Students complete global trip in St. Croix
‘Transforming lives’ was USF Nursing students’ mission during their summer 2015 global community health experience in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. During an intense two-week trip, students helped make lives better for local community residents through various health services.
Students teach nutrition to 3rd-grade students at Charles Emmanuel Elementary in St. Croix.
Led by Elizabeth “Betty” T. Jordan, DNSc, RNC, FAAN, associate professor and senior assistant dean of the undergraduate nursing program, students collaborated with local organizations and healthcare facilities to learn and practice.
During the trip, they worked at a local hospital emergency room and a prenatal clinic, taught nutrition to middle-school students, attended a community health fair and participated in an occupational health tour.
Students provide free blood pressure checks on hypertension, cholesterol, and strokes at a local health fair hosted by the Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Council.
Students provide blood pressure checks, and educate people on stroke, cholesterol and nutrition at a local market.
Students also served the Lutheran Social Services’ Flambouyant Gardens housing community assessing the senior residents’ blood pressures, blood glucose and overall health status. They also provided supervised home visits, home-safety checks, one-on-one client health education, and attended a health seminar on hypertension and blood pressure.
Students complete home visits at Flamboyant Gardens residents.
USF nursing students made news headlines in St. Croix for hosting a senior prom-like event for Flambouyant Gardens senior residents. The party was designed to mimic a traditional high school prom with music, dancing, refreshments, decorations, fancy attire and photos. As a team, students decorated the room and prepared the giveaway prizes. Read the Virgin Islands Consortium‘s article on the event here.
USF Nursing students danced with residents, ages 58 to 100, at the senior prom-like event. They danced, sang and laughed while being entertained throughout the night.
This global community health experience fulfills students’ six-credit requirement for their community health didactic and clinical courses, an initiative developed through the College’s POWER with Nursing: Partnership Opportunities for Wellness, Education and Research. This is students’ second global experience in St. Croix.
To read more about the students’ experience visit their blog: https://usfnurseinstcroix2015.wordpress.com/.
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