Business Basics: What Is Servant Leadership?

Posted on by William Trevor

Few would dispute that Gandhi was a good leader who inspired a loyal following through his own self-sacrifice and in the service of a cause. His type of leadership style, servant leadership, can be traced to the writings of a philosopher and poet of ancient China, Lao-Tzu, but an increasing number of modern leadership and management thinkers have also embraced the ideas of servant leadership. Its relevance and popularity is growing as a result.

What Is Servant Leadership?

In the 5th century, Lao-Tzu wrote about leadership and suggested, “the highest type of ruler is one of whose existence the people are barely aware.” The modern interpretation of servant leadership, however, comes from the writings of Robert Greenleaf, who coined the phrase “servant leadership” in a 1970 essay entitled, “The Servant as Leader.” He sums up servant leadership in the following passage:

“The servant-leader is servant first … It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions…The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.”

To put it simply, the servant-leader strives to share power and help the development and performance of their team.

How Do I Use Servant Leadership Within the Workplace?

Greenleaf outlined 10 principles to guide the development and application of Servant leadership:

  1. Listening – The servant-leader is a skillful listener, who listens to both what is being said, and what is not said, and sums up the will of the team.
  2. Empathy – Even if the performance is below par, you might reject the behavior and performance of your team, without rejecting them as people.
  3. Healing – The servant-leader can bring the team together in times of conflict or change, whether that is from outside or from within.
  4. Awareness –Of themselves, others, and what is going on around them and the team.
  5. Persuasion –- Seeking to persuade by convincing others of the merits of a course of action, rather than coercing through the exercise of authority.
  6. Foresight – Using the intuition of lessons learnt from yesterday to the problems of today and those yet to arise tomorrow.
  7. Conceptualization – Balancing the need to focus on what is happening today with the ability to provide a sense of mission and vision for tomorrow.
  8. Stewardship – Recognizing a sense of responsibility for the team, the organization, and the wider society.
  9. Commitment to the growth of people – A focus on developing people in terms of their personal and professional development and acknowledging the potential for their future growth.
  10. Building Community –- Bringing together and developing a sense of belonging and common purpose within organizations, both large and small.

Does Servant Leadership Work In Practice?

Edward D. Hess, a professor of business administration at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, says years of careful research have indicated that many leaders in today’s most successful organizations don’t conform to the stereotype of charismatic and commanding individuals. Instead they are servant-leaders, who lead by example through their daily behavior. Servant leadership delivers high performance in organizations as diverse as Best Buy, UPS, Ritz Carlton, Room & Board, Whole Foods, Starbucks, Southwest Airlines, Levy Restaurants, the San Antonio Spurs, and TSYS.

In a world in which the ethics of business have recently been brought into the spotlight by high profile cases such as Wells Fargo, the behavior of Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, and Cambridge Analytica and its implications for the ethical reputation of Facebook and its management, servant leadership has the potential to remedy the failings of the traditional command and control structure of business. Servant leadership offers a more ethical and principled approach to leadership, particularly in a world that is more volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous.

You can learn more about leadership styles in an online Bachelors of Business degree program.

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Excelsior College, its trustees, officers, or employees.

Law Enforcement’s Evolution and the Requirements to Become a Police Officer

Posted on by Dr. Michael Verro

Sir Robert Peel established the first Metropolitan Police Department in London in 1829, and since then, there has been an astronomical growth in the number of agencies and officers worldwide. Law enforcement agencies continue to evolve, and with them, so do the requirements for how to become a police officer.

In America, law enforcement started as groups assigned to apprehend runaway slaves in the 1700s; later, as lamplighters and night watchmen; and eventually organized municipal agencies in the 1800s. Until the 1930s, law enforcement was primarily under the direction of politicians, in what was known as the “political era” of policing. After prohibition in the 1920s, and based upon recommendations of The National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement (aka The Wickersham Commission after former attorney general George W. Wickersham), recommendations were made at all levels to professionalize policing, hence, the “reform era” of policing began.

Many recommendations that came from various commissions on police behavior, specifically from the Wickersham (1932) and Knapp (1970) commissions, were directed at higher educational standards for law enforcement officers. The Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 established grants to further criminal justice research. This may have been one of the catalysts for the new “community era” of policing. From the late 1960s on, police were receiving better training and education, and took a more proactive and integrated role in their communities.

