Saturday, November 30, 2013

Mental Health First Aid Course for Nursing Students - online course available

If you missed out one of the recent Mental Health First Aid Courses for Nursing Students, run by Jenny Kelly in Townsville, Cairns and Mackay, you can undertake this course via eLearning at https://www.mhfa.com.au/cms/mhfa-medical-and-nursing-students/
University students, especially nursing students are at higher risk of mental health problems, increasing the rate of dropout. High levels of stigma mean many are reluctant to seek help. Fellow students are in a good position to help.
The Mental Health First Aid Course for Nursing students teaches nursing students how to assist a peer who is developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis, using case-studies, videos and tailored resources. The skills learnt can be useful when helping any adult. This training is available for free until June 2014 as a face-to-face course or via eLearning.
For more information visit www.mhfa.com.au

Friday, November 22, 2013

Farewell Professor Kim Usher

Professor Kim Usher, has accepted a new challenge as the Head of School for the School of Health at University of New England (Australia), which she will commence in 2014. We celebrated Kim’s time at the school (over 20 years) at a formal farewell held in The Cairns Institute, James Cook University (JCU).  Professor Usher was thanked by JCU colleagues and senior leadership for her vision and commitment to improving the quality of nursing and midwifery education. Kim’s vision, enthusiasm and determination was mentioned over and over as colleagues and postgraduate students gave thanks for the support they had received. Professor Usher told the group, “ I always believed in the possibilities for the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition at JCU”. We thank Kim for her leadership and wish her every success in her new role. 

Monday, November 18, 2013

2013 Sessional Staff Teaching Award recipient – Ms Helena Harrison

At the recent awards ceremony, Ms. Helena Harrison was awarded a sessional staff teaching award for “Outstanding Contributions to Student learning” for 2013 within the School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition. Helena has played an active and enthusiastic role teaching into, and coordinating, both Undergraduate and Postgraduate nursing subjects for a number of years.  From February 2009 – February 2010, she was employed as a sessional tutor at the School of Nursing in Cairns campus. More recently, in 2012, she undertook an extensive revision of the School’s Postgraduate Certificate of Clinical Education, and re-wrote two of the on-line, Clinical Teaching subjects in this degree program. In 2013 she has coordinated both these subjects from her home in South Korea, ensuring that she engages frequently with students, responds promptly to any inquiries, and provides comprehensive feedback when marking assignments. She liaises with the Postgraduate Coordinator regularly via Skype and ensures that any High Distinction and Fail assignments are cross marked.

At the Undergraduate level, Helena wrote the new level 2 subject NS2215 “Specialist Nursing in Northern Australia”, and this semester she is the subject’s inaugural subject coordinator.  She has engaged students over the past ten weeks via LearnJCU with weekly modules, notices and announcements, and has delivered video-conferenced ‘lectorials’ for  Cairns, Mackay and Mt Isa and recently travelled from South Korea to conduct tutorials in Townsville during a week-long teaching block (including the public holiday).  Helena is responsible for the written assignment, written end of semester exam, and oversees their 2 week clinical placement attached to this subject. NS2215 had over 100 students enrolled over 3 sites. She is a passionate educator, proactively seeking out the best materials, and working above  and beyond what was expected of her. Helena is in the process of giving subject feedback to improve the subject for next year.

Helena has demonstrated, over a number of years, the capacity to make a significant contribution to student learning at both the Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels. She is considered to be an expert teacher and facilitator, capable of engaging with students in a variety of teaching and learning settings including as a clinical educator whilst students are on clinical placement, developing and delivering on-line and face to face lectures and tutorials, coordination of subjects, re-writing of existing subjects and writing of new ones, and undertaking all the process and evaluation activities associated with these roles. She has a wealth of experience gathered over many years of nursing education within the tertiary and TAFE sectors, and has demonstrated her flexibility and capability by coordinating both Undergraduate and Postgraduate subjects despite relocating to South Korea with her husband’s work.

Congratulations, Helena!

Friday, November 15, 2013

New JCU Library Books this week - 15 November 2013


This is a list of new books which have been added to the New Book Displays or made available online this week.

Books acquired in the previous week are listed at: Last week's New Books

Books may be borrowed from the displays in the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library and the Cairns Campus Library, unless they are in non-borrowable collections such as Reference. Click on the title links to see more details in Tropicat and to access eBooks online.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

SNMN Now on Google+ - add us to your circles

You can now add the School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition to your Google+ circles.

Keep in touch with School news, activities, resources and funding opportunities.

Visit us on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/107830375672966921718



Friday, November 8, 2013

New JCU Library Books this week - 8 November 2013

This is a list of new books which have been added to the New Book Displays or made available online this week.  Books may be borrowed from the displays in the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library and the Cairns Campus Library, unless they are in non-borrowable collections such as Reference. Click on the title links to see more details in Tropicat and to access eBooks online.

The New Library Books List is available on the web at http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/libcomp/JCU_112864

Friday, November 1, 2013

Become a mentor in 2014 Student Mentor Program


What do mentors do?
Mentors act as hosts and guides for new students on the first day of O week and also meet with them several times during first semester to help them settle into study at JCU.

Why be a mentor?
It is a great opportunity both to help new students and to develop your communication and leadership skills. Other benefits of being a mentor include an official JCU certificate of appreciation signed by the Vice-Chancellor, a stylish mentor t-shirt, free tea and coffee if mentors help students in the Learning Centre, and lots of other freebies.

Do I need to be top of the class?
To be a mentor you do not need to be an academic genius but you should be conscientious in your studies and passing all your subjects. It also helps if you enjoy helping your fellow students.

When will I be needed ?
Training for mentors on the Townsville campus will take place on Friday 14th February from 9-3pm. The welcome day in O week for the Faculties of Law Business and Creative Arts and Arts Education and Social Sciences will be on Monday 17 February 2013. The other two faculties – Science and Engineering and Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences will have their welcome on Tuesday 18 February.

To apply follow this link http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/learningskills/resources/mentors/JCUPRD_034933

Reproduced from JCU Facebook post 01/11/13 https://www.facebook.com/jamescookuniversity

Get Streetwise with Exams - Ideas to help you prepare, study, stay focused and survive

Visit the "Get Streetwise with Exams" website at http://www.jcu.edu.au/student/assessmentexams/JCU_094647.html for Ideas to help you prepare, study, stay focused and survive.

New JCU Library Books this week - 1 November 2013

This is a list of new books which have been added to the New Book Displays or made available online this week.  Books may be borrowed from the displays in the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library and the Cairns Campus Library, unless they are in non-borrowable collections such as Reference. Click on the title links to see more details in Tropicat and to access eBooks online.

The New Library Books List is available on the web at http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/libcomp/JCU_112864