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ENMU-Ruidoso Recognizes Nursing Students at Pinning Ceremony

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Ruidoso, NM

ENMU-Ruidoso Branch Community College recognized 10 nursing assistant students Friday, Oct. 7. The students were pinned and presented with nursing assistant certificates (CNA) of occupational training.

At the ceremony Director of Career and Technical Education John Rucker welcomed the audience with opening remarks. Larry Lewis of the Mescalero Care Center was the guest speaker. CNA Instructor JoAnn Wolfe recognized the nursing students, and the class was presented for pinning. Pinning a graduating nursing assistant student symbolizes their initiation into the nursing profession and marks the completion of the CNA training.

The graduates and their hometowns include; Alamogordo: Kylea Walker, Jessica Pino; Alto: Billy Casey Meeks; Capitan: Jasmine Kennedy; Mescalero: Tyler Hiles, Caydence Palmer; Ruidoso: Katlynn McSwane; Ruidoso Downs: Hannah Hulett, Carlos Nava, Allie Ordorica.

The certificate of occupational training in nurse assistant is designed to prepare students to successfully sit for the state nurse assistant certification examination. This program is designed to educate students in physical, emotional, and spiritual assessment of residents’ needs and concerns. Students receive training and practice in all state required resident care skills in the classroom lab as well as in several community settings. Students learn resident rights as well as the laws that protect those rights. Understanding of the role of the nurse assistant within the legal scope of practice is an expected outcome of this program.

ENMU-Ruidoso also offers a 34-credit hour pre-nursing certificate which provides students with coursework identified by the New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium (NMNEC) as the common statewide prerequisites and general education courses for a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN). Students who complete this certificate can transfer to any state funded NMNEC New Mexico Community College or University and apply for admission into their associate degree nursing (ADN) program.

To learn more about ENMU-Ruidoso’s nursing programs, visit https://ruidoso.enmu.edu/academics/associate/pre-nursing-student-nurse-assistant/, or call 575-315-1120.

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Why are gun locks important?

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Homepage

“Project ChildSafe is a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation to promote firearms safety and education. We are committed to promoting genuine firearms safety through the distribution of safety education messages and free firearm safety kits to communities across the U.S.”

  • Download a digital brochure
  • Guide for Parents
  • Firearm Safety Assessment
  • And more! Click the link above to learn more details.

Parents/Guardians can get FREE Gun Locks at the Conservation Office and Conservation Officers will have them on-hand also!

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Mescalero IHS is offering the NEW COVID-19 booster

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Mescalero Indian Health Service is offering the NEW bivalent COVID-19 booster:

  • Everyone ages 12 years and older should receive 1 bivalent mRNA booster after completion of a COVID-19 vaccine primary series; it replaces ALL prior booster recommendations for this age group.
  • A bivalent Moderna booster dose is recommended in people ages 18 years and older
  • A bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose is recommended in people ages 12 years and older
  • Bivalent boosters should be spaced from other primary or booster doses by 2 months
  • Side effects are similar to original doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which are commonly mild to moderate and may include fatigue, headache, muscle aches, chills, fever or pain, redness or swelling at the injection site for 1 to 2 days after vaccination.
  • COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time as influenza vaccine, or any other routine vaccines.

We are going to start administering the bivalent boosters and influenza (flu) vaccines the first week of October.

The schedule for the first half of Oct is as follows:

  • 10/3-Pfizer 12 years only
  • 10/4-Moderna only
  • 10/5- 6 months-4 years afternoon only
  • 10/6-Moderna only
  • 10/7-Pfizer 5 years and older only
  • 10/11-Moderna only
  • 10/12-6 months-4 years afternoon only
  • 10/13-Pfizer 12 years only
  • 10/14-Moderna only

Patients looking to complete an influenza (flu) vaccine can be scheduled on any of the days above.

Call our front desk via our main number, 464-4441, to get scheduled for the new COVID bivalent booster &/or this fall/winter’s flu vaccine.

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VA opens health care eligibility for Vietnam, Gulf War, post-9/11 Veterans under PACT Act

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WASHINGTON — On Oct. 1, The Department of Veterans Affairs will expand and extend eligibility for VA health care for certain Veterans of the Vietnam War, Gulf Wars and post-9/11 era under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. This expansion increases health care eligibility for generations of toxic-exposed Veterans, giving them access to the health care they’ve earned and deserve.

President Biden signed the bipartisan PACT Act into law August 10, authorizing one of the largest expansions of VA health care and benefits in U.S. history. Veterans can go to VA.gov/PACT to apply for health care or learn more about what this bill means for them and their families.

“This expansion will bring generations of new Veterans into VA health care, and increase the health care benefits of many more, which will result in the one outcome that matters most: better health outcomes for Veterans,” said Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “I highly encourage these Veterans to apply now for the health care they’ve earned and deserve.”

Beginning on Oct. 1, Post-9/11 Veterans who did not previously enroll in VA health care will have a 1-year window to enroll if they:

  • Served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War, or
  • Served in a combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after Nov. 11, 1998, and
  • Were discharged or released from active service between Sept. 11, 2001, and Oct. 1, 2013.

Also on Oct. 1, the following groups of Veterans will be eligible for care:

  • Gulf War Veterans who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War. This includes Veterans who, in connection with service during such period, received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Service Specific Expeditionary Medal, Combat Era Specific Expeditionary Medal, Campaign Specific Medal, or any other combat theater award established by federal statute or executive order.
  • Vietnam-era Veterans who served in the following locations and time periods: The Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975; Thailand at any U.S. or Royal Thai base between Jan. 9, 1962, and June 30, 1976; Laos between Dec. 1, 1965, and Sept. 30, 1969; Certain provinces in Cambodia between April 16, 1969, and April 30, 1969; Guam or American Samoa (or their territorial waters) between Jan. 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980; Johnston Atoll (or on a ship that called there) between Jan. 1, 1972, and Sept. 30, 1977. 

While the expansion of PACT Act-related health care eligibility is staggered over the coming years, VA has made all conditions outlined in the PACT Act presumptive for benefits as of August 10, the day President Biden signed the bill into law. Eligible Veterans and survivors are encouraged to apply for those benefits now at VA.gov/PACT.

More information about VA’s implementation of the PACT Act can be found in this fact sheet.

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