Nursing Students Act as Resource, Provide Company to Needy Community
Published May 2003
The UC College of Nursing offers an accelerated program
for students with baccalaureate degrees in fields other than nursing
who have decided to make nursing their career choice. These students
receive transfer credit for equivalent courses, complete support course
requirements, then proceed with five quarters of full-time course work
which will make them eligible to take the state board of licensure
examination for registered nurses and core courses in the master's
nursing program curriculum.
The UC College of Nursing has taken this accelerated
program one step further. This year, the accelerated College of Nursing
students spent two days per week communicating with patrons at Our
Daily Bread, a community food bank and gathering at 1730 Race Street,
downtown. Our Daily Bread provides nutritious hot meals to needy
persons and serves as a safe haven for many. A social worker is on hand
to assist patrons with housing, clothing and medical needs. Many of the
patrons of Our Daily Bread are homeless and mentally ill. "The chronically mentally ill persons attending the
program have many needs," said Jean Anthony, PhD, assistant professor
in the UC College of Nursing. "The students were able to sit and
communicate with the clients, allowing the clients to talk about their
issues and receive some assistance in problem solving and issue
identification."
The value of this program is seen by Our Daily Bread's
director, Mary Jo Hulahan as double-sided. While the patrons get the
opportunity to communicate with health science students and garner
information about their own health and well being, students are given
the opportunity to interact with mentally ill persons and test their
skills with issue/problem assessment. |
