Wednesday Word

Ready or not, tis the season of gratitude and giving. As your calendar fills up, are you giving too much of yourself?

It might be time to build some healthy boundaries.

Setting boundaries isn't selfish; it's crucial for your mental health. Through the hustle and bustle of the season that kicks off with Thanksgiving, be sure to take time for yourself. Set the world aside and go for a walk, get a massage, meditate, read a book, or cozy up with hot cocoa on a Saturday night. Whatever brings you peace on earth, DO IT.

Balancing nursing school, work, family, and managing a social life is a monumental task. Boundaries prevent overdoing, over-committing, and oversharing. These things lead to exhaustion. But how do you say no to the invitations and expectations from others? How do you set those boundaries that no one can step over? Take it one step at a time.

Health care continues to evolve and nursing is changing with it. One advanced nursing focus is population health. It’s a pathway to a leading-edge career that drives health care delivery.

Today, health care is emphasizing primary and preventive care in managing the health of groups of people. Ultimately, population health improves quality of care and lowers cost. Nurses are vital in managing population health through their roles in communities, schools, businesses, homes and hospitals.

 

St. Louis Magazine’s Excellence in Nursing Awards applauds the inspiring efforts of nurses around the St. Louis region and spotlights their selfless care, compassion and service, especially during the pandemic.

A prestigious selection committee selected more than 60 finalists across a range of categories. Honorees will be recognized in the May issue of St. Louis Magazine.

Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College is proud to recognize two of our faculty members, Xiumei Lin, DNP, MSN, RN, and Sara Kimmel, MSN, RN, who are honorees in the Educator category of the 2022 St. Louis Magazine Excellence in Nursing Awards.

"As someone who worked full time through all three of my degrees (BA, MBA and Ph.D.) and has struggled with both physical and mental health issues during school, I'm passionate about student success," says Samantha Dean, Ph.D., registrar at Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College. 

Over the past 10 years, Dr. Dean worked in various roles in higher education such as an academic advisor, a workforce coordinator, manager of student operations, assistant registrar and now registrar. She earned her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Political Economy from the University of Texas–Dallas in 2018 before she joined Goldfarb. 

Her challenges combined with compassion, determination and a sense of humor have prepared her to be a strong advocate for students. Read on for Dr. Dean's tips and insights to maximize your success.

 

You're Made for This. It's both a testament to you and a promise from us at Goldfarb School of Nursing.

You're a bold nurturer, a determined doer, and a fearless leader. So seize this moment to go wherever you dream. And Goldfarb will help you get there.

The pandemic has taught us just what perseverance and dedication look like. Nurses continue to lead the charge. Now it's time to learn, achieve and advance like never before. You bring the drive—we'll give you the tools. Because you're made for this.