Around 1970, the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration provided federal funding to enhance the training and education of police officers. It was “recommended” that all police officers should possess at least an associate degree. By the late 1970s and 1980s, some police agencies began to adjust their requirements for becoming a police officer. For instance, they began requiring either college degrees or predetermined amounts of college credit. The need for more well-rounded, higher-educated officers had arrived. Police officers were now given training courses in communications, report writing, mental health, criminology, sociology, and several other areas considered necessary for effective law enforcement. Reports from 2006 onward indicate about 1 percent of police agencies in the United States require a bachelor’s degree, about 2 percent require associate degrees, and a significant amount require some college. The New York Police Department, for instance, requires at least 60 college credits to be hired as a police officer. However, to be promoted, a bachelor’s and subsequent graduate degrees are also needed.

In 1976, in Golden, Colorado, a sheriff advertised for deputies not under “jobs in law enforcement,” but under “jobs in philosophy.” When asked about this unusual approach, he indicated that he wanted well-rounded critical thinkers who understood the human condition. This showed the kind of forward thinking that policing has achieved in the United States over the last few decades.

Despite what some deem the “militarization of the police”—as they don battle-dress uniforms (BDUs), external body armor, and tactical weapons— the need for what I call educated critical thinkers capable of extemporaneous thought is at the forefront of modern policing. I believe today’s officers should possess not only moral standards, but also decision-making, communication, and de-escalation skills, as well as a community-oriented approach. This is often achieved when training and experience are supplemented with higher education, such as a degree in criminal justice. 

Dr. Verro, recently presented on this topic in a Podcast for CATA Alliance. To listen in, visit here.

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Excelsior College, its trustees, officers, or employees.

Why Nurses Wear White and the Evolution of Nursing Uniforms

Posted on by rdewald

The color white signifies purity, innocence, cleanliness, honesty, and faith. These are qualities of the devoted and caring patient-centered nurse.  While white uniforms have been associated with nursing for a long time, this was not the case historically and the uniform has evolved over time.

The History of White Uniforms for Nurses

The first professional nurses were nuns. They wore traditional blue or gray nun attire and the purpose of their uniform was to protect them from contamination and the cold. Their clothing featured full-length sleeves and skirts, high collars, fitted aprons, veils to protect their hair, and belts which held necessary equipment such as scissors. Over time and as the nurse’s role evolved, uniforms followed suit. Sleeves and skirts became shorter, the collars became deep, allowing for more movement and comfort. Additionally, there was a shift from wearing belts to adding pockets for carrying essential equipment, which became much more than scissors.

The original uniform colors changed from blues and grays to white in the 1900s to signify cleanliness and asepsis. However, complaints regarding eye-fatigue in the operating room led OR personnel to adopt green as their uniform color choice. The green scrubs are still customary in many operating rooms. While white uniforms show spills and stains, white fabric can be bleached. Thus, white nurse uniforms remained the status quo until the 1960s when feminists argued that white signified diminished power. More colorful uniforms gradually became more accepted and popular. For instance, in the 1990s nurses began wearing the colorful scrubs that many still wear today.

Nursing Uniforms Today- Bring Back White?

Scrubs are comfortable, easy to clean, and inexpensive, but many may find them aesthetically unappealing. However, scrubs are worn by all divisions of healthcare personnel; doctors, physical therapists, medical assistants, and even housekeepers wear scrubs. A question that arises is: How do the patients know who the nurses are? With the issues related to professional image, non-nurse personnel might appear as nurses to patients and families and therefore weaken strides for improvement. In an era when nurses’ professional identity and pride is waning, a distinguishable professional uniform may be the solution.

A crisp, white uniform enhances the nurse image. It signifiers pride and the professional work nurses do. The traditional white nurse uniform also provides a professional appearance that exemplifies success and authority, and it commands great respect. Despite your uniform preference, the evolution of nursing and the paralleled uniform changes deserve attention.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Excelsior College, its trustees, officers, or employees.

Course Feature: NUR 456 Leadership and Management in Nursing

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Are you interested in expanding your interests into the administrative side of nursing? You may consider signing up for NUR 456 Leadership and Management in Nursing. In this course, students study the application of leadership and management concepts and theories; interprofessional communication and collaboration; and evidence-based strategies and inquiry within health care organizations. The Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Manager Certificate Program is integrated into NUR 456 throughout the semester and students will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program.

