Everywhere you looked during this past year, our student nurses had people "seeing red", as our students were out-and-about on campus and in the community learning about their profession, helping others, or making new friends.
Helping our nursing students share knowledge with – and learn from – students from other cultures is an integral part of the learning process at IUSON Bloomington. That learning experience includes our on-campus exchange program with students from Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) located in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
This past January, Sun Yat-sen students Tang Ruolin (Winnie), Zhuran Li (Nicole), Luo Chuqing (Susie), and Sun Qiuyi (Cassie) attended classes, high-fidelity health care simulations, and special events with our nursing students – including attending an IU women’s basketball game and meeting former Indiana Fever superstar and WNBA League MVP Tamika Catchings!
Last May, IUSON Bloomington and My Sister’s Closet sponsored the H.A.R.N.E.S.S. event. H.A.R.N.E.S.S. stands for Healthy Actions & Regimens to Nurture, Empower, Strengthen, & Succeed. The event’s co-sponsor, My Sister’s Closet, is a non-profit organization that provides free work attire, help with resume writing, and interview skills training to low-income and at-risk women.
The H.A.R.N.E.S.S. event included a wide variety of interactive booths, multiple giveaways, free childcare, and a lunch buffet – all with a focus on a healthy lifestyle. IUSON’s junior nursing students planned and presented the event as part of their community health clinical hours for B334, Transitional Care of Populations and Families.
Our students were involved in every aspect of planning and presenting H.A.R.N.E.S.S. to the community – before, during, and after the event. They obtained funds and donations for the event; developed a budget; and made and printed marketing materials and note booklets for attendees. They also researched and provided evidenced-based information about health-related topics for 10 poster presentations. After the event, they coordinated post-event activities, devised a post-event survey, wrote thank you cards, and documented information about the event for future event planners.
We are so proud of our junior nursing students who worked so hard to make H.A.R.N.E.S.S. such an outstanding success!
Nursing students need to learn so much vital information when they enter our program that, in 2018, we developed our New Student Orientation & Boot Camp.
This past August, 101 students from our traditional baccalaureate and accelerated 2nd degree programs took part in the 2019 version of New Student Orientation and Boot Camp. At the event, our new student nurses learned about the ANA Code of Ethics, the SIM Center, study tips, math tips, and support for one another – all in a supportive environment where students could meet their classmates and make new friends.
2019’s New Student Orientation & Boot Camp also featured an IUSON Bloomington first, as we took part in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) White Coat Ceremony. During the ceremony, IUSON Bloomington joined an elite group of nursing schools nationwide in pledging our commitment to quality patient care. Each of our new student nurses received a pin signifying their commitment to the pledge, and IUSON BL received a $1,000 grant from AACN.
Special thanks to Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Roxie Barnes for organizing this year’s New Student Orientation & Boot Camp and for making it possible for us to become a part of AACN’s prestigious White Coat Ceremony.
“Their (nursing students’) entry into the profession begins as soon as they enter our program,” says Roxie, “and Bootcamp is just the beginning of this amazing journey. I cannot say “thank you” enough to the faculty and staff for their efforts and support of our students and for making this year’s New Student Orientation & Bootcamp such a valuable learning experience for our new student nurses!”
IUSON BL’s participation in IU’s annual Science Fest is always a huge success!
This past October, approximately 3,000 people from all over the state attended the free fest, hosted by the College of Arts + Sciences’ Office of Science Outreach (OSO). Those attending had the opportunity to participate in over 150 hands-on activities, demonstrations, and talks conducted by representatives from 20 IU departments and disciplines.
Literally hundreds of people stopped by our booth for blood pressure screenings, hands-on CPR training, presentations on the dangers of vaping and the need for a healthy diet when promoting a healthy lifestyle, and our very popular hand-hygiene training and baby safety simulations – in which kids learned how to feed, burp, rock, and even change the diapers on our simulation babies.
A special thank you to Lecturer Sonita Ball, Clinical Assistant Professor Derrick Garletts, Visiting Lecturer Ronda Hendricks and our many student volunteers for helping to make 2019’s Science Fest our best Science Fest yet!
There’s a new student organization on campus! The Student Nurse Volunteer Corps (SNVC) – chartered by IUSON Bloomington senior nursing student Zack Futterman – was established to bring together nursing students and students from other pre-professional programs to work on community-based service projects.
SNVC’s goal is to create projects where our nursing students can volunteer to make an immediate impact in the community where they live and study. As an example, in November, SNVC partnered with the Red Cross to sponsor a blood drive that collected enough blood to save 60 lives! “SNVC is eager and excited to leave its mark on Bloomington,” says Zack.
IU School of Nursing
Bloomington
