Published: July 11, 2008 09:06 pm            

Learning by doing

Nursing students learn from daycare centers

From Staff Reports



Many times when one thinks of where nurses work, a hospital with sick people comes to mind. However, nurses work in many areas and agencies away from the hospital setting and all patients are not sick. Nurses may work for schools, home health care facilities, and community health and health-wellness service centers.

For the second year, the summer pediatric courses offered through the Navarro College Associate Degree Nursing Program have included experiences for nursing students in daycare centers in Corsicana. One particular facility is the Mary Peterson Child Care Center.

The Mary Peterson Child Care Center is a non-profit organization, which was founded more than 50 years ago by then Corsicana business woman Mary Peterson, for whom the center is named in memory of her many years of service. The original focus of the center was to provide daycare services for low and moderate income-working families. The center currently offers more than daycare services for a multi-culturally diverse group of children. Current executive director Joan Thompson has expanded the program to provide social guidance in a supportive academic environment.

According to Thompson, some of the children have special developmental needs that must be met. The center’s motto is “Where love is given away freely.” Another aspect of the Peterson Child Care Center is the Foster Grandparent Worker and Volunteer Program, which provides a service not only promoting quality of life and satisfaction, but also exposing children to the wisdom of years. Under the supervision of A.D.N. instructor Sara Washington, Navarro’s nursing students were able to see the generational impact of older adults on the children.

Finger paintings and other artwork with welcoming messages from the children at the center were posted in the Navarro College Bain Center classrooms for the nursing students prior to their arrival at the daycare. The actual daycare experience provides nursing students real-life experiences to interact with well children of various age groups. Each student presents a teaching project designed to meet the needs of a particular age group. Nursing students are also involved with other activities of daycare that allow students to develop skills, such as assessment of growth and development and appropriate communication techniques when interacting with children of various ages. Both nursing faculty and students were pleased with their experiences and look forward to further learning opportunities in the community setting.

Other daycare centers that participated in the college’s A.D.N. summer pediatric program are: The Little Red School House located in Corsicana, under the supervision of instructor Lisa Lindsey; Promise Child located in Waxahachie, under the supervision of instructor Sherry Wright; and Tiny Tots, also located in Waxahachie, under the supervision of instructor Delores Price.

For more information on the Navarro College Associate Degree Nursing Program, call the Office of Health Professions at (903) 875-7581, e-mail to louise.holifield@navarrocollege.edu, or visit the Web site at www.navarrocollege.edu

        

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