Specific topics covered in this course are vast and broken into six different areas: leadership, management, communication, health care environments and systems, fiscal management/budget concepts, and quality, safety, and outcomes evaluation. In the leadership module, students study leadership skills and strategies, team building, and change, innovation, and conflict management. In management, students cover supervision, human relations management, organizational structure and culture, and strategic planning and organizing patient care. In the next two modules, students study interdisciplinary communications and creative strategies for problem solving, as well as trends and legal aspects and changes in health care systems. Budget concepts are covered in module five and evidence-based strategies and patient safety are covered in the last module.

NUR 456 is a required course in the RN to BS in Nursing program, but Caroline Mosca, faculty program director in nursing, says of the course: “I think it is one of the more interesting ones as it is central to how [the students’] role will change as a baccalaureate-prepared nurse—they will be able to embrace leadership roles.” She adds that the course prepares students for leadership roles in nursing and helps them transition to a baccalaureate-prepared nurse.

Students have enjoyed this course, saying, “This class provides an overview of management. A different side of nursing most associate nurses never see,” and “I have learned a lot from this class. My instructor was fully engaged in discussions and helped me realize different aspects of leadership and management skills.”

Faculty, too, have had high praise for teaching the course. Instructor comments include: “The discussion for budget/staffing was excellent; students shared numerous positive comments [and] the ethical scenario generated a robust student conversation.” and “I believe the difference between management and leadership really resonated with the students, evident by the discussion forum.”

If you’d like to explore the management and leadership side of nursing, sign up for NUR 456 for next semester.

Nursing a Nurse’s Heart

Posted on by Nursing Staff

There’s an old proverb that states, “Physician, heal thyself.” A similar admonition can be applied to nurses who, too often, fail to take care of their own health—especially their heart health–while freely lecturing their patients about the perils of lack of self-care. Cardiovascular health risks for nurses fall into three main categories: sleep, diet, and substances.

Sleep and sleep patterns

In the Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research’s article, “Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Cognitive Performance of Nurses Working in Shift,” the authors state “Shift work poses significant cognitive risks in work performance of nurses.” Unfortunately, sleep deprivation seems endemic to nursing. There are still many facilities that mandate nurses to work “swing shifts” as part of their contract. Other facilities require nurses to work a “double” – two full shifts back-to-back. In the Medical Review’s article, “Health Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Nurses Working Shifts,” the authors note “Too long or repeated shifts reduce the opportunity for sleep…thus endangering their safety and health as well as the quality of care and patients’ safety.” When those nurses are not working, they are trying to catch a few hours of sleep.

Some nurses with school-aged children choose to work the night shift, arriving home in the morning just in time to take the children to school. Their plan is to catch some sleep before school ends for the day. However, if a child is home sick or school is on a break, they are lucky to catch even a nap. I once worked back-to-back with a night nurse who was in that childcare situation. She would stagger into work every evening and brew a full pot of coffee to stay awake. One day, I came in and noticed coffee grounds all over the floor in the med room; in her sleep-deprived state, she had missed the wastebasket without even noticing.

Sleep deprivation has been connected to a host of chronic health conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and hypertension. According to the Medical Review, it is specifically the change in the circadian rhythm of blood pressure that contributes to the development of atherosclerosis and eventual cardiovascular disease. Many nurses reach for a cup of coffee or candy as a way to ward off their fatigue; unfortunately, candy is a diabetogenic agent which can lead to diabetes or disrupt the management of the disease.

When a person is chronically exhausted, they are too tired to exercise, which increases their stress levels. Lack of exercise contributes to numerous conditions that negatively impact cardiovascular health.

Food and fluid intake

Nutritionists advise us to eat primarily a plant-based diet for optimal health. However, when nurses spend most of their time at the workplace, they begin to rely on what can be grabbed from the vending machine, such as candy and potato chips. These highly processed foods are laden with sodium, fat, and sugar. As a result, many nurses develop hypertension, hyperlipidemia, blood glucose instability, and weight gain.

Sufficient water intake is essential for good heart health. However, when bathroom breaks are almost non-existent on many nursing jobs, nurses restrict their fluid intake to avoid discomfort. Research from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests consciously reducing fluid intake at work is in response to work pressure. For nurses, this translates to not having enough time to complete work activities, so they avoid the intake of fluids. Also, it would be inappropriate to walk from patient room to room while carrying a bottle of drinking water. As a result, many nurses function in a perpetual state of mild dehydration, which can lead to ailments such as headaches.

