Mission to Haiti: Day 5
Mission to Haiti
from Cory Smeltzer, Rebecca Senn, Jordan Bennett and Sara Demaagd
A team of students and faculty from Belmont University School of Nursing is ministering in Haiti during Belmont's Spring Break. This is the second year a team has traveled there.
We were once again blessed with a great day! Breakfast this morning consisted of boiled eggs, hotdogs, and our daily delicious cup of Haitian coffee. Then we traveled the familiar route to Siloe to pick up more supplies for today's clinic. Half of the group went up the mountain in the back of the truck, driven by our favorite driver, Johnson. The other half of us stayed back at the pharmacy/school and were able to watch the children begin their school day, opening with the singing of "How Great Thou Art." We witnessed the punishment of kneeling on the pavement for the tardy students. Our trusty driver/translator drove the second half of the group back up the mountain without too many additional bumps and bruises.
Mission to Haiti: Day 4
Mission to Haiti
from Katelyn Walker, Rebecca Senn and Sarah Demaagd
A team of students and faculty from Belmont University School of Nursing is ministering in Haiti during Belmont's Spring Break. This is the second year a team has traveled there.
After yesterday, today doesn't seem as adventurous. Unfortunately we weren't able to take the truck to their village because Hurricane Sandy washed out the road. The few people (about 20) who did come to our clinic walked over an hour and were very grateful for our care and attention. Again, we saw a variety of ages from children to older adults, and even a pregnant woman. Afterwards, we walked down the mountain to see a special patient who suffers with heart failure whom Jenny has personally treated at her home for the past year due to the severity of her illness. The walk was definitely a nice break from the bumpy rides, and it also gave us a chance to view the beautiful, mountainous scenery.
Mission to Haiti: Day 3
Mission to Haiti
from Emily Morse, Robin Cobb and Cory Smeltzer
A team of students and faculty from Belmont University School of Nursing is ministering in Haiti during Belmont's Spring Break. This is the second year a team has traveled there.
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get out of the way of our Tap Tap!
Today was an adventure, to say the least! We started the day with a pasta-salad-with-mystery-meat breakfast and freshly squeezed orange juice. (A clarification on the meat from yesterday's lunch - We found out some people had beef, some people had chicken, and some had goat!)
We left the compound bright and early and picked up supplies where we met our tap tap driver. When we told some girls on the street that what our plan for the day included, they couldn't stop laughing. We didn't realize what was in store. The tap tap was a 1980's model Nissan pick up with benches in the back and a low ceiling camper top... and it should be mentioned not many Haitian vehicles have special Mountain Climbing tires!
Mission to Haiti: Day 2
Mission to Haiti
from Robin Queen, Rebecca Senn and Marie Peters
A team of students and faculty from Belmont University School of Nursing is ministering in Haiti during Belmont's Spring Break. This is the second year a team has traveled there.
Today we woke up to a little more overcast and cloudy day, although it was still warm and beautiful. In fact , it was a relief to have it be a bit cooler. We started this morning with a more traditional American breakfast of cereal--no exciting Haitian spaghetti today! Then we gathered our stuff for the day and walked from the bungalows, parading through the town of Grand Goave to the Siloe campus for the dedication of the Grand Goave Baptist Church.
We stood to the side as the church congregation lined up outside and the choir sung just before the ribbon cutting. Although everything was spoken in Creole we recognized some of the readings and some of the songs. This community of people have so much joy and expression when they sing. It is contagious. Then, we processed into the church and were invited to sit in the very front pew! The church was incredibly gracious and grateful. The service was conducted with a translator throughout so we were able to participate. They even provided us with hymnals so that we could sing the Creole songs. We were able to hear two groups of young Haitians from different churches perform for us.
Mission to Haiti: Day 1
Mission to Haiti
from Jordan Bennett, Cory Smeltzer and Sara Demaagd
A team of students and faculty from Belmont University School of Nursing is ministering in Haiti during Belmont's Spring Break. This is the second year a team has traveled there.
Hello all! What an incredible first full day in Grand Goave, Haiti! Our day was as full and busy as it was hot. We began with a traditional Haitian breakfast: spaghetti! It was actually quite delicious, we are considering bringing this tradition home to the states. After breakfast we got to ride in the back of a pick up truck through the little town of Grand Goave to the Siloe school and church.
