By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The nursing program at Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute has once again passed its state review, but this time it was without any deficiencies.
The Arkansas State Board of Nursing recently inspected the program at CRTI and reported there were "no deficiencies" in the program, thereby granting it approval for another three years.
Debbie Hill, director of the CRTI nursing program, recently discussed the review process and the school's tradition in nursing education.
"The State Board visit is always very intense," said Hill. "The evaluator examines every aspect of the program. They look at each school's philosophy of nursing and program outcome objectives (or how you expect the students to function when they graduate). Then they look at each classroom course and each clinical rotation to make sure they are in line with the stated philosophy and objectives. One of the things we must do is have objectives posted for every day of classroom and clinical labs, and have proof for the board of how these were met.
"Our last review was in 2000, and we had 26 deficiencies on that review," continued Hill. "We are very pleased with the improvement that the program has accomplished since our last review by the board," Hill said. "Part of the improvement is due to the program's emphasis. It is therapeutic communication skills, which is the use of the nursing process to plan patient care. We teach our future nurses to emphasize patient teaching and observe the cultural differences in patients. We feel our students must teach their patient something everyday. For example, they should teach them about their medications or prescribed treatments. Also, we teach the students how, and what, to delegate carewise to unlicensed assisting personnel or nursing aids."
Hill also discussed how the CRTI nursing program has changed. "The program was originally called an LPN or licensed practical nurse program. The State Board has asked programs across the state to remove the 'licensed' from the name. Their reasoning for the change is that the school educates, but the State Board issues the license," she said.
"Once students complete our 10-and-a-half month program, they must then pass a national examination to work as a LPN. Our State Board examination passage rate for our students has been great. In 2000, the rate was 100 percent, that means all of the students who enrolled in the program passed examination, and can work as LPNs. In 2001 the rate was 91.7 percent and in this last class (2002), 12 of the 20 graduates have taken the exam, and so far 100 percent have passed. The maximum amount of students that the board allows is 20, but right now we have 160 applicants who want to participate in our program."
Hill gave credit to local hospitals and nursing homes for the success of the CRTI nursing program. "Without them, we could not run our program successfully. Whenever we need to demonstrate a skill and do not have a large piece of equipment, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City will let us bring the students in and use their equipment. We are also fortunate to be able to do clinical rotations at Crossridge Community Hospital, Crittenden Memorial Hospital; the Crestpark and Wynwood nursing homes; and numerous doctors offices in the surrounding area."
Anyone interested in applying for the program for next year, may attend an orientation session on Monday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. The session will be held in the nursing lab on the CRTI campus. Faculty, including Hill, will be present to answer questions and present information about the program.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
St. Francis County Election Commissioners voted unanimously to certify the results of last week's school elections in each of the county's three school districts.
By a three-to-zero margin, commissioners voted to certify the election which saw Dr. Wayne Jones hold onto his seat on the Forrest City School Board with a 732-to-650 win over Pat Flanagin. Randall Holman was elected to the Palestine-Wheatley School Board by a 34-to-15 vote, and Melinda Patrick and Charles Smith were each elected to the Hughes School Board.
Voters in the Forrest City and Hughes school districts also agreed to millage increases of 1.5 mills and .73 mills, respectively.
According to Election Commission Chairman Joe Young, Tuesday's election went well.
"The election really was wonderfully smooth. Out at the Civic Center, everything went perfectly, and it was that way at most of our polling places. The schools were easy to work with, and everything really went well," said Young. "We did have to print some ballots over in Hughes, but I called the state and they told me what we needed to do and okayed everything."
According to Young, 50 ballots were printed, and 27 were used. The remaining unmarked ballots were destroyed.
One problem did arise for commissioners, after questions came from a parishioner at Forrest Chapel Church which served as the polling location for the Newcastle-Parrott community.
According to Young, questions over the use of the church's fellowship hall began prior to the election and commissioners agreed to find a new location for future elections.