Substance use

Despite knowing the dangers of smoking and having frequent encounters with cancer patients, many nurses are regular users of tobacco. Although a legal substance, nicotine can be as addictive as cocaine. Nurses who smoke may plan breaks around when they need their next nicotine dose, causing them to be late with patient meds or treatments. In addition, the odor of tobacco on their clothes or breath will be noticeable to the patients they treat.

Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, contributes to atherosclerosis, and is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. According to “Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice,” it also contributes to peripheral vascular disease, chronic lung disease, and several forms of cancer. In short, there is no health benefit to tobacco use.

Similarly, a nurse may arrive home after working a lengthy shift and pour an alcoholic beverage to “unwind.” The occasional evening or weekend off may involve socializing with friends at facilities or events where alcohol is served. Consequently, it would be easy for a nurse to arrive at the next shift under the effects of alcohol without even realizing it. Being under the influence of alcohol would impair a nurse’s judgment and put patients in danger. In addition, “Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice,” reports chronic alcohol use contributes to peripheral neuropathy, alcoholic myopathy, thiamine deficiency, Korsakoff psychosis, cardiomyopathy, esophagitis, gastritis, pancreatitis, and cirrhosis of the liver.

Substance abuse of narcotics and opioids has become a huge problem for nurses. After all, they often work in a place with easy access to controlled-substance medications. Access can lead to addiction. Statistics reported in the article, “The sneaky prevalence of substance abuse in nursing,” suggest that one out of every five to seven RNs in the United States is affected by substance abuse.  The Journal of the American College of Cardiology reports cocaine use, in particular, is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular complications due to its vasoconstrictive response.

Strategies for good heart health for nurses

  • Minimize stress by learning to say “no” to unreasonable requests on your time, such as working frequent double shifts.
  • Choose the healthiest options offered from vending machines, such as nuts or protein bars.
  • Drink extra water after ending a nursing shift.
  • Don’t smoke. If you currently smoke, begin a smoking cessation program.
  • Don’t drink more than two servings of alcohol daily. (e.g., a serving is a 5-ounce glass of wine or a 12-ounce beer)
  • Don’t use any illegal substances. If you are currently using them, seek out a substance-abuse program intended for healthcare professionals.

You only have one heart – and it must last you a lifetime. So, protect it at all costs!

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Excelsior College, its trustees, officers, or employees.

Zone 5 Partnership in Action : Michelle Ashley

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Zone 5 Officer Training May Transfer into College-Level Credits

Excelsior College’s corporate, association, and government partnerships give people the opportunity to complete their degrees through high-quality programs, affordable and discounted tuition and fees, flexible course schedules, and generous credit-transfer policies. The College’s partnership with Zone 5 Law Enforcement Training Academy in Schenectady, New York, ended up being the perfect opportunity for Michelle Ashley to pursue her higher education.

Ashley, a public campus safety officer, was going through training at Zone 5 while she was employed with University Heights Association Inc., a security company for colleges and college housing units. “I became a supervisor and that is when Excelsior and [Zone 5] went into a partnership,” she says. Ashley has an associate degree in business from SUNY Cobleskill but decided to pursue criminal justice. Many of her subordinates also had associate degrees in criminal justice and Ashley wondered what their learning experience had been like. She had also been watching the Zone 5 training pages and saw an announcement to earn an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice with Excelsior.

Transfer Credits Through Zone 5 Partnership Help Criminal Justice Graduate Earn Degree in One Year

She had previously learned that a lot of her credits from SUNY weren’t going to transfer to other schools, and she would have to essentially start all over again. When she looked deeper at Excelsior, she realized the Zone 5 partnership with Excelsior gave her a leg-up in making her degree happen. “I was so excited that some of my work I did at Zone 5 transferred as credits over to Excelsior because then that made getting a degree achievable,” says Ashley. When she found out she could complete her criminal justice degree in a year with Excelsior, it became a more tangible dream that Ashley could achieve and not, as she explains, take away from her family time.

