SIC Nursing Program Announces First in Series of Continuing Education Offerings

In response to a need for cost-effective continuing education in nursing care, Southeastern Illinois College is sponsoring its first conference  to provide area nurses the quality instruction necessary to stay current in their profession.

Conference topics will include geriatrics, evaluation of respiratory illness across the lifespan, medications, and a summary of wound care techniques.  Each topic will incorporate the roles of licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advance practice nurses in providing culturally competent nursing care.

Conference speaker will be Leslie Curry.  Curry is a board certified family nurse practitioner (FNP-BC) and an advance practice registered nurse (APNR) at Galatia Primary Care.  She holds a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) and is currently working on her doctor of nursing practitioner degree (DNP).

“We wanted to start a program to offer a convenient location and a low-cost way for area nurses to get the continuing education units (CEU) they need to remained licensed,” said Amy Murphy, interim director of nursing and allied health at SIC.  “The conference will provide seven of the 20 units required for every two-year licensure period and will offer very useful and highly relevant information.”

Murphy added that the college is extremely fortunate to have local presenters like Curry who can deliver high quality, evidenced-based information and training to area nurses to fulfill their CEU requirements.

Assisting Curry during the conference will be Amy Bratcher, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, and Angie Johnson, DNP, RN.  Bratcher will present the newest guidelines in wound care treatment published by the National Guideline Clearing House, and Johnson will address the effects of medication on the geriatric population.

Curry will provide an update on respiratory/influenza and the Center for Disease Control’s recommendations for this year’s outbreak.  She also will speak on the role of the advance practice nurse in the delivery of healthcare.

The conference is scheduled for 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Nov. 28 in Room B-126W on SIC’s main campus.  Participants may register by calling 618-252-5400, ext. 2331.  Cost is $50 per person.

Murphy indicated that the November 28 event is the first in a fall-spring series of timely and relevant topics directed at providing cutting-edge information to nurses in the area while helping them receive the continuing education units they need.  The college currently is planning its second CEU conference for spring 2013, where the focus will be on mental health issues.

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