Education
Drew Memorial’s Education staff provide a variety of training and educational classes to our community. Classes are held in the hospital’s Allied Health Building conference rooms. Participants are encouraged to reserve spots in advance for all classes, and many are required to have advanced registration.
If you are leaving us a voicemail about signing up for a class, please indicate which class topic, date and time you plan to attend. Some courses require payment to fully reserve your spot, or before the course begins. We may also arrange a payment plan if requested.
Are you seeking education or training that we don’t yet offer? Let us know. We welcome ideas that can continue to serve the needs of our community and will consider offering them depending upon interest and feasibility.
Safe@Home Training
Upcoming Class Dates: Please call for available dates.
Safe@Home by Safe Sitter is a program designed for students in grades 4-6 to prepare them to be safe when they are home alone. The program is designed to enable any adult that enjoys teaching preteens to facilitate an introductory level program to prepare students to care for themselves when parents are away for short periods of time.
Safe@Home is a 90-minute program that teaches students how to practice safe habits, how to prevent unsafe situations, and what to do when faced with dangers such as power failures or weather emergencies. Students are also introduced to the SafeSitter First Aid Chart and learn a system to help the assess and respond to injuries and illnesses.
Classes are $20. Pre-registration is required. They are held in the hospitals Allied Health Building conference rooms and are led by Holly Lawrenz, RN. To register or as any questions, contact Holly at (870) 460-4868 or email hlawrenz@drewmemorial.org.
Safe Sitter Training
Upcoming Class Dates: Please call for available dates
SafeSitter Training is a national program designed to prepare students in grades 6-8 to be safe when they’re home alone, watching siblings, or babysitting. The instructor-led class is filled with fun games and role-playing exercises. Students even get to use manikins to practice rescue skills like choking rescue!
Classes are a full day (usually 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.) and are held on Saturdays or on a break in the school calendar, like a teacher workday. They are held in the hospital’s Allied Health Building conference rooms and are led by Holly Lawrenz, RN.
Class fee is $40. Pre-registration is required.
Safety Skills
Students learn how to prevent unsafe situations and what to do when faced with dangers such as power failures or weather emergencies.
First Aid & Rescue
Learning skills such as choking rescue is often students’ favorite part of the class. Students also learn a system to help them assess and respond to injuries and illnesses.
Life & Business Skills
The ability to screen jobs, discuss fees, and greet employers will set students up for success now and in the future. Students practice these skills through various role plays.
Child Care Skills
Students learn tips to manage behavior that will help them stay in control of themselves and the children in their care. Students also learn the ages and stages of child development, as well as practice diapering.
To register, please contact our Education Department at (870) 460-4868 or email hlawrenz@drewmemorial.org.
Life-Saving Skills
First Aid and CPR
Offered monthly, our First Aid class and CPR Training class occur on the same day, with a break for lunch in between. You may choose to enroll in one or both of these two classes. Pre-registration is required. Each class is $40.
Our first aid course goes beyond the basics, and includes how to deal with bleeding, burns, other emergency situations.
CPR/AED Training includes instruction for infant, child, and adult CPR. It also covers AED use and how to save choking victims of all ages. Upon completion of the CPR/AED course, you will receive the American Heart Association Heartsaver(R) credential.
Upcoming Class Dates: Please call for available dates
To enroll in First Aid or CPR, please contact Holly Lawrenz, BSN, RN at (870) 460-4868 or hlawrenz@drewmemorial.org.
BLS for Healthcare Providers
We provide Basic Life Saving Skills for Healthcare Providers at least once monthly at our hospital. Most classes begin at 9 a.m.
Upcoming Class Dates: Please call for available dates
To enroll in our next BLS for Healthcare Providers, please contact Holly Lawrenz, BSN, RN at (870) 460-4868 or hlawrenz@drewmemorial.org.
Classes for New and Expectant Parents
Our experienced nurse educators lead classes designed to prepare expectant parents for the process of pregnancy and childbirth, breastfeeding and newborn care. Childbirth and Breastfeeding classes are offered monthly. A separate Newborn Care class is current in the development stage.
Childbirth Preparation
Click the Link to be Directed to the Class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lyBJo9y4j4&list=PLXAnhU1iIMsaucN6bVbT8Ez89Q1CExcfk&index=3
Breastfeeding Classes and Support
This FREE class is led by Rebecca Traugott, RN, who has 30 years of experience with mothers and newborns and over 13 years as an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Rebecca uses a nationally-accredited curriculum which covers the health benefits of breastmilk, nutrition, positioning, pumping, and tips for returning to work.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, these classes will be held virtually or one-on-one by appointment only.
Rebecca also offers help and welcomes all breastfeeding mothers who have questions or are experiencing challenges with breastfeeding to contact her. You do not have to have delivered at Drew Memorial to use our free breastfeeding consultation services. To contact Rebecca, call (870) 460-3563.
Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
Nationwide, more than 1 out of every 3 adults have prediabetes, a condition that leads to Type 2 diabetes. 9 out of 10 people with prediabetes don’t know they have prediabetes, or that they can still manage to cut their risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes in half. T2D is a major chronic disease. Medical costs for people with diabetes are more than twice as high as they are for people without diabetes. Not to mention, the risk of death for adults with T2D is 50% higher than for adults without diabetes. Diabetics are at a higher risk of many other serious health complications, like blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, and the loss of toes, feet, or legs.
Risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes include: being overweight, having a family history of diabetes, being physically inactive, and being 45 and older.
Could you be prediabetic? Find out by taking this quiz through the CDC website HERE.
The most effective way to reduce your risk of developing T2D is by losing weight, eating healthy and being more active.
Drew Memorial was one of the first Diabetes Prevention Programs in our state. The program is designed for prediabetic people who want to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. We incorporate individual goals in a supportive group environment. We look at our own barriers to weight loss and healthy eating and stay in contact regularly. The most effective programs for losing weight and improving eating habits are those that have consistent, long-term follow-up. This year-long curriculum is evidence-based and proven to create positive change for participants.
Upcoming Class Dates: A new cohort begins soon. Please contact us to find out when our next classes begin!
To find out when our next DPP cohort begins, please call Heather Wilson, Education Coordinator at (870) 460-4817 or hwilson@drewmemorial.org.
Diabetes Care Management
More than 30 million people have diabetes in the U.S., and Southeast Arkansas has some of the highest county rates of Type 2 Diabetes in our country. Our diabetes care program helps you manage your diabetes and live life to the fullest. We are one of the first AADE-accredited programs in our region.
The course curriculum includes 3 sessions, offered every month. You do not have to take these in order. They are open to anyone with type 2 diabetes age 18 and up. We will find an upcoming class series that fits your schedule. We do require a private meeting with one of our education nurses prior to attending classes. We discuss Medications, Diabetes Nutrition, and Exercise.
Most insurance plans cover the cost of this program.
After you graduate from our program, you are eligible to attend our weekly diabetes support group, a wonderful resource network of people and new diabetes-friendly recipes.
Upcoming Class Dates: TBD, please contact Joe Heard, RN
To sign up for the next Diabetes Care Management session, please contact Joe Heard, RN at (870) 460-3517 or jheard@drewmemorial.org.