Service Learning experience is life changing for ASC nursing student (07-09-07)
Drew washing a patient's leg wound.
Three Adams State College nursing students traveled abroad in February. One student traveled to Haiti while two went to Honduras.
St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center in Pueblo received a three year grant for $150,000 through the Catholic Health Initiatives which paid for the team of medical professionals to provide their services in Gonaives and Bayonaise, Haiti.
Preparing for patients.
As part of the nursing program at Adams State, students must complete a service learning project which includes 60 contact hours, daily logs, self evaluations, a paper, and a presentation. To fulfill the requirements, students choose a destination and topic and then provide their services for that particular destination. In the past, Adams State nursing students have chosen to do their projects with Tu Casa, Alamosa Nursing Service, and several other San Luis Valley organizations.
Amanda Jojola, Adams State nursing instructor, said the service-learning project offers nursing students an opportunity to provide health care to a community in need. "Students, in turn, learn from the experience," Jojola said. "It fosters civic and social responsibility in our nursing students, two characteristics essential to the profession of nursing."
Drew hands out over 1000 t-shirts she collected to distribute.
Lisa Drew chose to travel to Haiti with a medical team. Two fellow Salida nursing students, Peg and Erin Arnett traveled to Honduras. All three are in the Adams State College Bachelor of Nursing program at Adams State College. They take classes through distant learning in cooperation with the Adams State Nursing Program.
Bayonnaise village people wait for medical volunteers.
While in Haiti, the team of medical professionals provided healthcare services to many people who have never seen a doctor or nurse before. The medical team treated approximately 600 people. They provided care for a wide range of medical problems including pinworms, acid reflux, asthma, tuberculosis, hernias, and even cancer.
"They were all so appreciative and thankful for everything that we did," Drew said. "The villagers in Bayonaise even sang hymns of thanks to us, as we set up our clinic inside their little church."
Going over the medical supply inventory.
Drew began the nursing program in fall 2006. She plans to graduate with a bachelor of science in nursing this summer.
"I think the Adams State College nursing program is top notch," she said. "I checked out all of the nursing programs in Colorado. Because our classes are small, it allows us to really get to know each other and our instructors, and help to make suggestions for the future of the program to enhance it for other students."
Drew assists in helping Haiti patient.
The experience in Haiti provided Drew with a new perspective on life. "I have taken every thing I have for granted," she said. "It changed the way I see myself and others. I realize that you can never give enough of yourself to make things better for another person, and that I will continue to give as much of myself as far as volunteering, as I can.
"That is what being a nurse is all about to me, making a difference in someone's life, either in a big way or a little way."
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By Amanda Morris
