WATCH Project newsletter for participants

1. WATCH works
Work Attributes Toward Careers in Health
For participants of CSIU WATCH Project SPRING 2012
My Story: WATCH gives tools needed to succeed
“My name is Kim Campbell. I am 20 years My mentor Kim Eroh suggested the WATCH
old and I have a fiancée and a 20-month-old program to me and said it could help me with
daughter named Lily. I graduated high school CNA classes.
when I was eight months pregnant. My fiancée
“I contacted WATCH in July 2011 and began
and I have been together for four years.
taking CNA classes the next month through
“My parents divorced when I was Harrisburg Area Community College
six months old. My mother was a at The Emmanuel Center in Danville.
drug addict and an alcoholic. Even “WATCH gave I graduated in September 2011 and
though my mother had five children me the tools passed my exam in November to become
(with different fathers), she did not that I needed a Certified Nursing Assistant!
have custody of any of her children. I
to succeed.” “I started my full-time job as a CNA at
lived with my father and my paternal
Geisinger Medical Center in January
grandparents until I was 14 years old.
2012. I work with patients who have had
I was very close with my grandmother
head injuries and also with patients who are recovering
and she became my ‘mom.’ At 14, I moved with my
from surgery. Now I have a stable, better paying job
father, my stepmother and her daughters to another
where I can give my family what we need. And at
home, away from my grandparents’ house.
Geisinger, I can advance in more opportunities to make
“When I was 18 years old, I decided to move back to my pay even better.
my grandparents’ home. After living there one month,
“WATCH gave me the tools that I needed to succeed.
I found out that I was pregnant and enrolled in the
Because of this, we are able to buy our very first house
CSIU’s Project ELECT, a teen parenting program. Kim
and we are planning to get married next year.”
Eroh from ELECT was a big help to me during that
time. One month before my daughter was born, my By Kim Campbell, Bloomsburg
fiancée and I moved into our own apartment through a Harrisburg Area Community College, CNA Program
referral from Nurse Family Partnership.
“My Nurse Family Partnership nurse, Donna, told me in this issue
about some job opportunities at Bloomsburg Hospital.
While interviewing for a job, I was told about another Skills employers are looking for.............2
position in a doctor’s office as a file clerk. I was hired WATCH participants honored ..............2
for a position with Dr. Kathy Baylor who suggested Congratulations, graduates!................3
that a CNA license would be helpful in the office. Time management tips.........................4

2. What skills are employers looking for?
Having the knowledge and skills to perform In a recent interview, Dan McGann, director
a nursing or emergency medical services job of human resources at SUN Home Health and
correctly is, of course, a priority for anyone looking Hospice, explained the need for employees with
for work in these healthcare careers. However, effective soft skills and workplace habits:
employers are reporting that one of their biggest
“The challenge still lies with finding quality
hiring challenges is finding skilled workers who
candidates who possess not only the correct
also possess important “soft” and workplace skills.
technical skills but also have the right work ethic.
“Soft skills” is a term often used to describe Many employers have experienced individuals who
personal attitudes and work habits that lead to have all the right skills, look great on paper and
success in any job. Examples include: successfully complete their training...and then feel
• interpersonal or • communication they don’t have to come to work, or don’t have
“people” skills (speaking, listening, to be on time. Fortunately, there are few of these
and writing) individuals yet one of them who doesn’t work out
• team work
costs the organization time and money and puts a
• accepting feedback • critical thinking
burden on other staff members.”
These skills are extremely important in jobs where
Contact your WATCH Career Coordinator to learn
employees are tasked with providing quality
how you can develop the skills that employers are
services to vulnerable individuals like the injured,
looking for.
or to hospital patients and residents of long-term
care facilities.
WATCH participants receive special recognition
Two recent WATCH graduates received awards at Another WATCH participant was recently recognized
their recent commencement activities. by her employer for providing exceptional customer
service.
Lindsey Schell, Elysburg, received the Thomas
Jefferson University School of Nursing’s Critical Sandra Andrus, Lock Haven, received two
Care Nursing Award and Medicine Nursing Award. awards through Susquehanna Health System’s
She was also chosen as a student speaker for employee recognition program. She received an
graduation ceremonies and was a co-creator of Initiative Award for consistently volunteering to fill
“Student Reflections,” a slideshow that was shown open staffing needs and for taking the initiative to
during commencement. Lindsay achieved a 4.0 assist others. Sandra also received a Customer
GPA while enrolled in the program. Satisfaction Award because she was specifically
named in customer comments or satisfaction
Tess Schreffler, Aaronsburg, was the recipient
surveys and has gone above and beyond to
of the Acute Care Nursing Excellence Award at
provide great customer service. One of her patients
Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and
described her as “always looking to see what needs
Technology’s LPN graduation.
to be done,” “recognizing needs even before being
Tina Watkins, Williamsport, received Pennsylvania asked,” “being very pleasant and kind,” and “being
College of Technology’s 2012 Academic Honors an excellent nurse.”
Award in Nursing. Tina graduated in May 2012 from
PCT’s RN program.
WATCH works 2

