Student nurses participate in annual health fair
PRESQUE ISLE — Northern Maine Community College nursing students recently presented their health education topics for the community in conjunction with The Aroostook Medical Center’s annual fall health fair. In support of the nursing program and its students, TAMC donated a $400 scholarship award for the team of students with the best health fair display.
Judging of the exhibits was conducted by a panel of TAMC employees. Displays were evaluated based on visual appeal and presentation, creativity, suitability for multi-age groups, use of educational aids, as well as the students’ ability to engage and explain their topics.
Photo courtesy of Northern Maine Community College
CONGRATULATING THE WINNING TEAM of NMCC nursing students who won $400 for having the best health fair display at the TAMC fall health fair are, from left: Glenda Dwyer, TAMC vice president, physician services; NMCC nursing student Amber Bennick of New Limerick, Sylvia Getman, TAMC president and chief executive officer; NMCC nursing student Vonda McNally of Caribou, Tammy Beaulier-Fuller, TAMC director, surgical services; NMCC nursing student Emily Greaves of Presque Isle, Kathy Lancaster, TAMC director, physician services surgical specialties; and Kim Esquibel, NMCC nursing and allied health department chair.
“We are thrilled to have partnered with the NMCC nursing students for this year’s health fair,” said Joy Barresi Saucier, vice president of knowledge services at TAMC. “The education they provided helped participants gain a deeper understanding of the key health issues featured at the fair.”
The award was presented to the three-person team of Amber Bennick of New Limerick, Vonda McNally of Caribou, and Emily Greaves of Presque Isle, whose health display topic focused on nutrition.
The NMCC students presented on 12 different health education topics that included women’s health, heart healthy exercises, cardiovascular disease prevention and education, blood pressure, mammography, cardiac catheterization, cholesterol, healthy eating, men’s health, preventative medicine, colonoscopy and arthritis.
The community health fair component was added to the nursing curriculum to provide the senior students with an opportunity to plan and present a structured teaching project in a public health setting.
In recent years, NMCC senior nursing students had presented their exhibits at the Fall and Winter Expo, hosted by the NMCC Foundation, at The Forum in Presque Isle. A new venue was sought after that event was cancelled for this fall.
“The generous award donated by TAMC was most appreciated by the students taking part in the health fair,” said NMCC nursing instructor Eileen McDougal. “The team of students selected to have the ‘best in show’ exhibit indicated the scholarship money will be a great help toward college-related expenses.”
The NMCC Health Fair follows the first semester when students learn the concepts of teaching/learning in the public health context and the second semester when students are required to present a clinically-based topic to their peers. In their final semester, students will participate in the Fort Fairfield Middle School health fair.
