Nurse George Bullard has a ready reply when patients at Munson Medical Center tell him fear of falling makes them reluctant to get out of bed and move around, a standard pre-release recommendation.
“ ‘You’re a piece of cake. You’re not going to fall,’ ” said Bullard, a 2013 graduate of NMC’s nursing program and, most recently, qualifier for 2017 U.S. Strongman national competition.
The muscles and tattoos beneath Bullard’s scrubs initially belie his profession. But he says patients love hearing stories and seeing pictures of his competitive weightlifting life outside the hospital. And their roads to recovery and his own in the gym actually run parallel.
“It’s all about achieving goals,” said Bullard, 30. Patients have the goal of getting better, and he helps them achieve it. In doing so Bullard earned an achievement himself earlier this year, winning the Daisy Award, a national award for nurses who provide extraordinary, compassionate and skilled care.
At Munson Bullard is also a preceptor — teacher — for both nursing students and newly hired nurses. They shadow him to get a better understanding of how the general medical floor works.
“The biggest thing we have to teach them is how to advocate for the patients,” he said.
In the case for which he received the Daisy Award, Bullard argued against a physician’s discharge recommendation, believing the patient wasn’t strong enough yet. The doctor agreed to a walk test. The patient didn’t fall, but did become short of breath and his oxygen level dropped. Subsequent tests revealed two liters of fluid on the man’s lung. Had he been released, Bullard said, he could have drowned.
“It’s one of the biggest roles we have as a nurse,” Bullard said of the advocacy role. “Sometimes, I spend more time with the patient than the family does.”
Bullard’s floor at Munson sees the most patients with the most varied conditions of the entire hospital. He says his NMC education equipped him well for the challenge.
“I had such a variety when I was a student. I was confident when I got there,” said Bullard, a Flint native who was drawn to a nursing career after moving up north to take care of his aging grandmother.
Next year, in addition to training for the national strongman competition, Bullard plans to advance his career by enrolling in Ferris State University’s BSN program at the University Center. He ultimately hopes to become a nurse practitioner.
The City of Traverse City will be closing part of East Front Street off Munson Avenue between the main entrance to NMC’s main campus and the Hawk’s Nest for road construction several times during the next few weeks. A detour will be available via Indian Woods Drive, east of the road closure.
The planned closure dates are:
Thursday, September 29
Friday, September 30
Tuesday, October 4
Friday, October 14
Please note these dates are subject to change depending on the weather. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Grand Valley State University — Traverse City Campus
NMC University Center Building Room 09
Learn how you can pursue a degree in primary care and how to make money to pay for your degree. The presentation will focus on how students can get money for loans by putting their skills and abilities to work in communities in need. Topics to be discussed will include the National Health Service Corps and the Michigan State Loan Repayment program.
October 20, 12:15-1 p.m. Location: Founder’s Hall, room 110
The Passport Student Lecture Series is a chance to explore other cultures through the experiences of NMC international students. Bring your lunch and hear Jettarin (Jay) and Jitpanu (Joe) Issaravanich speak about their home country of Thailand.
If you are a Global Endorsement student, please bring your GE passport so that it can be stamped and earn your GE event points!
The next phase of MAP (MyAcademicPlan) is here! Faculty advisors will now be able to use Plans, the digital degree planning tool. Accessed from the MAP portal, Plans will allow Faculty advisors to create a semester-by-semester plan with student advisees, helping them see the pathway to degree completion.
If you missed your department area training and the drop-in training, we recommend attending a session on Plans during the October 18 Professional Development day. If you have questions or would like to schedule an additional area training session, please contact Kim Schultz in the Advising Center or Lisa Wilmeth in Records & Registration.
Over 30 university representatives will be on NMC’s campus on Tuesday, October 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to talk with students, staff and faculty about their programs and the transfer process. The university representatives will be in two locations:
Health & Science Building Lobby – Main Level
West Hall Lobby – Main Level
This is your opportunity to discuss transfer requirements and get information on degrees available at a variety of schools without having to travel to each university. Bring your questions and explore your options! A list of colleges attending and a list of questions to ask at a transfer fair is available here.