Excelsior’s online learning format was perfect for Ashley, who works full-time and the late shift. She admits it was tough to take two classes at once, though. “I strive on making the best grades… Taking two classes at once made it hard to soak in the information. But I pushed through, and was able to finish both classes,” she says. As a student, she had her Zone 5 training on her side and was able to refer to her experience for examples in the discussion topics.

Now she is encouraging her husband, who is a police officer, to pursue his degree with Excelsior. She informs him that with his background and credits, he’s even closer to receiving his degree than she was. “For the security guard part of it, I did it within a year or so, but then with the police officer, you’re going to use more of what Zone 5 has to offer,” she explains, referring to the amount of credits Excelsior accepts from Zone 5 training.

Her degree has opened her eyes to the administrative world of criminal justice. She says it’s helpful that she is able to pull information from her class research to show data that supports various ways of dealing with people who break the rules. Ashley’s favorite courses with the College were CJ 120 Introduction to Corrections and CJ 256 Criminal Justice Administration. CJ 120 helped her understand why it is important to try rehabilitation as an alternative to incarceration and it showed her how biased the social justice system is against low-income persons. CJ 256 gave Ashley many administrative strategies to use in her career.

Ashley says the input from her instructors was instrumental in helping her succeed at Excelsior. “When I asked for help from the professors, they were more than willing to get information, links, or ask questions to help,” she says. Ashley earned an Associate in Science in Criminal Justice in August 2018 and though she isn’t thinking of switching jobs anytime soon, she says her degree will help when she pursues a promotion.

A Bachelor or Master Degrees in Criminal Justice in Ashley’s Future?

She plans to pursue her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice because with Excelsior, she found she likes the online format. “My company gives me tuition reimbursement so it makes it more achievable,” she says of pursuing her education. She’s not sure what topic she will pursue; she wants to keep her options open and see how she will best fit with her company, but administration, fire safety, and community policing are on her list. Thanks to her degree from Excelsior and her training from Zone 5, Ashley can keep her options open and pursue her higher education and career advancement whenever she pleases.

Self-Care for the Nurse

Posted on by Ellen LaDieu

Taking time for yourself is essential. As a nurse, you need to: care for yourself; protect yourself from stressors; assist your patients, staff, and/or students; be a role model for clients, colleagues, and personal contacts; and help create a healthy nation.

When I consider self-care, I am reminded of the analogy one hears when the safety announcements are made on an airline flight. The flight attendant encourages the passengers traveling with someone who needs assistance—such as a child—to put on their own oxygen mask first then assist the other person. If we do not treat ourselves with care and compassion, we will not have the ability and/or energy to fully care for others.

What does self care look like for nurses?

Self-care commonly means eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, engaging in physical activity, managing stress, participating in appropriate health screenings, and receiving appropriate immunizations. Self-care allows us to maintain health, prevent illness, and enjoy life.

As a nurse, you may experience barriers to self-care, including multitasking, shift rotations, and stress to name a few. Organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Joint Commission, and health care facilities (e.g. hospitals, etc.) are recognizing the importance of self-care for the nurse and offering some options to promote it. As the health of the staff improves, so will the health of the organization.

How do you practice self care as a nurse?

Choosing nutritious foods and fluids when providing patient care can be a challenge. Trying to eat smaller amounts every three hours or so can keep our blood sugar more even and keep us hydrated. Planning the food ahead of time and bringing it with us can help us to eat more nutritiously.

Sleeping adequately allows our body to refresh itself. Shutting down the digital input of the phone, TV, and e-readers 30 minutes or so before planned sleep will help. Make it a routine.

Physical activity is important. “Motion is the lotion” that keeps us moving. Incorporating physical activity into our daily lives may be easier and less costly than scheduling a workout at the gym. When you go into the grocery store, try circling the store perimeter three times before putting anything into the cart. Take the stairs rather than the elevator when possible. Add steps to your normal day and activities.

How Mindfullness can help with selfcare

Managing stress in our personal and/or professional lives is a constant challenge for most of us. Multitasking is prevalent, challenging our concentration and ability to be fully aware in a non-judgmental, non-emotional manner. Mindfulness is a practice that can assist us with this awareness and clear thinking.

In a stressful situation, mindfulness encourages us to:

1) Stop

2) Take a breath

3) Observe the situation

4) Proceed with appropriate action

Mindfulness can help us focus, reduce our stress, and value ourselves and others more. This is more healthful than merely reacting or responding automatically.

