NICEVILLE — Northwest Florida State College's Associate in Nursing program has been awarded national accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

An evaluation team from ACEN visited the college in late January and recommended the program for national accreditation for five years. The ACEN Board of Commissioners met in July and made the final decision to award the accreditation through spring 2020.

“ACEN accreditation indicates that NWF State College’s associate degree nursing program meets national standards and guidelines for nursing education," said Director of Nursing Dr. Marty Walker. "The nursing faculty at NWF State College is an excellent example of dedicated and caring nurse educators. The program could not have been as successful without the entire NWF State College team and the community partners who work diligently to aid in the delivery of our quality nursing programs. We are and will continue to be committed to the delivery of quality nursing education.”

The college’s nursing education programs have maintained continuous accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since their inception. In addition, the RN to BSN program has been accredited since 2009 by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, went through reaccreditation in 2013-14, and was awarded an additional 10 years for continued accreditation until 2024.

The RN to BSN degree is available completely online with guided clinical experiences that can be completed in the student’s place of employment.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Northwest Florida State College associate nursing program earns national accreditation

Two of Florida’s independent, not-for-profit blood centers, OneBlood, Inc., and The Blood Alliance, Inc., have merged. 

The newly formed organization will distribute more than 1 million blood products annually, serve over 210 hospitals throughout most of Florida, parts of Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina and employ more than 2,400 people.

 In addition to mitigating cost to hospitals and patients, the merger is expected to bring additional operational efficiencies and further stabilize the blood supply, especially in times of natural disasters such as hurricanes and enhance donor outreach initiatives.

 OneBlood CEO, Don Doddridge, who began his blood banking career in Jacksonville, will lead the newly merged organization and an 11 member board of directors will provide oversight, governance and guidance.

 Integration of the two organizations will begin immediately.  In addition, The Blood Alliance will undergo a rebranding phase in the coming months and transition to the OneBlood brand. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida blood centers announce merger

OKALOOSA COUNTY — The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County received the Florida Breastfeeding Friendly Employer Award.

The award is given by the Florida Breastfeeding Coalition to recognize businesses who are providing support in the workplace to their breastfeeding employees.

DOH-Okaloosa received a Gold Level award, which is the highest designation.

“This award shows that DOH-Okaloosa is serious about being an example of how community employers can provide support to their working moms,” stated Dr. Karen Chapman, director of the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County. “I encourage all workplaces to strive towards being breastfeeding friendly, so we can make Okaloosa the friendliest community in the state for breastfeeding moms and their babies.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DOH-Okaloosa receives Breastfeeding Friendly Employer Award

CRESTVIEW — The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life Crestview chapter seeks sponsorship for its 2016 event.

See the complete sponsorship packet at http://bit.ly/1L01cdq.

Relay For Life is an annual fundraiser for cancer research. Cancer survivors and their supporters walk a track all night to remember the longest night a person will face: when he or she receives a cancer diagnosis.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Relay For Life Crestview chapter seeks sponsors

CRESTVIEW — Jeanne Robertson tours the country telling crowds funny stories about her life.

"One of the ways I enjoy life is I look for humor every day and I try to find it," the 71-year-old said.

Then, she shares it.

Her next stop is "Fit, Fierce and Fabulous! At Any Age," an Aug. 4 Healthy Woman dinner presented by North Okaloosa Medical Center.

Alicia Booker, Healthy Woman's program coordinator, said Robertson's presentation fits the event's theme.

"We wanted our attendees to have an evening of great information, great food and great entertainment," Booker said. "Jeanne Robertson fit the bill perfectly because she is certainly known as a great entertainer.

"Jeanne came highly recommended by one of our board of trustee members who had the opportunity to see her perform at another venue…"

Tickets already are sold out for the dinner, which begins at 6 p.m. at the Crestview Community Center.

LOOK FOR LIFE'S HUMOR

Having a sense of humor helps when difficult issues arise, Robertson said.

"Whether stressful situations occur or you have to make unpopular choices, if you can keep a sense of humor, it is a talent that lets us work with people every day," she said. "It keeps us fabulous; it keeps us fit."

Robertson said she recalled being at the airport once and learning, along with other travelers, the flight was delayed. She noticed, walking up to the gate, how tense everybody else was.

She knew it didn't have to be that way.

"I looked at them and they were angry, and I am just sitting here looking for somebody … saying something funny," Robertson said.

Instead of getting stressed, she wrote down anything she found hilarious about the delay.

That situation — and others over the past 52 years she has been a professional speaker — "reinforced that what I do is a great way to live your life," she said. "If you look for (humor amid chaos), you can find it."

'YOU CAN'T TAKE THEM WITH YOU'

Everyday chaos — like a routine trip to the grocery store gone awry — plays out in many of Robertson's speeches.

In an almost eight-minute clip on YouTube, Robertson tells the audience about the time she sent her husband, Jerry — whom she affectionately calls "Left Brain" — to the store for ingredients to make her go-to comfort food: a 7 Up pound cake.

He has master's and doctorate degrees, she says in the clip, but "I don't care how many pieces of paper you frame and put on the wall; if you have a left brain, it's gon' kick in on you — and it kicked in on him about the third aisle of that grocery store…"

She had numbered the list of items for Jerry to purchase, and his brain multiplied those by each ingredient's quantity, which gave way to hilarious results.

The third item was a dozen eggs; the fourth item, a tub of lard; fifth, 5 pounds of sugar; and sixth, 5 pounds of flour. So naturally he bought three dozen eggs, four tubs of lard, 25 pounds of sugar and 30 pounds of flour. 

