HAYS, Kan. (Oct 6, 2016) –Kari Kreger, RN, BSN recently earned Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) status after successfully completing the national CCRN exam administered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) the world’s largest specialty nursing organization.

The certification is awarded to critical care nurses who have passed a rigorous exam and meet eligibility requirements for hours of clinical practice.  Nurses who attain this status demonstrate a higher level of clinical knowledge, experience and skill and show a commitment on the part of the individual to patients, families, employers and colleagues.

Kreger works in the Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit at HaysMed and has been an associate of HaysMed since 2015

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HaysMed celebrates National Falls Prevention Awareness Day by supporting a ready, steady, and balanced lifestyle

Hays, KS (Sept. 13, 2016) – On September 22, HaysMed, along with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and its Falls Free® Coalition, will celebrate the 9^th annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day by helping support ready, steady, and balanced lifestyles.

“Older adults want to stay active, independent, and safe in their homes, but many worry about their risk of falling,” said Noelle Robinson, RN, BSN, Quality Specialist at HaysMed. “In fact, one in three Americans over the age of 65 falls every year. However, falling is not a normal part of aging. Every older adult has the power to prevent a fall.”

HaysMed will host a special FREE “Strong and Steady” class  at 10:00 am on September 22 at the Center for Health Improvement gym.  There will be door prizes and information on fall prevention.

The theme for this year is Ready, Steady, Balance: Prevent Falls in 2016. The theme highlights three goals that all older adults have the power to achieve:

1. Be ready: Education is the most important step to being ready to prevent a fall. Online and at thousands of community organizations, there are resources to help older adults understand their risk of falling. They also can enroll in evidence-based falls prevention programs to learn how to address their fear of falling and what they can do to sustain their strength.

2. Be steady: Older adults can be steady if they take simple steps to prevent falls. These include talking with a doctor about medications, getting hearing and vision checkups, and assessing living spaces for hazards. NCOA offers an award-winning video that provides 6 Steps to Prevent a Fall.

3. Be balanced: “Falls prevention is a team effort that takes a balance of education, preparation, and community support,” said Kathleen Cameron, Senior Director of NCOA’s National Falls Prevention Resource Center. “Falls Prevention Awareness Day is an opportunity to take a look at the world around us, be aware of falls hazards, and think about how we can make changes that will help our parents, grandparents, aging neighbors, and even ourselves safe from falls.”

For the first time this year, NCOA and its Falls Free® Coalition are encouraging supporters to wear a yellow ribbon to increase awareness of falls prevention. To find a state coalition, go to ncoa.org/Map and search for Falls Prevention Coalitions.

To find more falls prevention resources, go to ncoa.org/FallsPrevention.

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