The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

5072.2: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - Board 10

Abstract #72745

School Based Health Fairs and Baccalaureate Nursing Students: A Collaborative Approach

Lisa Broussard, RN, University of Louisiana at LafayetteCollege of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, 0000, Lafayette, LA 0000, 000-0000, chrisandlisa2000@yahoo.com

Every year, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette College of Nursing and the St. Martin Parish school-based health centers collaborate to conduct student health fairs with children in first, eighth, and twelfth grades. Enrollment in the health centers is 85% of the 8,900 student population of the St. Martin Parish School System. The health centers serve as a model for the state of Louisiana. Students are bused to the Centers from through 12 grade. Primary health care is provided as a free service to the students and parents in an effort to decrease absenteeism and accommodate the working families in the community. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a state university located about 20 miles from the health centers. The College of Nursing Baccalaureate Program utilizes school-based clinical sites for community based pediatric care. The school-based health centers in St. Martin Parish have been used as clinical experience sites since 1996. During the health fairs, baccalaureate nursing students conduct health screening, including hemoglobin, glucose, and cholesterol screening, adolescent risk assessments, dental and skin assessments, height and weight measurement, body mass index, and blood pressure. They also administer immunizations. Proper hand washing techniques, as well as 911 and fire safety are also presented. Children participating in the health fairs receive valuable information on health promotion, while nursing students gain the experience of nursing in a community setting and interact with school age children of various ages.

Learning Objectives:

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Health Services in Schools

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA