Latest news with #LVN
USA Today
03-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Highlights from Packers Family Night: Omar Brown steals the show
The Green Bay Packers held their annual "Family Night" practice inside Lambeau Field on Saturday night. The announced attendance was just under 60,000, and Matt LaFleur's team worked for just over two hours on the field before a fireworks and laser show wrapped up the event. The defense mostly dominated the team periods, and an unheralded safety made the most plays. Here are the top highlights from Family Night: Omar Brown steals the show The second-year safety snagged three interceptions, giving him a team-high five picks during training camp. One was thrown directly to him during a red-zone period, and another came off a deflection, but Brown also made an impressive read and finish on a throw from rookie Taylor Elgersma to finish off the Family Night hat trick. Matt LaFleur stated the obvious: "He is making plays." Kalen King gets a pick Omar Brown wasn't the only one at the interception party. Kalen King jumped a throw from Malik Willis and made the pick in front of receiver Julian Hicks for the second-team defense. Sack for LVN vs. Morgan In a battle of first-round picks, Lukas Van Ness got the best of Jordan Morgan at left tackle. Jordan Love's night Jordan Love had a mostly quiet night overall, including a couple of deep misses and an interception thrown to Carrington Valentine. Justis Mosqueda of Acme Packing Company put together a reel of Love's throws on Saturday night: McManus stays red hot Veteran kicker Brandon McManus made all eight of his kicks during team periods, including three kicks over 50 yards. He is now 36-for-37 to start training camp. Matt LaFleur press conference
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A Legacy in Scrubs: Mother and daughter nurses carry generations of care in Odessa
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Mary Courtney didn't take the traditional path into nursing. At 41, with three school-aged kids at home, she made a life-altering decision: she was going back to school. 'I went back to nursing school at 41,' she said. 'The kids were school-aged, and I just decided it was time.' It wasn't easy. To attend Odessa College's LVN program, Mary commuted from Monahans every weekday, carpooling with other students, studying into the night, and often waking at 2 a.m. to study some more before class. Then came the after-school routine: dinner, homework, bedtime, and back to the books. 'They thought I was crazy,' she laughed. 'But they helped me through it.' That grueling year of sacrifice and commitment laid the foundation for a now 18-year career at Medical Center Hospital, where she serves as a charge nurse on the medical oncology unit. And today, just a few floors away, someone else is following in her footsteps, her daughter, Rachel Hamilton. Rachel didn't start her career in healthcare. Right after high school, she earned a degree in education, heavily influenced by what her friends were doing at the time. But the classroom didn't feel like home. Life happened. And eventually, like her mother, she found herself pulled toward nursing. 'I really like the sciences, and I was heavily influenced by my mom,' she said. 'My sister is also an RN. My brother-in-law too. There's a lot of medical in our family.' At 35, Rachel returned to school and earned a second bachelor's degree, this time in nursing. Though she occasionally wonders why she didn't do it sooner, she's found meaning in the path she chose. 'I wish I'd done it when I was younger,' Rachel said. 'But I think starting later brought a kind of clarity. It really made a big difference in how successful I've been.' Now, the two women, one an experienced charge nurse, the other a newly minted RN, lean on each other both professionally and emotionally. 'We can vent to each other, talk it out,' Mary said. 'We pick each other's brains. It helps more than people might realize.' 'She saves me all the time,' Rachel added. 'I'm a super emotional person. When I have my moments, I call her. She talks me off the ledge.' That closeness isn't just about shared shifts and similar schedules. It's about watching one another persevere. Rachel remembers what it was like seeing her mother go through nursing school while raising a family. 'She didn't sleep much,' Rachel said. 'We all thought she was a little bit cuckoo for going back. But she got through it. She showed us how to do hard things.' And recently, that full-circle journey came with a moment of recognition. Just a few months into her career, Rachel was named Medical Center Hospital's Daisy Award recipient for April. The award, given monthly to one nurse at the hospital, celebrates extraordinary compassion and care at the bedside. Rachel had been caring for an older gentleman when his family submitted the nomination. 'He was just a really sweet, older gentleman,' she said. 'I didn't feel like I did anything special. I just tried to be friendly and let them know they were being cared for.' But to his family, her presence was unforgettable. 'Rachel went well beyond everything,' the patient's daughter wrote. 'She had compassion for [my father] and why he was in the hospital. She listened to him. She would get down on his level and look him in his eyes. She communicated with him about everything she was doing to and for him.' Another family member added, 'Rachel exudes an air of compassion and comfort. She seemed to embrace my husband and me as family.' Even though Rachel felt unsure of her impact, the nomination reminded her that small, quiet moments matter. 'Just being thought of,' she said, 'it means so much.' Mary wasn't surprised. 'She has a great heart, and she loves the people she takes care of every day,' she said, visibly proud. 'This just confirms what we already knew.' For both women, nursing is more than a job. It's a way of living. 'Nursing is love,' Rachel said. 'It's a big warm hug when people need it most.' Mary agrees. 'You never know what's going to happen in life,' she said. 'So love hard, care deeply, and be present. That's what matters most.' Their family has now become what Rachel lovingly calls 'a medical dynasty,' with multiple nurses, a respiratory therapist, and a shared belief that care is both a skill and a calling. From the long nights at the kitchen table to the hospital halls, they now walk side by side. Mary and Rachel's story is a reminder of what's possible when compassion is passed down, not just through lectures or lessons, but by living it out loud. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A second chance, a first step: Inside Odessa College's Nursing Programs