Let the NMC Green Team point you in the right direction! The last hazardous waste drop-off event of 2016 is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1.
Read more, courtesy of RecycleSmart, the Resource Recovery program of Grand Traverse County:
Last Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event for 2016:
Saturday October 1st
Are you a household that has hazardous waste in need of disposal?
Appointments are required and can be made by calling 231-941-5555.
Are you a business, school, church or other organization that has hazardous waste in need of disposal?
Verify that you meet the “Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator” (CESQG) conditions by clicking here.
Advanced registration is required by TELEPHONE only.
CESQGs are required to register for an appointment via telephone by calling 231-941-5555. Please do NOT use the online appointment system as that is for residential appointments only.
Submit the CESQG form 5 days PRIOR to event.
The CESQG form is required to be submitted no less than 5 business days prior to the event. This allows the hazardous waste company to be properly prepared to accommodate the type and quantity of material on the day of the event. CESQGs who do not submit forms at least 5 days in advance of the event are at risk of being turned away.
Kudos to Stephen Drake- He went above and beyond in helping me understand concepts in college algebra. I previously had thought there was no way I would ever pass the class (having taken and dropped it TWICE at a different school), but Drake’s patience and knowledge has proven me wrong. He is without a doubt one of the best teachers I have had.
Kudos to Steve Dixon- Steve works many hours in the Fitness Center as he continues his undergraduate work. He is fully self-supporting and exhibits an extremely positive attitude and approach to everyone he encounters in the Fitness Center and all of the tasks required of him.
I began using the Fitness Center just over a year ago, a first for me (and I am now in my mid-60’s). Steve’s presence is always welcoming and encouraging, no matter what age or level of fitness exhibited. Using him as personal trainer this past summer assisted me in becoming more dedicated to my own goal of strengthening and enhancing my fitness as I move into my aging years.
Never judgmental, ALWAYS positive & encouraging, no matter how often I showed up or how intensively I worked … has provided me with an environment where I feel that whatever I do is good and beneficial.
Kudos to Tina Ulrich- I am an NMC faculty member and a board member of MI Writers. On 9/17, NW Cinematic Storytellers and MI Writers hosted an all-day Screenwriting Seminar at NMC.
Numerous scholarships were given to students, community members and military veterans.
Tina created a multi-page bibliography of the Osterlin writing/film collection (which was put in registrant packets)and created a specific display table in the library of some of those resources. There was even a large sign welcoming MI Writers! The registrants; which included our students, community members and folks from as far away as Chicago were delighted by Tina’s efforts. One registrant from Ann Arbor told me “How thoughtful and helpful your library staff is! It’s these little touches that are both welcoming and say everything about a place.”
Kudos to Scott Goethals- I interview a lot of people who have been through NMC’s IT program. Every single person raves about what an outstanding instructor Scott Goethals is. His courses are tough, so I think that says a lot. He earns their trust and invests in their growth. These former students say all their instructors were good, but Scott was GREAT. The graduates come out of that program very well prepared for a career in computer network administration and technical support. It takes someone willing to go “above and beyond” to stay current with an IT curriculum. Lastly, his collaboration with our company, both on curriculum and placement of qualified candidates, has been invaluable. Kudos to Scott!
Kudos to all of those involved in planning the College-Wide Picnic on August 19! The event was an outstanding success thanks to the enthusiastic support from the following people and departments:
– Roy Bartle, Robert Scott, & the Sodexo catering staff
– Paul Perry, Linda Glaesmer & the Facilities staff
– Kyle Morrison, Educational Media Technologies
Kudos to Sam Foster, Steve Dix, Dan Wasson, Zeb McCauley, Jeff Send, & others that helped from facilities- The dental assistant department recently acquired new digital x-ray equipment & everyone that was mentioned helped to facilitate the steps needed prior to installation & helped during the install.
