Residents in the Pulaski, Tennessee, area receive free health screenings during a recent Back to School Health Fair. Since 2017, Martin Methodist College nursing students and faculty have held more than 900 screenings in the Middle Tennessee area as part of the college’s rural health initiative. The initiative is funded in part by a grant from the Golden Cross Foundation.
In October 2017, the Jeanette M. Travis School of Nursing at Martin Methodist College (MMC) received a $93,000 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation. Money from the grant helped fund a rural health initiative where MMC nursing faculty and nursing students provide health screenings and wellness information in various rural and urban communities in Middle Tennessee.
To date, faculty and students have completed 943 health screenings at churches, United Methodist laity meetings, a senior center, county fairs/events, and schools. “We’ve encountered all age ranges from seniors over 60 to students from Pre-K through high school,” said Dr. Patricia Catlin, DNP, FNP, assistant professor, Jeanette Travis School of Nursing.
All nursing students in junior and senior classes participate in multiple health screenings through- out their two years in MMC’s nursing program. Two 12-passenger vans, purchased in part with the Golden Cross Foundation grant money, transport students, faculty, and supplies to each event. During a typical health screening, participants move through five stations.
"Each screening also includes a blood pressure check, a finger stick to obtain glucose and cholesterol levels."
“They begin with a weigh-in to calculate Body Mass Index,” said Catlin. “Each screening also includes a blood pressure check, a finger stick to obtain glucose and cholesterol levels, and information gathering related to immunizations and age-appropriate screening recommendations.” Information is recorded at each station and completed screening forms are given to participants to share with their doctors. Participants may also receive various health-related material created by MMC nursing students during their nursing course work as well as information on local health resources such as primary care offices, food banks, and mental health providers.
Upcoming screenings will take MMC students and faculty to St. Thomas’ Medical Mission held in the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, a festival in Marshall County, Clifton United Methodist Church in Wayne County, and the Giles County Lawn and Garden Show. The program’s ecumenical reach will also provide health screenings to people at Gum.
“This work would be impossible without the hand of God,” said Catlin. “What started as a vision has grown rapidly. It has become an important part of our nursing program and I have witnessed changes in both our students and individuals attending health screenings.