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- At Odessa College, becoming a nurse doesn't just start with a stethoscope or scrubs. It begins with a choice…to begin again, or to begin at all. The college offers two distinct nursing programs designed to meet students where they are: the traditional Registered Nurse (RN) program and the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) program. Both tracks share the same mission: preparing compassionate, competent professionals for the West Texas healthcare system. 'The RN program here at Odessa College is unique in that we run it over a year and a half, instead of the traditional two years,' said Yesenia Walsh, RN Program Director. 'It gets our students into the workforce faster without sacrificing the rigor they need.' Rooted in compassion: New nurse and MCH leader reflect on the heart of healthcare Students in the RN program experience a broad variety of clinical settings, from the ICU to long-term care. Walsh says the college partners with hospitals throughout the region, including rural facilities, to ensure students understand a full spectrum of patient needs. 'What's really special is that most of the students who come through our doors are from this area. And when they graduate, they stay here. They're taking care of our families,' she said. For Silas Hernandez, a current Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) student, that mission is personal. He was just a kid when an emergency appendectomy first sparked his fascination with the medical field. WATCH: Sila's Story 'I remember feeling so scared, but the way the nurses explained things and made me feel safe, that stayed with me,' Hernandez said. 'Now I want to be that person for someone else.' Hernandez is halfway through the program, balancing courses, clinicals, and simulations designed to mirror real-world medical scenarios. One recent experience in the college's simulation lab stood out. 'They had the mannequins crash, and we had to jump into action, bag them, start CPR, figure out what was happening. It was intense,' he said. 'But that's exactly what we need. It prepares you.' While the RN program is geared toward those with prerequisites and longer-term goals, Odessa College's LVN program is designed for speed and accessibility. 'A person off the street can walk in, take their assessment, and apply for the LVN program,' said Keisha Rasband, LVN Program Director. 'No prerequisites required. It's truly entry-level, and it gets people working fast.' That accessibility is critical in rural West Texas, where facilities often rely on LVNs as a cornerstone of care. 'We're in places like Monahans, Crane, Seminole, and Pecos,' Rasband said. 'Without LVNs, we couldn't staff many of our healthcare facilities. They're the backbone.' The LVN program has also become a pipeline for high school students through Odessa College's dual-credit track. By the time they graduate, some students are already licensed and ready to enter the workforce. Together, both the RN and LVN programs are shaping more than just professionals, they're shaping neighbors, mentors, and community leaders. 'Seeing our students out in the hospitals, precepting the next class, it's a full-circle moment,' Walsh said. 'We know they're ready because we see what they become.' And for students like Hernandez, the goal is simple: care with intention. 'There's going to be hard days. But if I can show up for someone in their hardest moment and make them feel safe, that's what makes it worth it,' he said. For more on Odessa College's nursing programs and application info, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
02-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Man impersonated nurse to treat kids and disabled adults, Texas cops say
A man used a family member's identity to fraudulently obtain a nursing license he used to treat kids and disabled adults, Texas police said. Dazael Gloria, 33, is charged with three counts of practicing nursing with a fraudulent license, according to court documents filed on April 29. Texas police are looking to arrest him. Gloria's attorney information was not listed. The man used a relative's identity to get a vocational nursing license (LVN) in Houston and treat multiple patients in Texas in 2022 and 2023, according to the criminal complaint. Investigators said he was hired by two nursing agencies. He previously had an LVN but surrendered it in 2020, according to the complaint. Gloria was caring for a person who was nonverbal and wheelchair-bound for three months before he was caught abandoning the patient in October 2022, investigators said. The man said he abandoned the patient because he was 'assaulted while taking out the trash' and feared returning to the patient's residence, his former employer told police. In 2023, Gloria was hired to care for a 5-year-old child, still using the license obtained through a false identity, when he stole the patient's mother's credit cards and used them, according to the criminal complaint. Gloria had previously been convicted of theft in 2021, according to court documents. A warrant has been issued for Gloria's arrest.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
TSTC scholarship to help fill need for registered nurses
Feb. 7—SWEETWATER — The allied health industry is one of the most in-demand fields in today's Texas workforce. One area that has a bright outlook, according to is registered nursing. According to the website, Texas employs nearly 221,000 registered nurses but will need nearly 259,000 by 2030. To help fill that employment gap, Texas State Technical College is offering scholarships for the LVN to RN Transition Nursing Program in Sweetwater, according to Layla Bohall, the program's team lead there. TSTC is offering the scholarships through the Nursing Shortage Reduction Program (NSRP), which is administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The primary purpose of the NSRP is to enhance the capacity of nursing education programs in Texas to enroll, retain and graduate more nursing students, according to the coordinating board's website. Bohall said TSTC will offer scholarship funds for students who plan to enroll in the summer session. The application deadline for the summer session is March 28. "We are wanting to make sure hospitals and other allied health facilities have the best-trained nurses," Bohall said in a news release. "By providing scholarship funds, this will help those thinking about advancing from a vocational nurse to registered nurse financially easier." TSTC will provide $500 for every student accepted into the program and an additional $500 for students who reside within 80 miles of Sweetwater. "We know there are a lot of communities close to Sweetwater that have nurses looking to advance their careers," Bohall said. Graduates of TSTC's Vocational Nursing program over the past 10 years are also eligible for an additional $500. "With $1,500 in scholarship funds available, it is a good start to earning the degree," Bohall said. TSTC will host virtual information sessions about the program requirements and application process at 10 a.m. each Wednesday through March 19. A session will also be held on March 18. For more information about the information sessions, and application information, visit To learn more about TSTC, visit
