Nursing Students Making a Big Impact in their Community
In Dr. Jill Ross’ Community Health Nursing class, students have the unique opportunity to apply their didactic coursework with community seniors through a myriad of special partnerships.
The first is through the non-profit Heart of Ida. Dr. Ross connected with fellow College of Health and Human Services faculty member Dina Berg, lecturer in the Department of Public Policy and Administration. Berg is the Founder and Executive Director of The Heart of Ida, a Long Beach based nonprofit 501c3, supporting over a thousand low-moderate income seniors in Long Beach – helping them gain access to a variety of services such as housing, transportation, pet care and more. Dina Berg is listed as a faculty affiliate of the college’s Center for Successful Aging.
“[Heart of Ida] has handy resource guides for seniors, and so when seniors from the community visit Heart of Ida, their staff help them with whatever they need,” Dr. Jill Ross said.
Dr. Ross offered up the services of her students, who needed to fulfill course requirements for the School of Nursing’s Community Health component, and which aligned perfectly with Heart of Ida programming. Through a grant from UCLA-Kaiser Health, Heart of Ida has been able to form this special partnership with the CSULB Nursing program.
“Dr. Jill Ross has changed the way our partnership works,” Berg said. This has been a game changer for Heart of Ida, the Senior Center, and other nonprofits in LB.”
Community Health nursing students also combine their teaching with practical application of their skills through other local non-profits such as Meals on Wheels Long Beach.
“About seven years ago, there was a nursing student who was needing service-learning hours for a gerontology class; she had such a great experience volunteering for Meals on Wheels that she came to us and said, ‘This would be a great option for all nursing students,’” said Bill Cruikshank, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Long Beach.
Britney Rios -- Meals on Wheels Long Beach Client Support Services Manager – connects Meals on Wheels clients with nursing students who need service hours to graduate.
“They bring food [to our seniors], but they also help to assess their needs and safety on top of everything else, and come back to us with a report to let us know what is going on -- so this way seniors are staying safe in their homes,” Rios said.
Alejandra Pacheco, who is already a registered nurse (RN) studying to obtain her RN-BSN degree online, says she appreciates the hands-on learning opportunities offered by CSULB School of Nursing.
“I’m seeing a lot of pneumonia cases right now in the Intensive Care Unit where I work,” said Pacheco, who was on-hand at the Long Beach Senior Center giving a practicum to seniors on respiratory infection prevention. “So, it’s important for people, especially seniors, to stay informed on the signs and symptoms of respiratory illness and prevention strategies, and when to seek medical attention.”
“I created the course so students could teach in their own class setting as practice, and then teach it again in the community,” said Dr. Ross, whose class meets every Wednesday to educate community seniors on a variety of topics.
Under Dina Berg’s UCLA-Kaiser Health grant -- the aptly titled “Stay Connected Nursing Partnership Initiative” -- CSULB nursing students offer assistance in teaching classes, conduct assessments, and more -- enriching the lives of community seniors and enhancing healthcare education.
"Dr. Ross's dedication has transformed the program into a vital asset for our community. Her students actively engage with seniors every Wednesday at both the Senior Center and our HOI office, providing invaluable hands-on support,” Berg said. "Dr. Jill Ross's leadership has made a remarkable difference in our partnership, ensuring that our seniors receive top-notch care while nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals."
Another nursing student, Tianyi Chou, gave a presentation on Alzheimer’s & Dementia this semester. She explained to older adults some ways to decrease the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s by eating healthfully, exercising, and keeping the brain sharp by staying social and playing interactive games.
Often, when Dr. Ross’s students meet for their class in the community, they also give blood pressure assessments, talk with seniors about their health, keep them company, and take care of any extra needs.
“I wanted to highlight the work our students do with Meals on Wheels Long Beach and Heart of Ida, because I feel like there is quite an amazing collaboration going on between our university and the community, and this is just one example,” Dr. Ross said.
Banner Photo Caption: Meals on Wheels Executive Director Bill Cruikshank (center), Meals on Wheels Client Support Services Manager Britney Rios; Victoria Kaloper, Development & Corporate Engagement for Meals on Wheels, and Meals on Wheels Intern Eduardo Espinosa; also pictured: Heart of Ida Founder Dina Berg, Dr. Jill Ross and her Wednesday Community Health Nursing students.
