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The Kent State Trumbull Nursing program is concerned with education and actively serving the community. These students are learning not just the knowledge and skills of nursing, but also the heart behind it.
During the 2023-24 school year, the Student Nursing Association (SNA) participated in events benefiting the community.
From an Alzheimer’s walk, a heart walk, assisting with eye exams in the Bristol school district, a juvenile diabetes walk, crafting and providing Halloween-themed fleece tie blankets for the Beatitude house and working twice with the Fairhaven preschoolers - which was new for the training nurses - the SNA, interacted with individuals from almost every age group.
"We're trying to branch out and reach more of the vulnerable population in our community. We started this year we started working with the preschoolers in Fairhaven. We donated crafts for them to make ornaments at Christmastime, and we did a Dr. Seuss day" said Sarah McCulley, SNA president.
One group, which is often overlooked, received a little more attention than the others.
During the school year, SNA members made cards and hand-delivered them, spending time with residents of several area nursing homes.
"Our goal this academic year was to reach out into the nursing homes," McCulley said.
In the past when members passed out cards to nursing homes, they noticed many residents were lonely. "We felt a connection."
Kathy Dwinnells, a nursing professor within the program, brought an article to McCulley's attention. It informed how personal funds are limited for nursing home residents receiving Medicaid.
The SNA team immediately sprung into action.
"We donated essential items to Medicaid recipients," McCulley, who is heading into her senior year, said.
"Dr. Dwinells handed me the article and I ran with it and got our association on board with collecting the items every month. Each month of the academic year we collected different items."
In November, the SNA passed out over 100 cards to veterans at five area nursing homes as well as the local recruiter's office and Mission BBQ. Also that month, the SNA visited Community Skilled Nursing Home in Warren providing Starbucks coffee and 120 Giant Eagle donuts to residents and staff.
December found the SNA passing out over 200 holiday cards to residents in four area nursing homes. They remembered the residents again for Valentine’s Day.
Dwinnells is proud of the organization.
"They're caring and passionate about nursing and serving our community," she said. "They consistently seek out opportunities that enable them to interact with people of various ages and diverse backgrounds."
The group's largest act of compassion was the most recent, although it took several months to organize.
Over the recent school year, a variety of personal items were collected and handed out May 2.
Bags stuffed with shampoos, toothbrushes and toothpaste, tissues and nonslip socks were some of the items included in the bags, which were given to area nursing homes.
"We couldn't have done everything if it wasn't for the members. They were all hands-on," McCulley said.
There are already plans for the 25 SNA members to give back in the next school year, targeting another demographic, she said.
"We are thinking of doing like we did for the nursing homes where we collect something every month, but we're going to do it for the school districts," McCulley said.
Clothing items will be collected and given to elementary schools.
Anyone interested in helping the SNA with their causes through the summer can email McCulley at smccull8@kent.edu or Dwinnells at mdwinnel@kent.edu.
Once the fall semester is in full swing, a drop-off box will be located in the front office of the technology building at the KSU Trumbull campus in Champion.
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