"It's really a shame because we've used that church for close to 20 years and it's in a pretty good location for the people out in that area," said commissioner Bettye Proctor.
The rodeo will ride once again in St. Francis County at the Wiley T. Jones Fairgrounds this weekend to benefit local schools.
The International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA) of Oklahoma will be at the fairgrounds on Friday, Sept. 26, and Saturday, Sept. 27. The events each night will begin at 8 p.m., but gates will open at 6 p.m.
Among those expected to compete will be Bubba Rhea of Forrest City and his wife, Sherry Lynn. Sherry Lynn is a barrel racer and Bubba is a four-time qualifier for the International Finals Rodeo. Two-time IPRA bull riding world champion Blaine Whipp may also make an appearance. Whipp won IPRA world titles in 2000 and 2001. He is currently ranked number two among IPRA bull riders. The clown act this year will feature Wild Bill from Tennessee.
On Thursday, Sept. 25, the Miracle Rodeo will be held at 6:30 p.m. At the event, Saddle Club members and some rodeo cowboys will entertain handicapped individuals. They will also help supervise horse rides for those who are able.
The performance rodeos will begin each night at 8 p.m. There will be seven events featured. They are: Bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, calf roping, barrel racing and bull riding. Local riders will be accepted. Books opened for local riders at 8 a.m. today. Please call the IPRA's Central Entry System at 1800-639-9002 to enter.
For advance tickets for the event, stop by Steve Jones Chevrolet, Honda of Forrest City, Manley Printing or any Saddle Club member. Part of the proceeds from the rodeo will go towards local schools. For more information about the IPRA, visit their website at www.iprarodeo.com.
Forrest City High School students that are interested in continuing their education after graduation will get an opportunity to do some shopping around at the FCHS annual College Night.
College Night will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 5 to 7 p.m., on the FCHS campus. According to a release, many colleges and universities from Arkansas and the surrounding states will be on hand at the program to answer questions that students or parents may have.
The program is geared towards seniors, but juniors and sophomores are also encouraged to attend as are the parents of the students.
Two Forrest City residents and the mayor of Caldwell were named to state commissions last week.
According to a press release from Gov. Mike Huckabee's office, Constance McDaniel of Forrest City was named to the newly formed Teacher Assistance Resource Commission. McDaniel, a partner in McDaniel Farms, will serve until June 30, 2005. Also last week, Peggy Wright of Forrest City was appointed to the Delta Cultural Center Policy Advisory Board, where she will replace Stephen Recken. Wright currently serves as director of the Delta Studies Center at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. She will serve until Oct. 1, 2005
Caldwell Mayor Gary Hughes was reappointed to the Home Health Care Service Agency Advisory Council. He will serve a three year term which will end in June of 2006. Hughes also serves as administrator with Baptist Home Care and Hospice in Forrest City.
A man spent the early morning hours in the hospital on Saturday after being stabbed several times with a steak knife.
According to the Forrest City Police Department, at about 2:39 a.m. on Saturday, Earl Sykes, 45, of 409 Wolf Street, walked into police headquarters with his head covered in blood. Officers administered first aid while waiting for an ambulance, it was reported.
Sykes was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City. He told officers that he had been stabbed by a woman at Walker Apartments. When asked why she stabbed him, he reportedly stated that she was mad at him, but would not give a reason.
The woman, Shirley McGaughy-Webb, 43, was questioned but no arrest was made.
Sykes was released from the hospital at about 6 a.m., and was advised to come to the police department if he wished to press charges. No charges had been filed as of press time.
A Wynne man died after apparently failing to negotiate a turn on a Forrest City road Saturday.
According to a report at the Forrest City Police Department, Rito Lopez, 40, of Wynne, was driving a 1994 Ford pickup north on Dawson Road at about 10:20 a.m. As the pickup approached the curve, which crosses the railroad tracks and connects with Deaderick Road, Lopez kept going straight.
According to the report, the pickup struck a directional sign and went airborne, landing in a ditch.
Lopez was pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.