.
1/2 cup half-and-half
4. Drain pasta, leaving some water clinging to it. Working quickly,
add hot pasta to egg mixture. Add bacon; season with salt and 13
pepper, and toss all to combine (heat from pasta will cook eggs).
Serve immediately, sprinkled with additional Parmesan cheese.
Aquarius and Pisces

You Aquarians, on an episode of Avatar, would totally be bending the air and making crazy tornadoes and spread-
ing dandelion seeds and stuff. Your fate is determined by the location of Ur anus
in the deep and vast universe around us. You are a social butterfly and are con-
stantly networking and coming up with innovative ways to help those in need
around you. No wonder you've chosen the field of nursing! You, my friend,
though you may not enjoy it now, will be a boss at evidence-based practice re-
search and implementation. Continue to utilize your social skills and follow your
heart in helping others and success will follow the trail you blaze!

If you were an Avatar character, you would be a water bender, and Neptune is
your ruler. You are a dreamer--believing and striving to achieve the impossible.
You have an overwhelmingly large heart for others, so much so that you are al-
most always second on your list. Your goals to change the world and help others
can sometimes seem to tower over you--like the stack of linens you try to carry
to a patient's room for a bed bath. Fret not! Instead of letting the grand picture
overwhelm you, focus on the little things and exercise giving yourself some 'you'
time. Take nursing school one EAQ exam and one Grey's episode at a time.

Futures divined by: Lady Hydrochlorothiazide, filtering through your fu-


ture with a daily dose of dire etiquette.

Check back next month for what the future holds!

14
Questions about your program?
Come to a Forum with the Dean!
DUSNA BOARD OF
Second Degree– April 18th, noon, College 104
Juniors– March 30th, noon, Fisher 539/541
DIRECTORS
Sophomores– March 9th, 1pm, Fisher 539/541
 President– Emily Kinley
 Vice-President–Caroline Miller
Knit Me Up Essentials  Secretary– Allison Erceg
 Treasurer– Joelle Augustine
Owned and operated by Duquesne
 Social Co-Chairs– Tara Shipe and
Nursing student, Mikayla Dongell

Monika Spangenberg  Service– Rachel Keto


 Legislative Coordinator– Amanda
Matkovic
 Fundraising– Monika Spangenberg
 Recruitment– Julie Herr
Handmade knitted items made with  Publicity– Bridget Seelinger
wool and acrylic yarn! Visit my store
for all your knitting essentials during
both warm and frigid months!
NCLEX Nook Answer: C
Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing
diuretic often used in conjunction with
Visit the shop on Etsy! thiazide diuretics. Both diuretics pro-
mote water excretion, so this is not a
particular advantage of spironolactone.
Both diuretics stimulate sodium excre-
tion, so this is not a particular advantage
Don't hesitate to call, text, or email with any questions about of spironolactone. Both diuretics reduce
MaryKay the business or the products! arterial blood pressure, so this is not a
particular advantage of spironolactone.

Own a business and want to


get the word out? Place your
advertisement here! Contact
Bridget Seelinger at
dusnapublicity@hotmail.com
for details

Call or Text or Email for skin care tips or new makeup and skin care products
or simply to support a fellow nursing student in her business to uplift, moti- 15

vate, and help women feel more beautiful.


Being part of the DUSNA Board is excellent not only for your re-
sume, but also for your professional advancement. You learn
how to have impact and make the changes that you want to see
in this great organization

Open positions include: Legislative Coordinator

President Service Coordinator

Vice-President Social Coordinator

Treasurer Recruitment Chair

Secretary Publicity
Email us at dusnaduq@gmail.com16 if
you’re interested in running!

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