CWI Compass Connect - Oct. 17, 2018
News Highlights
Nursing Student Fulfills Lifelong Dream
Kellie Barnes greets visitors and patients with a warm smile as she walks through the hospital hallways in her red, Saint Alphonsus scrubs. Her passion for healthcare shines through – she even sports EKG heartbeat earrings!
Barnes graduated from College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Nursing program in May and has been working at Saint Alphonsus Health System in Boise for the past three months. She works on the eighth floor, in the Central Tower, which handles a variety of trauma cases including gunshot wounds, motorcycle crashes, and other patients. “It’s such a diverse floor, it’s just perfect for the first year,” Barnes said.
She liked CWI’s program because of the quality of instruction she received and how she was still able to work and take care of her family while finishing school. The Nursing program at CWI builds on the scientific foundations of nursing knowledge, while incorporating knowledge of biological and social sciences, and the humanities through classes and hands-on training during labs.
“The simulation labs were amazing — we had a six-week lab with Instructor Jen Navarro, I was so nervous, but the learning environment was great!”
According to Idaho Department of Labor, from 2016 to 2026, the demand for registered nurses in the state has a projected growth rate of 29.3 percent which equates to 1,147 annual openings with an average hourly wage of $29.90.
Ironically for Barnes, her clinicals in the Nursing program were at the same hospital.
“My first clinical day was on this floor, one of my mentors that I thought was amazing is now one of my co-workers. I was so supported and it felt great. All of the mentors were wonderful,” added Barnes.
During her classes at CWI, Barnes excelled in her classes.
“Kellie was a class leader. She was positive and motivated others to step up,” said Allison Baker, Department Chair for Nursing.
CWI’s two-year Nursing program is approved by the Idaho State Board of Nursing, and is a great way to launch a career in health care — with 95 percent of the College’s students passing the national test to become a registered nurse.
“Every time I leave for work I can’t believe this is where I’m going, I’ve always wanted to this,” said Barnes.
CWIdifference.com: A Great Resource for the Health Science Building
As the College of Western Idaho (CWI) enters the final stretch leading up to the plant facilities levy, for the proposed Health Science Building, you can visit CWIdifference.com to learn more about the facility.
With health and science professions in high demand, a state-of-the-art health science facility will provide student-centric training for nursing, natural and life sciences, medical and emergency responder professions, and additional healthcare careers. The Health Science Building will provide a critical increase in capacity to address the skills gap — an additional 2,500 students annually will have access to credit and short-term training in health and science programs.
CWI enjoys a strong partnership with Saint Alphonsus, St. Luke’s, Norco, as well as other medical organizations in the region. According to the Idaho Department of Labor, the state needs 10,000 more healthcare workers by 2024, and CWI’s new building will act as a conduit between skilled workers and the Treasure Valley’s healthcare industry shortage. A new Health Science Building also aligns with the College’s vision to transition away from leased buildings and increase owned facilities.
Visiting Artist Series Welcomes Shimi Tree Performance Group
College of Western Idaho Visiting Artist Series welcomes the Shimi Tree Performance Group to campus Oct. 18 and 19, for a performance and workshop.
The group loves both traditional Spanish art form Flamenco as well as the style of Flamenco called Rumba. Their goal is to share their passion of Flamenco’s forms with the audience by encouraging fans to dance, sing, and clap along to the rumbas.
They will be performing at the Nampa Campus Academic Building, second-floor atrium, on Oct. 18 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Celebrate Veterans for National Day on Writing
The 10th anniversary of the National Day on Writing is Oct. 20, 2018. National Day on Writing was created to celebrate and highlight the importance of writing to a literate society.
Want to join the fun? College of Western Idaho Persuasive Writing student, Jody Crowson, will be setting up a table at the Nampa Campus Academic Building on the first-floor lobby. Monday, Oct. 15, through Monday, Oct. 22, in honor of this day. Veterans are invited to write reasons why they chose to serve in the military. All are invited to share their appreciation through writing for the service of our veterans.
“I believe by giving veterans a chance to express their reasons for serving and by giving the CWI community a chance to express their gratitude to our veterans in a tangible way, through the use of written communication, will lead to a more unified community,” said Crowson.
Student Nurses Association Sponsors Meet and Mingle
On Aug. 25, 2018, College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Student Nurses Association (SNA) sponsored a Meet and Mingle at Gordon Harris Park in Meridian. First and second-year CWI Nursing students got together to start the school year off with friendly and positive vibes. Current SNA members gave new Nursing students information about the club and the support and benefits accompanying membership. It was a beautiful Idaho day which allowed students to get acquainted with each other and reconnect with fellow second-year students following the summer break. Students are looking forward to many more gatherings and volunteering opportunities with the SNA.
Students Published in Censored 2019
Zaynah Almaaita, a CWI Media Arts student, and Ky Tucker, a 2018 alumnus, were published in this year's edition of "Censored 2019: Fighting the Fake News Invasion". Project Censored is an award-winning, independent journalism site that educates students and the public about the importance of a truly free press for democratic self-government. The review of each year's stories is a rigorous, year-long process, involving dozens of researchers and international panel of 28 media experts; each story identified in this year's Top 25 list has undergone no fewer than five independent rounds of review, focused on the factual accuracy and trustworthiness of the story.
Associate Director and Co-editor of Project Censored, Andy Lee Roth, commented, "Each year we review roughly 300 candidate independent news stories; only the very best make it our annual Top 25 list of the most important but under-reported news stories."
Media Arts instructor, Michelle Mahoney, instructed students to find, evaluate, and summarize an under-reported news story from an independent news organization that has gone largely unnoticed by major corporate media outlets. The goal of this assignment was two-fold: to show students they have a voice in the vast media landscape and to expose them to independent news organizations.
As the faculty evaluator, Michelle, edited and verified all sources before students submitted their stories. She said, “Media literacy is a vital skill in our ever-changing societal landscape. Consumers must be able to critically analyze content across platforms and assess the value of said material. Project Censored aims to highlight this need and help our students do the same.”
The group's founder, Carl Jensen, established Project Censored in 1976. He worked as a reporter, an editor, and was in advertising before he became a college professor. "He used to tell his students, 'Journalism needs more muckrakers and fewer buck takers.' Project Censored aims to support a new generation of journalists who are alert to the shortcomings of the corporate press, committed to reporting in service of the public good, and oriented to how good journalism is a cornerstone of democracy," Roth added.
To learn more about this year’s important, but underreported stories, check out the complete listing of the Top 25 stories online, or order a copy of "Censored 2019: Fighting the Fake News Invasion directly from the Project". You can also find a copy of this in the CWI Library.
“I am so proud of our Communication and Media Arts students," Mahoney said. "They truly are amazing and talented individuals!”
Congratulations, Ky and Zaynah!
