Davenport University nursing students bring care to prisons and shelters

Nursing students from Davenport University are making a difference with some of West Michigan’s most vulnerable populations.

The senior nursing students from Davenport’s W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus were assigned to serve those experiencing homelessness, people in prison or in hospice or palliative care. The clinical health rotations also included pediatric care.

“Davenport’s community health nursing course aims to educate students about social determinants of health, health inequities, and vulnerable populations, all while providing clinical opportunities to truly make a difference in real life,” said Amanda Alemdar, assistant professor, Health Professions. “Students gain insight and valuable experiential learning by working in teams and completing these community projects, and they are truly making a difference in Grand Rapids.”

The nursing students received supervision and guidance from Davenport clinical faculty instructors Amanda Alemdar, Morgan Kochajda-Watkins, Lori Lynn and Nicole Wieber.

Alemdar’s group partnered with the Kent County Correctional Facility and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program to serve inmates struggling with substance abuse. The nursing students provided a presentation to inmates enrolled in the MAT program on reducing opioid overdoses, why the treatment program is beneficial, how to use naloxone and resources available to them after they are released from jail. Students in this group included Makayla Hitsman, Anna Kuyers, Melissa LeClaire, Sydney Smith and Tori Visockis.

Kuyers, from Allendale, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN). She is passionate about becoming an emergency room nurse and recognizes the benefit of applying her knowledge to these types of hands-on projects. “This project allowed me to talk to people who have struggled with substance abuse and has given me a new perspective on how I can better help substance users who come into the ER to get the resources they need,” said Kuyers. “Several of the inmates thanked us for talking to them and treating them like real people.”

Smith, a BSN student from Sterling Heights, said the clinical rotation gave her the opportunity to tour the jail and interact with staff and inmates, which is something she would not have otherwise experienced. “One of the most impactful experiences for me was presenting to the inmates in the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program, which allowed me to see firsthand how health care is delivered in such a unique and challenging environment. It really opened my eyes to the complexities of providing care in a correctional setting and gave me a deeper understanding of the various factors that affect health and rehabilitation.”

Smith said her biggest takeaway from the experience was the realization that people, regardless of where they are in life or the challenges they may be facing, are fundamentally no different than the individuals you might meet in your everyday life. “Whether someone is in a tough situation or going through personal struggles, they still deserve compassion and respect. This experience reinforced the idea that everyone has their own story and that we should avoid making judgments based on circumstances. It really helped me understand the importance of seeing each person as an individual, beyond their situation or background,” she said.

Smith went on to say that the rotation will make her a better nurse by enhancing her understanding of the diverse populations she may encounter and taught her to approach people with empathy and without judgment, regardless of their circumstances.

Lynn’s group partnered with Mel Trotter Ministries to serve those experiencing homelessness. Students developed an educational presentation about frostbite, trench foot and wounds, including wound prevention and when to seek treatment. Additionally, students assembled goody bags for participants that included hand warmers, socks, band aids, lotion and toiletries.

“I was impressed with the level of collaboration our students displayed during the clinical rotation at Mel Trotter Ministries,” said Lynn. “The students’ presentation was delivered in a cohesive manner, and many of the participants expressed appreciation for their time and effort.”

Students in the Mel Trotter group included Medina Osmanagic, Devyn Rockwell, Blaire Stafford, Jazz Stutson, and Melanie VanDalen.

Kochajda-Watkins’ sgroup collaborated with Corewell Health Hospice and Palliative Care to create informative brochures for oncology patients and their families. These brochures outlined the six most common symptoms patients experience and provided pharmacological and nonpharmacological strategies for managing them.

“As someone who works as a nurse practitioner in the community in hospice and palliative care, I know how valuable this field of nursing is and the importance of exposing students to true community health nursing,” said Kochajda-Watkins.

Students in this group included Mia Barnes, Cassidy Bruno, Cassandra Eddy, Olivia Helms, Belle Mallari, and Madison Moss.

Wieber’s group worked with the University of Michigan Health-West Southwest Pediatric Office to develop educational handouts for parents caring for children with respiratory illnesses. The handout included guidance on when to seek emergency care, safe over-the-counter medications, at-home comfort strategies, current COVID-19 guidelines and prevention methods.

Students in this group included Ashleigh Cope, Morgan O’Connell, Connor Doud, Kaitlin Dolland, and Danielle Langworthy.

“As part of Davenport’s curriculum, our nursing students get a unique opportunity to partner with local community health agencies, not only to learn, but also to make a difference in the quality of lives of our community, especially our vulnerable populations,” said Alemdar. “We have been fortunate to have some great community partners that have really engaged with our students to create outstanding experiences. This experiential learning enhances student knowledge, develops professionalism and communication skills and creates lasting impacts that will ultimately benefit and improve the care they provide to their patients.”

Davenport University will celebrate Nurses Week May 6-12.