USF Nursing students participate in Health Screenings at Central Florida Military Resources Fair

Six students from University of South Florida College of Nursing volunteered at Central Florida Military Resource Fair held at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Nov. 4, 2012. USF Nursing students helped James A. Haley Hospital provide free blood pressure screenings to veterans and military service members attending the fair. More than 2,000 people attended the event.

The exclusive military fair was sponsored by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers along with the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, Bay Pines VA Medical Center, and a veterans’ hospital in Orlando to give veterans a chance to learn about employment opportunities, VA benefits, health care availabilities, and other related benefits.

Those students who volunteered at the event include Allison Mammen, Megan Barkhurst, Laura McKenna, Jaclyn Demaske, Dahlia Gotzman, and Cassie Krause. Mammen, nursing student and veteran who participated at the event, said she was happy to help give back to veterans and military service members.

“I am a veteran of the U.S. Navy and my husband is a retired, 100 percent service-connected veteran,” Mammen said. “To say that the military is in our blood is an understatement. Whenever there is a chance for me to fit volunteering into my hectic nursing school schedule, I try to serve those who have already given so much.”

Mammen is currently working on her bachelor’s degree at USF Nursing, and expects to graduate by summer 2014.

“Being a veteran myself, it was heartwarming to see that outpouring of support that was given to the veterans,” Mammen said. “This was beneficial to the veterans and a great experience for us. As student nurses, honing our assessment skills is vital to our success and our patient outcomes.”