Mission to Haiti: We have arrived
Mission to Haiti
from Katelyn Walker
A team of students and faculty from Belmont University School of Nursing is ministering in Haiti during Belmont's Spring Break. This is the second year a team has traveled there.
After some delay in Miami, we finally arrived with no problems a little after 1 p.m. The journey to our destination was definitely an experience to say the least. We were able to see much of Port Au Prince and many of the towns on the way to Grand Guave. We are settled in and had a wonderful dinner with our hosts. Tomorrow, Saturday, we are looking forward to helping out at the pharmacy and organizing meds for our upcoming days at our mobile clinics.
P.S. The caribbean is gorgeous, but the bugs definitely are not.
From your friends and family in Haiti!!! We will update as we can, hopefully every evening.
Belmont University Expands Doctoral Program for Nurses
Belmont University School of Nursing has announced an expansion of its degree program for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) to support national efforts to increase the number of nurse professionals prepared for advanced practice and leadership in the healthcare industry. The School is now accepting applications for fall enrollment to a BSN-to-DNP program which provides a direct pathway to the doctoral degree for registered nurses (RN’s) who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The new program will prepare students for advanced practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) following three years of full-time study offered in a format friendly to working professionals.
Nursing has joined many other health professions, such as medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology and dentistry, to establish a practice doctorate following completion of the bachelor’s degree. Many national studies and reports have led nursing accrediting bodies to move toward this degree to help meet the demands created by the increasing complexities of health care, serious concerns with safety and quality in patient care, and the changing landscape of healthcare reform.
Pharmacy and Nursing students volunteer at Project Homeless Connect
Nursing students assisted with health screenings provided by the Mental Health Cooperative.
Students and faculty from Belmont University College of Pharmacy and School of Nursing recently volunteered to assist with the fifth annual Project Homeless Connect.
Nearly 20 nursing students participated in the event, assisting with health screenings provided by the Mental Health Cooperative, a clinical partner of Belmont University School of Nursing. Two adjunct faculty members, Joyce Alexander and Diane Maynard, also volunteered their time.
In addition, 25 pharmacy students volunteered through Belmont’s chapters of American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and Academy of Student Pharmacists, providing blood pressure, heart rate and Body Mass Index screenings for 60 people.
Sponsored by the Metropolitan Nashville Homelessness Commission, the one-day, one-stop event included access to a broad range of services, including medical and foot care, legal services, employment assistance, pet care, food, toiletries and more. More than 5,100 people have been helped since Project Homeless Connect started in Nashville in 2008.
Pharmacy students provided blood pressure, heart rate and Body Mass Index screenings.
Nursing Professor honored as Middle Tennessee Nurse of the Year for Education
Dr. Debra Wollaber, Professor of Nursing at Belmont, is one of 16 Middle Tennessee nurses honored recently as 2012 Nurse of the Year by the March of Dimes regional chapter. Dr. Wollaber received the award for education to entry level nurses. Each year, the March of Dimes recognizes outstanding nurses in a number of areas within clinical nursing, administrative nursing, research nursing and nursing education. Nurse educators are nominated for their efforts towards the education of future nursing professionals either at the entry level or at the graduate level.
“We are so happy for Debra to be recognized in this way,” said Dr. Martha Buckner, Associate Dean of Nursing in the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing. “Many of us at Belmont have been impacted by her leadership and mentorship.”
Belmont University School of Nursing celebrates 40th Anniversary
Students practice intravenous therapy in a Belmont School of Nursing classroom during the 1987-1988 school year.
The College of Health Sciences & Nursing celebrated the 40th anniversary of Belmont’s nursing program this fall. Since its inception, Belmont’s program has produced more than 2,000 skilled nurses who have served patients throughout the United States and around the world.
“This is an exciting time for nursing and especially for nursing at Belmont,” said College of Health Sciences & Nursing Dean Cathy R. Taylor. “Belmont nurses have always been known as leaders, highly respected for their skill and patient-centered focus. Today, they are increasingly recognized as innovators and change agents for improving health care quality, access and value. We are indeed honored to celebrate and build upon such a remarkable legacy of excellence to meet the health care challenges ahead.”
Associate Dean of Nursing Martha Buckner said, “We are so pleased to be celebrating this milestone in Belmont’s history. Our graduates have forged a tremendous reputation for this program. They are caring professional nurses whose practice is characterized by clinical excellence and compassion. We are proud of our heritage and excited about our future.”