{"id":42012,"date":"2019-05-07T10:05:59","date_gmt":"2019-05-07T14:05:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=42012"},"modified":"2019-05-07T10:11:56","modified_gmt":"2019-05-07T14:11:56","slug":"public-health-advocacy-projects-partner-nursing-students-with-local-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2019\/public-health-advocacy-projects-partner-nursing-students-with-local-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Public health advocacy projects partner nursing students with local community"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eastern Mennonite University senior nursing major <\/span>Kayla Sauder<\/b> wasn\u2019t sure how area residents would react to a group of nursing students knocking on doors to ask about health care needs, but she found out: with appreciation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Along with her spring semester community health nursing class groupmates <\/span>Abby Byler<\/b>, <\/span>Esther Ghale<\/b> and <\/span>Emma Millar<\/b>, Sauder partnered with the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Free Clinic in part to promote its services and conduct a survey of the local Latino population. <\/span><\/p>\n

Other groups in the course, which is required for nursing students and offered each semester, collaborated with Bridge of Hope, the Harrisonburg Community Health Center, Harrisonburg High School and an Augusta Health Community Outreach program.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCommunity and public health nursing is a unique kind of nursing, with its own challenges and rewards,\u201d said Professor <\/span>Kate Clark<\/b><\/a>. \u201cThe best way to learn is by doing, and these practicums provide valuable real-world experience and opportunities to engage with patient populations where they are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to conducting door-to-door interviews, the Free Clinic group planned, promoted and held a community health event open to the public, where they offered information about the importance of having a primary care provider and eligibility for Medicaid expansion in Virginia. Basic health screenings were also offered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThrough this project, I have learned that there is a lot of value in simply asking people what they need,\u201d Sauder said. \u201cHow many times has someone knocked on your door and asked you if you had access to a primary doctor? We are planting small seeds that will empower families and individuals and hopefully lead them to better health.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For Ghale, learning about health needs in the community and the impact of not having health insurance or access to primary care was eye-opening. \u201cAs a future nurse, I have the power and role ability to help with this need in my community,\u201d she said. \u201cI am excited to see what that means for me and how I can help my community.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Millar was \u201cstruck\u201d by the group\u2019s reception. \u201cWe have been thanked profoundly by many for promoting healthcare for all and access to it within the Harrisonburg community,\u201d she said. \u201cI feel like I am truly making an impact on the community, even as a nursing student. I never thought I would have the chance to experience something like this in my undergraduate studies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gathering information by going out in the community was a formative experience, Byler said. \u201cWe have been taught through nursing school to go into a community and ask for what they see is the problem. This is a great example of partnering with a community instead of going in with ideas that might not work for that particular community.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Additional student groups in the community health nursing class supported other local agencies:<\/span><\/p>\n