Minot State nursing students put learning into action
By Amanda Duchsherer
Digital Communication Specialist
amanda.duchsherer@minotstateu.edu
MINOT, N.D. – While many nurses care for one patient at a time, public health nurses care for entire populations by going directly into communities to promote health and prevent disease.
When Minot State nursing students learn about this subsect of their chosen field, they put their learning into action at the Adult Health Maintenance Promotion and Wellness Clinic, located at Henry Towers, a subsidized apartment building located in Minot.
“We are very proud of our student-initiated Adult Health Maintenance Clinic,” Danielle Reinisch, Minot State public health nursing instructor, said. “Minot State public health nursing students conducted a needs assessment in our community and planned the clinic in 2007, it was then implemented in 2008. The clinic continues to offer services such as education on medications, nutrition, and immunizations as well as blood pressure screenings, foot assessment, and cares. These interventions are implemented to empower this population to manage their own health in order to reduce hospital stays and hopefully remain in their home longer.”
As the clinic empowers clients, it also has a direct effect on the students.
“My experience with this clinic was truly humbling,” said Brittany Fornal, a Minot State senior from Henderson, Nevada. “It was amazing to see the clients so happy and grateful to receive services from us. I didn’t realize the impact of programs like this on the community until I participated in the Adult Health Maintenance Clinic. I am truly thankful I was able to be a part of it.”
“It was a totally different experience than I expected,” senior Sarah Kithusi added. Hailing from Kenya, East Africa, Kithusi considers New Jersey her home away from home. “It showed a different aspect of nursing, in which the nurse met the patient where they were and took care of their needs. It is rare that you see someone appreciate something as little as clipped toenails and lotioned feet.”
The Adult Health Maintenance Promotion and Wellness Clinic is donation-based, offering an opportunity for all individuals to receive care. Many of the clients who seek services at the clinic have diabetes and are older than 55 years, making footcare essential in preventing medical complications.
It is also the perfect place for students to see — firsthand — the importance of public health care settings.
“Instead of trying to care for each individual person, public health cares for the community. We look at the most prevailing health issues and try and find solutions for them,” Mosope Osiyale, a senior nursing student from Lagos, Nigeria said. “And I find in taking care of the community, like in our foot clinic, we are able to care for individuals.”
“As a public health nurse, it’s our job to not only promote the health of individuals, but also to provide the means for a population to achieve maximum health. Minot State nursing performed a community assessment and found a significant need in the community,” explained Fornal. “The Adult Health Maintenance Clinic has been a great success in my opinion.”
The clinic also provides students the chance to work on their interpersonal skills.
“I thought it would be hard to start and carry on a conversation during the foot care,” said Kithusi. “However, it was effortless, and conversations were good. It is not often that one has 45 minutes with a patient at the hospital.”
“Many of the patients and clients who come to the clinic are from underserved populations and they are vulnerable,” Osiyale continued. “Taking those few minutes to care for something as simple as their feet helps us uncover some underlaying illnesses or issues like high blood pressure or lack of a primary care.”
The purpose of nurses in the community is to keep people out of the hospital. The Minot State nursing program and Adult Health Maintenance Program embodies the idea of promoting wellness first by meeting people where they are — in that community.
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
| Published: 12/18/19 |
