Several first year students in the nursing program at the Beckley Campus of Bluefield State College have "adopted" a needy Beckley-area family as one of several service projects this year. The first year students in the Beckley Campus Student Nursing Association (Beckley-SNA) have expanded the scope of their volunteer activity with their "adopted" family beyond the traditionally-provided Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and have provided carpet, clothes, blankets, and furniture for the family.

"This project has been very gratifying for us," noted first year Beckley-SNA president Krista Richmond of Beckley. "We talk to the family 2-3 times each month to see how they are doing and see what we may do to help them." Richmond said the nursing students plan to continue work with the family for the rest of the academic year.

Earlier this academic year, the first year SNA at BSC's Beckley Campus provided a "Halloween on Wheels," dressing in Halloween costumes and taking treats, gifts, and food to patients in the pediatric unit of Raleigh General Hospital. "We had so much donated food left over we put it in the 'fathers' waiting room' outside the delivery room and in the OB/GYN unit," Richmond said.

The group also participated in the Christmas "Angel Tree" program in Beckley in December.

The Beckley-SNA's activities include a program where second year BSC Beckley Campus nursing students serve as "big brothers/big sisters," assisting first year nursing students with challenges they encounter. Each first year student has a specific second year student "big brother" or "big sister."

"The Beckley Campus SNA is a wonderful organization," RN instructor and organization advisor Debra Vest said. "It meets the needs of other students in the program and reaches out to help individuals and families within our community."

The deadline for applying to be admitted into Bluefield State College's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is March 15, 1997. Applicants must have graduated from a state-approved National League for Nursing accredited program, be currently-licensed Registered Nurses, and have recent clinical nursing experience with references.

This program is designed with classes scheduled one day a week, permitting RN's to work full-time while pursuing their BSN degree," BSC BSN Program Director Beth Pritchett noted. "It's a nationally-accredited program with affordable tuition."

A broad perspective of nursing practice is presented in relation to management, leadership, values and ethics, critical analysis, research and the application of the nursing process to families and other groups in the community.

Individuals interested in applying should contact the BSC Admissions Office at (304) 327-4065. Additional information on the program may be obtained by calling (304) 327-4139.

A two-day SAFE babysitting course will be presented by the Center for Economic Enhancement at Bluefield State College on March 1 and 8, 1997, from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in the Tierney Conference Room, Dickason Hall on the BSC campus. Kathy Linkous, MSN, RN, Assistant Professor of Nursing at BSC, will be the instructor.

Topics that will be covered during the two-day course include appropriate and safe toys and games for different age groups, first aid--including basic CPR and what to do when an infant or toddler is choking--and how to handle phone calls and deal with strangers coming to the door.

To register for the course, contact the Center for Economic Enhancement at 327-4071 or 327-4109. Course cost is $20 per student. Class size is limited to ten students, so early registration is advised.

As part of its celebration of Black History Month, Bluefield State College will show the movie "The Color Purple," February 18, at noon in the Student Union, and at 7 p.m. in the Basic Science Auditorium. There is no admission charge to any of these movie showings and the public is invited to attend.

The recording artists "Unda Presha" will present a concert at BSC, February 20, at 7 p.m. in the Basic Science Auditorium. There is no charge for admission, but tickets are needed. Tickets may be picked up at the BSC Campus Activities Office, Student Union Building.

J.D. Carpenter, Director of Campus Activities at Bluefield State College, has been reelected to the executive board of the West Virginia Association of Student Personal Administrators, and will serve as WVASPA's newsletter editor.

Carpenter has also been appointed newsletter editor of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators' Region II. The NASPA Region II newsletter is distributed to student personnel administrators in every member institution throughout the region's seven state area.

He is currently national vice president of Gamma Beta Phi, a national student service honorary organization, and will also begin a one-year term as national president-elect later this year.

With several new computer-aided instruction programs and CD-ROMs in the computer lab, students at Bluefield State College's Beckley Campus have the opportunity to participate in enhanced learning with enhanced visual aids.

"The addition of these programs means our students can view a more accurate 3-dimensional simulation of actual nursing assessment and procedures," noted Debra Vest, BSC Beckley Campus nursing instructor. The computer lab is utilized by BSC A.S. nursing and radiologic technology students, in addition to students taking technical writing and software applications classes, as well as participants in BSC's Veterans Upward Bound program.

"Students in our nursing program can share the same interactive instructional CD-ROM, but proceed at their individual pace," Vest explained. "It is truly self-paced learning."

The installation of the new computer programs for instruction in nursing augments the BSC A.S. nursing program, whose 1996 graduates achieved the highest Registered Nurses (RN) licensure passage rate of any nursing program in West Virginia. Data released by the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses showed BSC 1996 A.S. Nursing grads taking the examination for the first time (10/1/95-9/30/96) achieved a 95.45% passage rate, best among the 19 nursing programs in West Virginia.

