Newsletter [UNCG School of Nursing newsletter, Summer 1990]

              School of
NURSING
RECEIVED
V:-
Chancelle r
THE
UNIVERSITY
OF
NORTH
CAROLINA
AT
GREENSBORO
N5S
NEWSLETTER
Summer 1990
Nursing students at work in the community
Standing outside in the biting wind to
watch city workers dig up a broken pipe
isn't exactly how you'd dream of spending a morning. But that's what two
UNCG nursing students did during
spring semester.
Vicki Hulin and Cindy Wakefield
observed a variety of Greensboro city
workers on the job to gather information
for a class they helped teach on injury
prevention and body mechanics. The
research was part of their coursework in
Nursing 430, "Nursing in Complex
Organizations," which was taught for the
first time at the school.
The two senior nursing students,
among forty in the baccalaureate program
for RNs seeking their BSN, paid close
attention to the employees to see such
things as lifting, shoveling, and pulling
techniques. If done improperly, these can
cause back, neck, and other muscular
problems. They also noted the general
safety practices observed when the
workers operated heavy machinery such
as a backhoe or jack hammer. Ms. Wakefield and Hulin kept track of the workers'
schedule to see if it was feasible to do
stretching exercises either before or after
their shifts.
Observing the workers, said Jayne
Lutz, a visiting assistant professor in the
School of Nursing and clinical instructor
of the course, helped the students
understand what the employees do, and
it gave them specific examples to use in
their class. -    .,
"This way the students know what
they're talking about, and people are
more receptive when they know you
understand the risks in their job," she
said.
Before going to the work sites, the
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Nursing students Viki Hulin and Cindy
Wakefield take notes while observing city
workers in Greensboro.
students, assisted by Dot Patterson, RN
supervisor for the City Medical Services,
compiled reports on accidents and other
health problems suffered by employees in
such departments as police, parks and
recreation, and water and sewer. Based
on that information, the students, with
the help of Greensboro city nursing staff
and other professionals, designed their
classes.
" We teach a holistic approach to providing medical care, taking into consideration one's activity and environment.
This experience supports the application
of theory to practice, a critial component
of professional nursing," said Ms. Lutz.
"In addition, the students are providing a
valuable health care service to city
workers."
Ms. Wakefield, who works in the
emergency room at High Point Regional
Hospital, said the research enabled her to
"get back to the basics of nursing" by
taking an active part in people's lives and
teaching them to prevent problems.
Injury prevention and promoting
wellness have long been priorities for
nurses. Recent publicity has highlighted
the need for incorporating these ideas
into our nation's health care policies. Just
as the Greensboro city nurses recognize
the benefits of keeping employees healthy
and injury-free, the School of Nursing
emphasizes wellness and health promotion throughout its curriculum. Nurses'
attention to these concepts will put them
in the forefront of health care.
Dean selected for state
and international boards
Dean Patricia
Chamings was
elected to the North
Carolina Board of
Nursing last fall and
assumed the
position of nurse
educator for a three-
year term starting
January 1,1990.
She was also
appointed chair of the Eligibility
Committee of Sigma Theta Tau International. The committee reviews and
develops eligibility policies and standards,
evaluates and recommends applicants for
chartering new domestic and international
chapters, and reviews nominations for the
biennial convention focusing on leadership development.
Dean Chamings