Keeping up with recommended health screenings is also important. Based on your age, what health screenings are recommended for you? Do you have a primary care provider? Are you following through on the recommended screenings? Prevention and/or early treatment is generally easier and more effective than waiting for significant disease and its progression.

It is also important to receive immunizations even after childhood. The annual flu vaccine is an example and. the tetanus diphtheria (Td) booster is recommended every 10 years. Based on our age and risk factors, we may need the shingles shot, pneumococcal, and/or meningococcal vaccines.

The ANA Enterprise organization has developed a Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation program. It focuses on improving health in five areas: physical activity, nutrition, rest, quality of life, and safety. Do you belong to the challenge? If you join, you will have access to many resources targeted to your specific needs, identified through a survey. Consider joining— you are worth it.

 

Excelsior Scores a Touchdown with Annual Tailgating for Taste Chili-Cook-off for Employees

Posted on by Alicia Jacobs

“Go team!” takes on a dual meaning the Friday before the Super Bowl, when employees of Excelsior College show their support for their favorite sports team and show their team spirit for each other and the College.

For the past three years, Excelsior College’s employee enrichment committees have organized the Tailgating for Taste Chili Cookoff during the lunch hours. Employees, either as a department team or as individuals, display their culinary skills by preparing chili for others to taste. Employees sample the chilis and vote for winners in such categories as the best-tasting chili and the heathiest chili—sometimes they’re one in the same, sometimes not! There are bragging rights and a trophy, too.

excelsior employees tasting chili

excelsior employees tasting chili

Excelsior, an online higher education institution that helps adult learners complete their degrees, encourages health, wellness, and team spirit among its employees. Events throughout the year bring employees together to learn, to celebrate, to meet, to collaborate, and to volunteer.

In addition to the cook-off, the pre-Super Bowl event has games, raffles prizes, and a “Team Spirit” award. Departments are encouraged to get creative, cook something healthy, wear sports-themed attire, sports team colors, and display signage with Excelsior team spirit.

excelsior employees dressed in football jerseys

excelsior employees

The event consistently draws a good-size crowd.

“We tend to underestimate the impact of having informal opportunities for staff to get together and have some fun, and it doesn’t always require a huge investment of time and money either —some creativity and willingness to participate or help out is all you need,” says Mark Howe, vice president of human resources. “And if we’re able to promote health and wellness while we’re at it, even better.”

The Tailgating for Taste and other events, such as picnics and holiday parties, are important to the College since employees are in different buildings and don’t always meet others outside their units. Bringing employees together helps bridge distance and creates a culture that employees look forward to while taking a break with each other. For enrichment events, employees lead events, create themes, and enhance employee engagement via collaboration outside the units. The College has been around for more than 45 years, and these events are a big win for employees. In the case of the Tailgating for Taste Chili Cook-off, it’s like a touchdown with a two-point conversion to break a tie!

 

The Many Benefits of Volunteer Work

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Staff at Excelsior College participate in many volunteer organizations and activities. The College supports community engagement and taking time to give back to our neighbors and country. As academic advisors, we often talk to students about how they need to also take care of themselves when so much of their time is spent focusing on other commitments such as work, family, and school. If you have ever volunteered, you know there are many personal benefits associated with volunteer work such as:

        • Seeing growth and change in those you help,
        • Reinforcing your sense of self-worth,
        • Recognizing that feeling of making a difference and having an impact,
        • Trying new activities,
        • Learning new skills,
        • Building new friendships,
        • Creating opportunities to transition into a new career field,
        • Team-building with co-workers,
        • Traveling and seeing the world, and
        • Making memories that last a lifetime.

        In addition, recent research suggests there are also health benefits associated with participating in volunteer work, including:

        • Longer life expectancy,
        • Lower rates of depression,
        • Improved physical health,
        • Greater life satisfaction and sense of purpose and accomplishment,
        • Reduced stress and risk of heart disease, and
        • Higher levels of happiness, self-esteem, and sense of control over life.

        Volunteering can also give a boost to one’s career and professional development. For example, for those looking to network, volunteering is a great way to get to know and be known within the communities that matter most to one’s interests. How better to create opportunities that one day will transition into a new, sought-after career field? Other professional benefits include:

        • Learning new skills,
        • Exploring new careers and industries,
        • Creating a track record of commitment and volunteerism for a specific cause or concern,
        • Team-building with co-workers, and
        • Staying current with trends and advances within your industry.

