Massage, it conjures up all kinds of mental pictures.  A dark room with soothing music, an athlete getting worked on, and, unfortunately, the completely unrealistic way Hollywood portrays massage.  I teach massage because the world needs great massage therapists.  Yes, I said need.  I’m fond of saying that there are 2 kinds of people in the world; those that need massage and those that REALLY need massage.  Science is confirming more and more that one of the reasons (a really big one I think) that our health problems are getting so bad is because of stress.  The 3 main types of stress are emotional, mental, and physical.  Exercise goes a long way in alleviating the first two of those, but is, in and of itself, a physical stress. 

So what helps alleviate physical stress?  Why, massage of course.  The added benefit is that is also helps to alleviate mental and emotional stress.  That being said, massage is like all careers.  Some people are very skilled and talented, and some just aren’t.  It’s important to find a massage therapist who makes you feel better for days afterwards, not just hours.  And that you find your physical problems getting less and less painful.  A great massage can change the way you see yourself and your world for the better.  And I think everyone needs that every once in awhile.

The Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Surgical

Technology includes this description of the profession of surgical technology:

Surgical technologists are allied health professionals, who are an integral part of the team

of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients in a variety of settings.

Surgical technologists work under medical supervision to facilitate the safe and effective

conduct of invasive surgical procedures. Surgical technologists work under the

supervision of a surgeon to ensure that the operating room or environment is safe, that

equipment functions properly, and that the operative procedure is conducted under

conditions that maximize patient safety. Surgical technologists possesses expertise in the

theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique and combines the knowledge of

human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation tools and technologies to

It’s that time of year again…

Not every cough, flu or cold needs to be treated with antibiotics.  Antibiotics are used for the treatment of bacterial infections.  The common cold is caused by a virus and antibiotics have no effect on viruses.  Consumers’ overuse of antibiotics has serious effects, such as creating resistant strains of bacteria—and according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), antibiotic resistance is one of the worlds’ most pressing public health problems.  In addition, taking antibiotics when you don’t need will not help you feel better sooner plus you risk the possible side effects of the medication.

What can you do?

·         Do not expect or demand an antibiotic for what is diagnosed as a virus

·         If you are prescribed antibiotics, take the full dose for the length of time prescribed—even if you begin to feel better

·         Do not save antibiotic for the “next time”

·         Do not self-diagnose the need for antibiotic and take anybody else’s leftover prescription

Medical Office Assistant Coordinator

Moorhead Campus

Hmmm….  What should I write about? How lucky we are and how thankful we should be, sounds good to me.

 As the days get colder I think back to one weekend I spent this last October without food and shelter and wonder to myself would I do it again, especially now with the temps dipping below the 32 degree mark.

The event was Homeless and Hungry. As the youth director at the First Lutheran Church of Fargo, Eric Hatch wanted to raise the awareness of the problem of homelessness in the area. A few years ago starting out with some of the members of the youth group he directed, and their parents this event has grown to 700 strong with various participating churches.

The weekend consisted of a thirty hour fast for the hungry part, and building a shelter out of a refrigerator size cardboard box to spend the night in to represent the homeless part of the event. For me the weekend started on a Saturday morning with approximately 200 other people of various ages taping and painting what we would call home for the night. There were getting to know your neighbor games and a door to door food drive. I will never forget the one house; she answered the door with oxygen in hand and must have been one hundred years old.  After telling her who we were and that we were collecting food for the local food pantries she smiled and said, “I would love to help but I am too weak to get the cans.” Yikes.   Then of course an evening of musical prayer, and quiet time by the barrel fires. Finally after a long day, bedtime.  Then the rain came. With “houses” collapsing around me it soon became difficult to sleep. As the daylight came the rain finally stopped, cold and wet we had a lovely worship with the first Lutheran congregation. The rest of the day was spent at various shelters in the community and making fleece blankets for the area homeless.

I must say that it was quite an experience. But back to my original thoughts. I was lucky because for my night out in the cold I was allowed a sleeping bag and we were allowed water and hot chocolate and cider through the night and orange juice in the morning. I am so very thankful that I have a warm, dry bed to sleep in every night.

So this holiday season when you see the bell ringers or someone comes to your door asking for donations, please open your hearts and give.

Be thankful that you are not one of the 700, which was the number of homeless in the Fargo- Moorhead area on that cold wet night in October.

All my best,

Lisa Jorgenson RN, BSN

Medical Office Assistant Coordinator

Moorhead Campus