Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Opportunities for Nursing Students in the Red Cross

The following was written to a local university faculty member by Phillip Bovender, State Nurse Liaison for Maryland. It explains the programs available through the Red Cross for nursing students:

"As a volunteer active in local and national disaster response, and as American Red Cross State Nurse Liaison for Maryland, I would be happy to speak to your group at a date and time of your choosing in October.

I would also like to speak to someone at Salisbury about the American Red Cross National Student Nurse Program which prepares students to assume roles in Disaster Health Services upon graduation and licensure. Offered as a component to community health, it fulfills the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's recommendation of disaster preparedness content in baccalaureate curricula. Also offered is a medical/surgical presentation on blood components and transfusion therapy, Red Cross's role in donation and processing and the nurse's role in administration.

Red Cross has implemented an enhanced service delivery model for Disaster Health Services recently which empowers nurses to practice at the level of their education and licensure on deployment. FEMA's requirements for congregate shelter inclusion of all persons with functional needs make nursing's participation essential. More domestic Red Cross Nursing participation with Service to the Armed Forces is planned as the Department of Veterans Affairs copes with the influx of veterans from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nurses continue to serve as instructors in Health and Safety, teaching CPR, CNA and babysitting courses. This is an exciting time to be a Red Cross nurse.

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