Pre-travel Preparations

While Spring 2017 semester is over and Summer term is just beginning,  preparations for this course began months ago. N393 Nursing Topic Course:  Beyond the Basics: Pediatric Assessment is one of my passions to teach.  It is a blessing to have a second opportunity to take a group of students to Western North Carolina as the travel part of this course. Last year was the very first for this course and the experiences that the students, chaperone and myself had during this time were impacting on the way we not only care for others but how we view the world. I have no doubt that this summer's experiences will lend themselves to great learning opportunities that will last a lifetime.


Holistic assessment of children and their families is the main focus of this course.  Prior to travel, the students will have theory and simulation experiences to enhance their current knowledge of pediatric physical assessment and build on recognition and responding to emergencies. Having the opportunity to travel, students have an "up close and personal" opportunity to assess the impact culture, community, family influence and health care disparities have on the health of children.

The ten students who have been selected to participate in this course,  have already began preparing for their journey to NC several months ago. Recently the students have been collecting donations of children's clothes and toys to take to the Children's Home in Cherokee, NC.

We have been gifted a generous grant from an anonymous donor to minimize the travel expenses of this course,  allowing them the opportunity to participate in this course. For this, we are very thankful!

Links to the student blogs will be available on the sidebar.  We invite you to read what they are learning through this experience and hope you discover something new as well.