BSC students taking the national registry examination in radiography when it was administered in July achieved a 100% passage rate. Twenty-two BSC rad. tech. students passed the certification examination in radiography administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, providing licensure for the graduate to practice as a registered radiographer.

One of the first recruits for Bluefield State College's softball program five years ago is returning to her alma mater to coach the Lady Blues' softball team. Kara Peecher has been named the new softball coach, succeeding Cindy Ingram, who coached the team during its first five seasons. Ingram resigned as coach last spring.

Peecher, a Graham High School softball standout, and Debbie Boothe of Peterstown were the first two recruits signed by Ingram in 1992 prior to the second season of BSC softball. Another BSC alum, Nicholas Canoy, who graduated in December, 1996, has been named softball assistant coach.

The Lady Blues open their 1997 softball season March 8 at home against West Liberty. That doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. at the Graham Recreation Park. The softball schedule also includes a trip to Pensacola, FL, March 15-22 for a series of doubleheaders.

The "Women's Health Care Issues For Nurses' series at Bluefield State College will feature the program "Menopause and Domestic Violence," February 24, 1997, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. in the Tierney Conference Center for Continuing Education, Dickason Hall, on the BSC campus.

The presenter will be Dr. Dean Cunningham, MD, Ph.D. Dr. Cunningham has more than 15 years' experience in obstetrical care, as well as research experience and publishing in the field of immunology. He is currently in private practice with Bluefield Medical Associates, Inc. at Bluefield Medical Center.

The "Women's Health Care Issues for Nurses' series has been organized by Bluefield State Assistant Professor of Nursing Kathy Linkous, MSN, RN. These seminars have been designed to enhance the educational needs of Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses. This program is approved to award 4.0 contact hours.

The program is offered through the BSC Center for Economic Enhancement and Educational Outreach at BSC. Registration is $15 in advance, $20 on the day of the seminar. Seating is limited so early registration is advised. Additional information may be obtained through the BSC Center for Economic Enhancement & Educational Outreach @ (304) 327-4071.

The Bluefield State College Veterans Upward Bound Program has exceeded its fiscal year goal of enrolling 128 participants in the program, even though the program is just four months into its new year.

VUB Director Ron Holt attributed the popularity of the program, which is designed to assist service veterans, to an increased awareness of its success. "To date, the Veterans Upward Bound program at BSC has placed many veterans in postsecondary education," Holt said. "The program gives veterans the opportunity to continue their education and/or pursue their individual goals."

The Veterans Upward Bound ProgramÕs services include career and academic counseling and testing, short-term refresher courses in computers, math, and sciences, and assistance in completing college entrance applications, SAT/ACT applications, and financial aid forms. Veterans Upward Bound services are free to qualifying service veterans in the program, and the program pays a monthly stipend to help offset expenses for eligible veterans.

"Although we have met our goal for participants in this 12-week term, we still have a limited amount of available funding to provide services to additional qualifying veterans on a first-come/first-served basis," Holt noted. "We are looking for service veterans interested in pursuing postsecondary education--through college or through some type of vocational-technical training."

The Veterans Upward Bound Program has offices at BSC campuses in Bluefield (327-4288), Beckley (255-5866), and Lewisburg (645-6123). Additional information may be obtained by calling (toll-free) at 1-888-428-0485.

Holt also announced the addition of Al Hancock, a VUB counselor in Bluefield, to staff. "Our growth has come as a result of a program that meets important needs of service veterans. We've been successful, too, because of a hard-working faculty and staff, and because of the willingness of Bluefield State to make us a part of the College community."

Bluefield State College Accounting Club students and BSC accounting faculty members will offer free tax assistance to area residents through the VITA program sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service. Free tax assistance will be offered on the following schedule: each Wednesday, now through April 9, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. (except March 19) in Mahood Hall, room 118, on the BSC campus. Assistance will be provided on three Saturdays (February 8, March 8, and April 12), 1 p.m.-4 p.m. in the Craft Memorial Library, Bluefield.

According to William Goodman, BSC associate professor of accounting, "Volunteers alert taxpayers to special credits and deductions with items such as credit for the elderly and sale of residence."

"Taxpayers seeking assistance should bring this year's tax package, usually received through the mail, wage and earning statements (Forms W-2) received from employers, interest statements from banks (Forms 1099), a copy of last year's federal and state tax return, if available, 1994 tax return, if available, and any other relevant information concerning income and expenses," added William Bradberry, BSC assistant professor of accounting.

In 1996, BSC volunteers contributed more than 300 hours' service, assisting area residents in completing income tax returns. Bradberry and Goodman are coordinating Bluefield State's participation in this year's VITA program.

"Our students enjoy the satisfaction of helping other people, and many people find this service very meaningful because it helps them to complete their tax returns in a way that's comfortable for them," Goodman concluded.

Additional information may be obtained by calling Professor William Goodman, Bluefield State College, @ (304) 327-4107.