GREEN BAY — Bellin College is seeking nominations for the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award. Nominees will have graduated from any Bellin College or Bellin Hospital program and will be considered based on their professional accomplishments, community service, contributions to the health care profession, and how they exemplify the mission and values of Bellin College. Nominations will be accepted until 4 p.m. July 31. All nominations will be reviewed by a committee and the award will be presented at the 2019 Alumni Homecoming event on Sept. 12 at the Green Bay Botanical Garden.

To nominate a Bellin College alumni, please complete the Bellin College Distinguished Alumni Nomination Form or print, complete and mail the printable nomination form to the Bellin College Development office, 3201 Eaton Road, Green Bay, WI 54311 to alumni@bellincollege.edu.

Past winners of the award include Dr. Mark Bake in 2018, Donna Zelazoski in 2017, Sally Karioth in 2016, Lori Fayas in 2015, and Peggy Gauthier was the first recipient in 2014.

Masters of Science in Nursing students presented their scholarly projects May 14, 2019.

Those who presented were a mix of graduating seniors and a few from the class of 2020.

Projects ranged from mandatory influenza vaccinations for employment to various projects on diabetes and pain management.

Faculty advisers work with the students over the course of about nine months. The faculty members who advised the projects this semester were Dr. Lori Kulju, Dr. Mary Rolloff, Dr. Connie Boerst and Dr. Vera Dauffenbach.

The Bellin College Atrium and Health Sciences Resource Center of Bellin College was transformed Thursday, April 18, 2019, into a simulated multi-casualty tornado event. The simulation aimed to give students at Bellin College and the Medical College of Wisconsin-Green Bay a chance to practice skills learned in the classroom and at various clinical sites.

The event is the culmination of multiple departments working together for the past 4-5 months to give students the real-world experience in a controlled environment. Students in the nursing, radiologic sciences and sonography programs and M2 students with Medical College of Wisconsin-Green Bay took part in the event.

“This simulation allows students the opportunity to not prepare for the simulation like they have in the past and to have to come in and not know what role they will have, what kind of patients they will work with and what will need to be done,” said Kathie DeMuth, assistant professor of nursing for Bellin College.

Staff volunteers and students were staged in the Atrium area to recreate all aspects associated with a multi-casualty event. In total, there were 42 “patients” for students to contend with and prioritize, as they would if it were a real-life scenario. These simulated patients also received realistic-looking makeup, or moulage, to increase the legitimacy of his or her injuries.

“Disasters are increasing at local, national, and global levels, as is the need for all nurses and communities to be prepared,” said Kevin Stringer, HSRC technology specialist. “Today’s graduating nurses need strong skills in disaster nursing to manage a variety of disasters in a local to a global context. Nurses can bring unique skill sets to manage emergency situations, including proper assessment, priority recognition, communication, and collaboration skills. Competency in these skills allows nurses to make accurate, life-altering decisions in highly emergent and demanding situations. This realistic, hands-on activity approach allows them to experience a disaster before job placement.”

Students were joined by various healthcare professionals from the area along with the Bellevue Fire and Rescue Department and County Rescue Services. Eight doctors and several nurses were on campus to help guide students in their simulation.

Dr. Brad Burmeister

“The disaster drill is really an exciting event for all of the students,” said Dr. Brad Burmeister, clinical professor with Medical College of Wisconsin-Green Bay and Bellin Health doctor. “This is my second year involved as a faculty member at the Medical College of Wisconsin – Green Bay campus. While the opportunity to hone some clinical skills is certainly present for the disaster, the biggest asset and unique opportunity are to work with other students.

“Oftentimes interprofessional collaboration is difficult to emulate for a student — they often are working and learning sort of independently in the clinic, ER, or in the OR,” he said. “Putting them in charge of a disaster though forces them to work together and communicate. While our group did great with communication, we had a good conversation at the debriefing about how communication could be better in the future.”

Sonography and radiology students also assisted with the simulation drill. The different departments often don’t get a chance to work together, but got their chance during the event.

“Imaging students have worked with the nurses in different aspects before, but not in a disaster situation. We have these objectives for all students. Interprofessional communication is key,” said Christina Smith, radiologic sciences instructor.

The main objectives for participating students are: 

• Appreciate the importance of interprofessional communication
• Demonstrate effective use of knowledge, skills and abilities to safely provide patient care
• Collaboratively and implement interventions based on assessments and priorities
• Identify value of partnerships in provision of quality patient care

Staff usually conducts two simulation events per year — in spring and fall. They can range from a shooting incident, fire and anything in between.

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Bellin College BSN junior student Caroline Wagner joined three other nursing students to represent the Wisconsin Student Nurses’ Association at the National Student Nurses’ Association April 2-7 at the 67th Annual Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. More than 3,000 other nursing students from the U.S. took part in the convention.

While she was at the convention, Caroline met with state presidents from across the country to share what individual states take part in with hopes of gaining new ideas to bring back to Wisconsin. In addition, she participated in a three-day NCLEX Review Course, attended focus sessions such as “Medical-Surgical Nursing Made Insanely Easy” and “Pharmacology Made Insanely Easy” to learn strategies to remember important nursing topics, attended a scholarship reception only for a select few who received The Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association scholarships and also got certified through the American Red Cross-Disaster Certification in Sheltering and Disaster Health for nursing students.

Student nurses in attendance also heard from various speakers about nurses needing a seat at the innovation table, encouraging nurse innovators and entrepreneurs in the workforce to be a part of companies that are trying to create health systems or equipment without needed input from nurses.