You'll have to watch the clip — which has more than 7.5 million views — to hear what the cashier, who knew Jerry, said to Jeanne the next time she went to the grocery store.

INTERNET'S 'TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE'

Robertson — who recently learned her YouTube channel hit 28 million views — said she sees the Internet's advantage.

"First, we just put up two (videos) a year, and people kept writing, saying, 'Put up more, put up more,' and we put up more," she said.

Some of her colleagues find it a chore to keep up with, but Robertson has embraced social media.

"I got so into Facebook," she said. "I do my own Facebook; I wouldn't have anybody (else) doing it."

She said she loves chatting with people on her Facebook page.

"I'm not saying people my age have to adopt (Internet use), but it's a tremendous advantage," Robertson said, adding that Skype, Facebook and other programs can help people stay connected with friends and family members.

And she hopes people who share her clips will realize the importance of oral storytelling.

"If you don't tell your family and younger people these family stories, you can't take them with you," Robertson said. "They bring joy to your family, and if you write them down or record them and share them with people, they continue on.

"Everybody has these family stories. What I want the women to do that day (in Crestview) is say, "She's been a fly on the wall in my house. The same thing happened to me."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Public speaker encourages Crestview residents to find fun amid life's chaos

Sure, pampering yourself — getting massages, facials and other treatments — makes you feel like royalty, but it brings serious health benefits, too.

1. Massages provide balance. "Massage helps the body to maintain homeostasis," said Lisa Hiekel, a massage therapist at Adiva Day Spa in Crestview. That means "the well-being of the body, because (massage) works with all the different systems, helps relieve the muscles, helps circulation, helps promote metabolism.

WATCH: Experts explain the benefits of pampering yourself>>

"It helps to de-stress the body, which the mind and the body obviously work together."

Hiekel said she has had the satisfaction of seeing visible relief from pain on her clients' faces in as little as an hour.

Shoshanna Richardson, massage therapist at Hello Beautiful Salon in Crestview, said massage "is really helpful for people who have chronic pain, lower back pain," plantar fasciitis and shin splints. "It can help athletes increase blood flow and oxygen to the muscles," in addition to providing general relaxation, she said.

Massage therapy after the first trimester helps pregnant women address stress, neck and shoulder issues, Richardson said.

"Stress causes so many illnesses … the older we get, the harder we have to try to (perform at those previous levels)," said April Hinton, owner and stylist at Hello Beautiful.

2. Facials help remove toxins. People notice your face first, so it's important to keep it looking good, regardless of your age, says Diana Hill, a skin care specialist at Hello Beautiful.

But people get facials for more reasons than vanity.

"Facials increase circulating blood under the skin to aid in ridding the skin of waste that causes puffiness," she said.

By stimulating the lymphatic system, "facials help to detox lymph node waste, smooth fine lines, and promote collagen and elastin production" — considered "building blocks" that support the skin and help reduce wrinkles and sagging — she said.

"Facials truly do slow down the aging process and allow your face to look smother, healthier and more radiant," Hill said.

The procedure also exfoliates dead skins cells and "optimizes the benefits of skin care products," she said.

In addition to deep cleaning the face, facials "promote cellular regeneration," says Denee Manchester, of Adiva Day Spa.

"So our cells are constantly turning over, and constant cell renewal is what prevents age spots, wrinkles, losing elasticity in the skin — we want our skin to be in constant exfoliation just to help with that all-the-time glow," she said.

3. Salon and spa services make us feel better. "Women come here to enjoy themselves and relax," Blonde Bellagio owner and stylist Sherry Seymour said. "Relaxing and getting pampered is a stress reliever."

She said many of her customers with headaches find relief and re-energize after getting shampoos and scalp massages.

"Clients can be having a bad day and getting a good hairdo will improve their whole day," Nancy McLaney, the salon's receptionist, said.

"We like to make every woman in the world know she's beautiful."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 health benefits for pampering yourself in Crestview (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — Crestview Health Center's Back to School Health Fair is 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6 at 800 Hospital Drive, just across from North Okaloosa Medical Center’s ER.

The event will include free vision and blood pressure screenings, a certified application counselor to help enroll for Florida KidCare and other service programs, and wellness information for children through adults.

In addition, 200 back packs with school supplies will be available for pick-up.

Event organizers are still accepting vendors that can provide health screenings or school supplies.

Crestview Health Center is part of the North Florida Medical Centers, which provides comprehensive primary health care services.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Back to School Health Fair set Aug. 6 in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County reminds county residents and visitors to be aware of the warning signs of heat exhaustion and to protect against dehydration.

Heat exhaustion can develop after exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.

Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment. If you work outdoors, it is critical you remain aware of the heat index and take appropriate precautions to stay healthy and safe.

DOH-Okaloosa recommends the following tips to avoid heat exhaustion and dehydration:

•Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water when outdoors, especially in the summer heat. Be mindful of the signs of dehydration, which include dry mouth, dizziness, lack of sweating, dry skin, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and fatigue. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids, even if you don't feel thirsty.

•Dress for summer: Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures.

•Never leave children or pets in a parked car: The temperature can rise to 135 degrees Fahrenheit (135°F) in less than 10 minutes, which can be fatal for children or pets. If you see a child or pet left unattended in a parked car, call 9-1-1 and alert authorities.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa officials remind residents and visitors to stay healthy when temperatures rise