        With all the benefits associated with volunteering and all the positive ways it can influence your life and career, what is holding you back from getting involved? Set a plan now to give back and help someone in need. You may find it is exactly what’s missing and provides you some broader perspective and greater sense of well-being.

Graduate Success Story: Angeline Bernard

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Angeline Bernard has never stopped learning, working, or growing in the health care field. She is dedicated to her craft, and her passion and determination to succeed is evident each day she goes to work or begins a new project.

Bernard, of Margate, Florida, received an associate degree in business from Rockland Community College in 1992 and then pursued a technical career in nursing after receiving her nursing diploma from Bergen Pines Hospital School of Nursing in 1998. She wasn’t completely satisfied with this career path, however, and decided to shift gears toward health care administration. “I found out you needed a master’s degree to really get anywhere in health care administration but in order to get a master’s degree, you must get a bachelor’s degree first,” she says.

That’s when she discovered she could pursue an education by combining online and in-person learning. Bernard attended in-classroom courses at Florida Atlantic University while taking online courses at Excelsior College to complete her degree. “Excelsior was my avenue because they allowed me to work and attend school,” she recalls, noting Excelsior made it seamless to earn her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts in 2009. She was determined to finish her degree quickly, too, even taking 18 credits in one semester!

Bernard considers herself a creative thinker, which is why she wanted to branch out into the administrative side of nursing. So, she went on to pursue her master’s in health care administration with Florida Atlantic University and earned that degree in 2016.

Now Bernard is a senior consultant for Focus Management Group, a professional services team that offers financial advisory services focusing on crisis management. “That’s what my master’s degree has introduced me to,” she says. Prior to that, she spent seven years in managed care (the health insurance world), which afforded her much experience working as an auditor for Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures. HEDIS measures are established by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and are designed to provide purchasers and consumers with the information they need for reliable comparison of health plan performance. Bernard notes that HEDIS hires contract nurses to do chart reviews for them. She says, “This is where my nursing background comes into play.”

From that exposure, Bernard began her own online HEDIS training course. She hired people to design a user-friendly website but developed the material herself. She notes that she found some of the HEDIS material she was taught insufficient to what she felt was necessary to properly do the work. “I created a clear, concise layout for nurses,” Bernard says. The site launched in November 2018 after about seven months of preparation, organization, and design. She also recently met with the medical vendor VITAS Medical Systems to design a home health aid assistant in nursing program for them.

In addition to her work in health care administration, Bernard is the treasurer of the Palm Beach chapter of Black Nurses Rock. The chapter’s health initiatives are HIV- and cardiac-focused, and members want to ensure that the disparities in the community are addressed. “We want to target vulnerable communities because the rates of the diseases are more prevalent in those areas,” Bernard explains. Being a part of Black Nurses Rock has allowed her to give back to her community and also has given her educational exposure, introduced her to health care leaders, and offered training.

Although Bernard takes advantage of the educational and training opportunities, she’s thinking about but not ready to pursue a PhD; she’s happy being on the entrepreneurial track. She’s busy working with Black Nurses Rock and the National Association of Health Services Executives and devotes time to providing health care programs for the community. She works at various children’s centers and extracurricular programs to clean up shelters and assist with projects, and encourages women to get mammograms as part of a local women’s breast and heart initiative. She has also been offered a position with Florida Atlantic University to teach an undergraduate managed care course, which she plans to pursue.

She has some advice for students going back to school: make sure you look into the program best suited to your needs and look at the cost of the program and the funding you may be able to get; and most importantly, make sure your program is the right fit for you: “It’s just making sure your program is going to give you all that you’re looking for,” Bernard says. Based on how busy she is, it looks like Bernard pursued exactly the right program for her.

 

Degrees at Work: Tim Colomer

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Since he graduated in 2006 with a liberal arts degree, veteran Tim Colomer has become CEO of a JDog Junk Removal & Hauling United, a Military Veteran Partners (MVP) company, and works hard to give back to his community and fellow veterans.