3. Congratulations to recent graduates!
Amanda Zimmerman, Lewistown Pictured is Danielle Graduates from Pennsylvania College of Lucinda Bradford,
(left), and Jamie Perkinson, Batchler of Williamsport, Technology’s RN program are (from L to R): Spring Mills,
Middleburg, graduated from a graduate of HACC’s Andrea Valentine, Mifflinburg; Tina Watkins, graduated from
HACC’s CNA program. CNA program. Williamsport; Cassandra Leroy, Bloomsburg; CPI’s CNA
and Emily Wilson, Lewistown. program.
Pictured above are graduates of Thomas Jefferson Graduates from Mifflin Juniata Career and Technology Center’s
University School of Nursing’s RN program (from L to R): LPN program are (from L to R): Lori Schmidt, Lewistown; Ashley
Nicole Homicz, Mount Carmel; Lindsey Schell, Elysburg; Murphy, Lewistown; Justina Marker-Shotzberger, Lewistown;
Thilza Cordova-Martinez, Danville; Christine Showers, Jennifer Milliken, Lewistown; Hilary Vogt, Lewistown; and Alan
Winfield; and Dawn Kitchens, Port Treverton. Doebler, Burnham.
Congratulations to the following WATCH Project participants (not pictured) who recently graduated from nursing
programs at several regional educational institutions.
Bloomsburg University Harrisburg Area Community College
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (HACC)
Certified Nursing Assistant Program
Jamie Miller, Sunbury
Amy Whitenight, Bloomsburg Amanda Fitzwater, Williamsport
Fionna Fox, Williamsport
central Pennsylvania institute of Terra Gaul, Sunbury
science and Technology (CPI) Angie Hamilton, Williamsport
Licensed Practical Nursing Program Ashley Neidig, Sunbury
Andrea Fisher, Mill Hall Patricia Thomas, Hughesville
Jessica Mayes, Bellefonte Morgan Traver, Bloomsburg
Kelie Nash, State College Rashida Victor, Williamsport
Chelsie Packer, Renovo
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Tess Schreffler, Aaronsburg
Antonio Slaterback, Loganton Registered Nursing Program
Heidi Sneath, Mill Hall Dana Gennaria, Mt. Pleasant Mills
Natalie Miller, Milton
WATCH works 3

4. Managing stress in a stress-filled world
Part III in a series featuring suggestions for reducing and controlling stress in our lives
In our last issue, we learned how and gather your equipment for the day, then you
identifying and focusing our time and should arrive in the parking lot no later than 7:40.
effort on priorities can help us manage If it takes 20 minutes to drive from home to work,
our time and reduce stress. Here are allow yourself an extra 10 minutes for traffic delays.
some other time management strategies That means you need to be in your car ready to go
that may help ensure a more relaxed by 7:10. If you have children to drop off at day care,
pace for the day. allow extra time for possible delays there as well.
First, give yourself plenty of time. Eliminate You can’t foresee every delay or disruption in your
those last minute races to work or to your next schedule, but you can anticipate a few and build in
appointment by scheduling more time than you extra time to remain more relaxed and less stressed
might usually need to get from one place to the throughout the day.
next. Plan to leave earlier for classes, work or
appointments to allow for unforeseen delays. This document was supported by Grant #90FX0011 from the
Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health
Do a little “backward planning.” For example,
& Human Services (HHS). Its contents are solely the responsibility
if your shift begins at 8, plan to be at your work of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views
station by 7:55. Now think backwards. If it takes of HHS. Work Attributes Toward Careers in Health (WATCH) is a
you 15 minutes to find a parking space, walk to Health Profession Opportunity Grant and is
your workstation, sign in, stash your belongings, administered by the Central Susquehanna
Intermediate Unit (CSIU).
WATCH works 4
Lewisburg, PA 17837
PO Box 213
WATCH Project