Ka ren Kelley, E.S.N., R.N. Jlls t . Johneua Kelly, M.N.Sc. , R. N.P., e.S. Ass·t. Prof Helen L'lmbert, Ed. D. , R.N. Prof Cheryl Lee , M.N.Sc., R.N., e.E.T.N. Ass1. Prof Janice Linck , M.S.N., R.N. Ass 't. Prof Jerry Myhan, M.S.N. , R. N .P. , e.s. Asso. Prof Charlone Patton , M.S.N. , R.N. Ass 't. Pl'of Sheila Sullivan, M.S.N ., R. N . Ass't. Prof ~rsing' department uses mission trips as a spli7iualoutreach Harding 's School of Nurs ing stressed that students should use their knowl edge and skill s as a servant. Nursing fa culty and students seIVed on health ca re mission trips to orher countries and closer {O home at the Ri ver City Ministry in Little Rock. The River City Ministry worked to reach people in the inner City by providing a daily program of Bible study, food and clothing to those in need , a medical clin ic for those w ithout access to health care, a program to meet the special needs of women, help finding jobs for those who wanted to work and an outreach {Oward children. Harding nurs ing faculty and students volunteered their time with the Rive r City Church of Christ to reach out to the spi ritually lost in the inner city as they came to the ministry for physica l he lp. Vo lunteer work includ ed di s tributing food and clothing, working at the Ri ver City Medical Cl inic, teaching life-skills classes and running the annual fall carn ival at Silver City Courts. Nursing instructor Karen Kelley often volunteered on Sundays. The clinic saw 15 {O 20 patients a day, Kelley said . "The patients are given hot mea ls if they need them, and we refill their prescripti ons and try {O educate them on how to take ca re of thei r health problems," she sa id. "About 20 doctors volunteer on different Sundays, and we he lp them by getting the patients' history, vital signs and assessments," Charlotte Patton, assistant professor of nurSing, said . "There isa fee of$2 or $3, if they can pay; the medicines are usually supplied by drug companies. I have several students go with me, and we try to teach them about common health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes." Besides thei r work with the Ri ver City Ministry, the nursing fac ulty and students at Ha rding traveled to Guatema la, Panama, Honduras, Nigeria, Kenya, H aiti and other Caribbean islands this year on health care mission trips. They were able to use their nursing skills to help those who were less fortunate, meeting their spiritual and physical needs. "It was quite an experience," April Lawson said. Lawson went on a hea lth care campaign to Haiti. "Being there really showed us all of the things that we take for granted and should be thankful for. They hand-washed all .of their clothes, and it was not uncommon for them (O bathe in a stream. They thought we were so rich. The kids were so sweet and still write us letters," he sa id. "We handed out medication and worked w ith interpreters from nearby churches to teach Bible classes ," senior biology major Tim Hinton said. "We used the medicine to open doors to teach them about the Bible. The preacher who knew the children followed up and visi ted them to study later. " The group taught and helped the children at an orphanage, and Haiti opened the eyes of the students as well. They saw how poor the Haitians jenyMyhan, associateprofessorofnttrsing, holds a stethoscope for April Lawson, a j unior nursing maj01~ to listen to the breathing ofa Haitian man. Myhan and Lawson were part of a health care campaign to Haiti during which students learned not only abouJ medicine bUJ also about the culture andpeople of the country. Photo by Tony Hill. were, yet they were so giving and had so much to offer. "They would seat us in the best chairs, whether it was in the shade or in their homes, and feed us) making us feel welcome," Hinton said. The lesson in hospitality and thankfu lness ha s not been forgotten . - Robin Henson Academics 63 t1ii!
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