Colomer, who was an explosives expert in the Marines for 14 years, became an entrepreneur while working as director of the explosives program at Halliburton, one of the world’s largest energy corporations, centered in Houston, Texas. After a significant number of layoffs, he decided to invest in a business of his own. He looked at several franchises, and ultimately decided on JDog Junk Removal & Hauling because it aligned with his values. In June 2017, he bought one franchise territory. (A territory is based on population density; Colomer’s original territory of Lake Houston equaled about 200,000 people. There is a total of 23 territories in Houston.) “JDog is a very mission-driven and purpose-driven company in that our mission is to hire veterans,” says Colomer, adding that the franchise’s mission is to empower veterans through entrepreneurship, career, and employment opportunities.

In September 2017, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, and though devastating, it became a helpful business opportunity for Colomer. Flood waters rose to 12 feet high, stranding many people in their homes. Many peoples’ possessions were ruined and they were forced to rebuild their houses. Colomer explains JDog was perfectly suited to help because it had a F-150 and small trailer that could fit where a large garbage truck couldn’t. “We were able to negotiate our way into the neighborhood, help house by house, pick up their life, really, and go bring it to the dump for them so they could get in the new working crews to bring in the supplies.”

MVP, a veteran-focused investment and advisory services company, then asked Colomer if he wanted to open the entire Houston metro; an offer that Colomer could not refuse. “MVP offered a once in a lifetime opportunity,” recalls Colomer. So, in May 2018 he became full-time CEO of JDog United.

Since then, Colomer has expanded his franchise to eight more locations out west, to San Antonio, San Diego, Denver, Chicago, and others. He currently employs about 60 veterans, “with the projection in five years we’re going to be open in 125 territories across the United States and employ as many as 500 veterans.”

Junk removal isn’t new but Colomer thinks JDog is different in that they give back to the veterans, their local community, and their environment.

In San Diego, JDog works with homeless veterans and battered women’s shelters; in Chicago, the company supports battered women’s shelters and other veteran’s opportunities and charities specific to Chicago. Specifically, in Houston, Colomer and his team remove the “junk,” which is oftentimes appliances or furniture someone doesn’t need anymore, and bring it back to their warehouse to clean it up before donating it to a local homeless veteran’s shelter. Colomer says, “It’s an environmental friendly aspect of what we do but we’re also literally, quite literally, giving back to our community and giving people a hand up in life.”

JDog also works with an organization called Camp Hope in Houston, which is a privately funded, free retreat for veterans who are struggling with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and drug and alcohol problems. JDog will drop off mattresses and other physical, tangible assets but they also provide an opportunity for the veterans to work with the company. Veterans are able to work for JDog for a couple months so they can get back on their feet and get some money in their pocket. If they want to stay in the Houston area, they may be hired full-time; alternatively, they can return home. “It’s literally a fresh start and an opportunity for them to make a new life for themselves,” says Colomer.

Colomer says it wasn’t a junk removal and hauling business that caught his attention. “To me it wasn’t necessarily about what we did, like the day to day operations; for me it was more about why we’re doing it,” he says. After being in the Marines for 14 years, Colomer understood that veterans look for camaraderie and dedication in a job and wanted to provide them with the same kind of atmosphere. He also knew that veterans have a commitment to service and JDog provides the opportunity for him and fellow veterans to continue serving their community. “Knowing the wants and needs of veterans, and being able to cater to them, and understanding the amount of loyalty they would have to me and our business and our community was just a no brainer,” he says of investing in JDog.

Colomer says he’s successful because he’s “not afraid to trust people to succeed.” He says some people are afraid to let go of the reins, but he has put his trust in his coworkers and district partners. “I know day to day, they’re going to go out there and execute our mission, execute our core competencies, our core values—respect, integrity, and trust.”

Colomer sees the company growing by expanding its services and relying on the skills of his fellow veterans. For now, though, there will undoubtedly be growth in awareness of the company. MVP has sponsored the reality TV show, “MVP has sponsored the TV show, “Military Makeover,” on Lifetime. Military Makeover with Montel Williams is a very special home improvement series that aims to respect those who have served our country, rebuild the homes—and even the lives—of these brave service men and women, and repay veterans for the service and sacrifices they’ve made for us. In the show, JDog Junk Removal & Hauling plays an integral part in making over homes for veterans. Colomer is excited for the opportunity and, though he doesn’t think he’s going to be on TV, he’s hoping to be at the end of the next project’s “big reveal” to support his veteran employees.