Thank you for all you do!!!
Kudos to NMC Communications instructor, Teresa Scollon, related to the September 16 Record Eagle article: Reinvented program takes shape at TBAISD Career Tech Center. Teresa is co-leader of a writing program Front Street Writers, a course that teaches writing as a craft and leads students through several writing styles. Her students will gain the opportunity to meet and learn from working writers.
Kudos to Laura Schmidt- Congratulations to Laura Schmidt for her nomination to the OADN (Organization of Associate Degree Nursing)Board of Directors.
National Coffee Day is Thursday, September 29! Stop by the bookstore in the lower level of West Hall on NMC’s main campus September 27-30 for 20% off all coffee mugs and travel mugs!
The road less traveled may be fraught with danger, but its journey offers endless possibilities. This semester, NMC Magazine delves into its latest theme: Adventure! Send in your stories, poems, essays, artwork, photographs, or other designs by Monday, October 24.
Bring hard copies to the Communications Office, Scholars Hall 214, Attn: Alissia Lingaur -OR- to the Humanities Office, Fine Arts Building, Attn: Caroline Schaefer-Hills. Email submissions to nmcmag@mail.nmc.edu.
Osterlin Library, the League of Women Voters of the Grand Traverse Area, and the League of Women Voters of Leelanau County are cooperating to offer voter registration and provide voter information on NMC’s campus on National Voter Registration Day, Tuesday September 27th. Volunteers will be in the library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday the 27th and Wednesday the 28th, as well as at the Parsons-Stulen Building on NMC’s Aero Park Campus on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to Noon.
Volunteers will assist people in completing voter registration forms, and will submit them to the county clerk’s office. They can also help people find out whether they’re registered to vote, where they should vote, and what candidates and issues will be on the ballot.
Thank you all for everything you do in pursuit of “Keeping Learning at the Center.”
Notable Accomplishments provided by Faculty and Staff
This section recognizes the good work being done and linkages to the Strategic Directions (SD) and Institutional Effectiveness Criteria (IE) are provided where possible.(more…)
The library has purchased many new books so far this new year. You can view a handful here along with partial descriptions or go here to see the full listing. These books are on display in the library’s lobby.
The Advising Center is available to help students who are undecided about their career or major! Career counseling involves helping a student explore their interests, values, abilities, personality to find a best fit career or major area. Refer students to us for assistance with the career decision-making process! 5-1040 or advising@nmc.edu
Panelists including NMC faculty and students will discuss “Building a Culture of Peace” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, in Scholars Hall 109.
The discussion is part of International Day of Peace, commemorated Sept. 21, and is organized in part by the NMC International Student Club and local Veterans for Peace chapter.
Nurse George Bullard has a ready reply when patients at Munson Medical Center tell him fear of falling makes them reluctant to get out of bed and move around, a standard pre-release recommendation.
Monday, October 3, 2016, Noon to 1 p.m.
Over 30 university representatives will be on NMC’s campus on Tuesday, October 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to talk with students, staff and faculty about their programs and the transfer process. The university representatives will be in two locations:
National Coffee Day is Thursday, September 29! Stop by the bookstore in the lower level of West Hall on NMC’s main campus September 27-30 for 20% off all coffee mugs and travel mugs!
Osterlin Library, the League of Women Voters of the Grand Traverse Area, and the League of Women Voters of Leelanau County are cooperating to offer voter registration and provide voter information on NMC’s campus on National Voter Registration Day, Tuesday September 27th. Volunteers will be in the library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday the 27th and Wednesday the 28th, as well as at the Parsons-Stulen Building on NMC’s Aero Park Campus on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to Noon.
The Advising Center is available to help students who are undecided about their career or major! Career counseling involves helping a student explore their interests, values, abilities, personality to find a best fit career or major area. Refer students to us for assistance with the career decision-making process! 5-1040 or 
Please join us in welcoming these new additions to our NMC staff!