The Southern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross is now offering workshops to help members of the military recently back from a deployment and their families reconnect.

The Reconnection Workshops, Presented by Walmart are run by licensed and specially trained Red Cross mental health professionals. The sessions focus on the challenges of readjusting. The workshops are for service members, spouses, children, parents and significant others. The sessions are free and confidential. People can choose any of the sessions that apply to their individual situation. They can also choose to go to all the sessions.

For more information about current workshops, or to register for future workshops go to redcrosslasvegas.org.

Starting this fall nursing students at the College of Southern Nevada will be part of a national study on simulated patients.

The study will use 154 full-time nursing students to see if more work with simulated patients can give students better training than real patients. The simulated patients are not the old-fashioned mannequins people might envision. The new simulated patients are highly sophisticated computerized mannequins that can replicate any patient condition.

Using a simulator means mistakes do not turn into tragedies and educators can make the mannequins go through scenarios that students are unlikely to see at a local hospital making them more prepared for unique situations.

The CSN nurses are part of a study going on at top nursing schools around the country.

 “CSN’s selection to take part in this project speaks to the national reputation of quality our nursing program has established,” said CSN President Dr. Michael D. Richards.

Sunrise Hospital, in partnership with Nathan Adelson Hospice, will host a Healthcare Decisions Day on Saturday, April 16.

At this free event, people can learn details about Advance Directives, how to talk to your loved ones about Advance Directives, and vital health resources such as the Nevada Lock Box, organ and tissue donation and financial planning. You will also have the opportunity to complete and file an Advanced Directive at the event. After 1 p.m., attendees can hear presentations about community services for older adults.

The event will be held at Sunrise Hospital Auditorium, 3186 S. Maryland Pkwy., and will run from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Appetizers will be provided to all participants and community resource organizations will offer additional information. Space is limited. Please RSVP by calling 233-5454.