Caroline also had official business to attend to while at the convention. She served as the Wisconsin state delegate, participating in business meetings only for delegates to vote on resolutions and by law amendments as well as voting for the new NSNA board.

Besides being a delegate for the NSNA during this convention, she is also the Vice President of BSNA, President of Student Senate and a student ambassador.

Bellin College's new sonography certificate provides more options for healthcare professionals. Now working professionals can achieve echocardiogram certification through a two-semester online course with one weekend intensive and clinical hours completed at current place of employment, or with clinical site secured with the help of Bellin College faculty.

The Wisconsin Student Nurses Association (WSNA)  held its 70th annual convention Feb. 1-3, 2019, in Wisconsin Dells. WSNA mentors the professional development of future registered nurses, providing educational resources, career guidance and leadership opportunities. The annual conference is a time for students from across the state to attend educational programs designed for nursing students as well as conduct the business of the state organization. Over 300 students from associate and baccalaureate programs were in attendance;  12 Bellin College BSN students attended.  Three students were elected to offices for next year’s board of directors.

Caroline Wagner, BSN traditional student class of 2020,  was elected to serve as President of WSNA. The president is responsible for directing the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.  The President is responsible for seeing that the decisions of the board are carried out.

Lauren Harvey, BSN traditional student class of 2021, was elected as STAT Editor. The STAT Editor organizes and distributes a biannual publication of the STAT newsletter. The newsletter contains pieces written by Board Members and other WSNA members, as well as educational and informational articles about nursing.

Valerie Ehr, BSN traditional student class of 2021, was elected to serve as Nominations Director. The Nominations Director is responsible for securing candidates for all WSNA Board positions, organizing the registration process for the convention, and preparing ballots for all WSNA elections.

Bellin College students named to fall 2018 dean’s list

Students work at Feed My Starving Children Oct. 3, 2018.

A group of Bellin College faculty, family and students from the Medical Imaging programs volunteered at Feed My Starving Children on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018. It was the third annual Feed My Starving Children Community Event for the College. Feed My Starving Children is a nonprofit organization that provides nutritionally complete meals specifically formulated for malnourished children. They have partners around the world who deliver the meals. The meals are packed by volunteers for those who are in the most need. During their meal-packing experience, Bellin College volunteers helped pack 330 boxes, a total of 71,280 meals! They helped pack enough meals to feed 195 children for a year in just an hour and a half.  Outstanding job!

Volunteers work at Feed My Starving Children Oct. 3, 2018.

Volunteers work at Feed My Starving Children Oct. 3, 2018.

Bellin College in collaboration with Evidence in Motion (EIM) will begin offering an Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT) Fellowship Program and a Doctorate of Science in Physical Therapy (DScPT). The Fellowship is set to begin January 2019 with the Doctorate of Physical Therapy following in early spring 2019.

Daouda Zoure

Daouda Zoure isn’t your average Wisconsinite. He came to Wisconsin by way of Burkina Faso, a country just southeast to Ivory Coast. He and his two brothers moved to the U.S. to live with their father in 2012, following the death of their mother. Zoure’s father lived in the U.S. for many years, and welcomed Zoure and his two brothers to Madison.

“My mom passed away during childbirth,” Zoure said. “My mother meant the world to me and, when I lost her, it was devastating. I miss her every day.”

In Burkina Faso, Zoure’s mother owned a restaurant called Maman, which means mom in French. He learned to cook from his mother and attributes his love of cooking to all of the special times they spent cooking together. At least once per year, Zoure and his brothers cook food and distribute it to the homeless living near Capitol square in Madison.

“My mother always thought I was too nice and she wanted me to be a doctor or work in another healthcare role,” said Zoure. “She thought a lot of people could benefit from my kindness, which is partly why I chose to go into nursing.”

Zoure attended Madison Area Technical College for two years and then transferred to UW-Eau Claire to complete his Bachelor of Science in human biology with honors. With his move came an adjustment to the cold weather and a few language challenges.

Daouda Zoure will run his first marathon in October 2018 in Niagara Falls.

“When I started school at MATC, I wrote all of my papers in French, and then translated them to English with a dictionary,” said Zoure. “I learned some English by watching my favorite TV show, ‘The Big Bang Theory.’ I still enjoy it to this day, but I don’t need the subtitles.”

Following his graduation from UW-Eau Claire in 2016, he applied to the 15-month program at Bellin College and was accepted.  He will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in nursing in October, and has made the Dean’s List again this past summer. After graduation, Zoure will start his job as a nurse extern in orthopedics and neurology at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay.

He is very close to his two brothers who are also attending college in Wisconsin. One brother is attending UW-Milwaukee to study computer science and business, and the other attends UW-Whitewater to study political science/diplomacy and international business. Zoure’s father owns a small delivery business called Burkina Express, which delivers loads across the U.S.

Daouda Zoure enjoys to cook.

In his free time, he enjoys cooking traditional dishes from Burkina Faso and running. His favorite meals are fried plantain and babenda, which is a mix of spinach, kale, swiss chard, mustard greens, peanut and dried fish. He is also training for his first full marathon, which is Oct. 14 in Niagara Falls.

“After working for a few years, I plan to continue my education at Bellin College as a student in the family nurse practitioner program,” said Zoure. “I’d like to someday join Doctors Without Borders and work for an organization like the Peace Corps, in which I can provide care to all who need it…where they need it.”

Zoure has plans for one other healthcare endeavor. He plans to build a clinic in Burkina Faso called Maman, in memory of his mother, to serve all women who face a high-risk pregnancy.