Members of the public were able to experience health and wellness tips from the experts on Tuesday as part of North Central State College’s nursing student Health Fair.
Approximately 39 senior nursing students from North Central set up shop at the NC State Urban Center in downtown Mansfield, presenting 10 different projects addressing various health issues. Topics included cancer prevention, diabetes, driving safely, exercise, financial and time management, heart disease, hypertension and stroke, nutrition, stress management, and smokeless tobacco.
“It gives students a chance to help out, talk with and teach well people as preventative measures, as opposed to people in the hospital who are already sick,” said Tonya Stanger, associate professor at NC State. “It helps to promote wellness versus reactive care.”
Preventative measures were stressed time and again at each health and wellness station. Senior nursing student Amber Davis advised people to be aware of what aspects of their health they can control as part of her project on heart disease.
“You have control over what happens to your heart, you just have to put in the work to take care of it,” said Davis. “Pay attention to your diet. Exercise, stop smoking – be aware of what’s going on with your health, you don’t want to let it get too far away from you.”
“There are factors you can’t change, but there are plenty that you can,” added classmate Elisha Compton.
Lifestyle modifications including a healthy diet, not smoking and limiting alcohol intake were also advised by student Amanda Chambers in her presentation on hypertension and stroke. Student Courtney Roberts offered tips on cancer prevention, particularly when it comes to skin cancer.
“Put on sun block and watch out for things, be attuned to your body,” said Roberts. “If you have a funny mole pop up, get checkups when you’re supposed to.”
Stanger noted the importance of the senior nursing students working with members of the community outside of the hospital environment.
“It is really important for them to see and work with community members to get them to look at the big picture outside of the hospital, and to see that if you start with health promotion then you can prevent some of the adverse affects of a hospital,” she said.
