Oak Forest Nursing Student Makes A Difference For Pediatric Class

OAK FOREST, IL — A new project for third semester students at Moraine Valley Community College includes a lesson in kindness.

As part of a pediatric experience class, nursing students at Moraine Valley are asked to take part in a community project that requires choosing one small data point from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People survey and finding a way to bring attention to it.

Topics ranged from the importance of oral hygiene to options for parents to test their children's vision. The project is nicknamed the "the act of kindness" project.

According to Moraine Valley nursing instructor Katrina Escarilla, this recent semester was the first time the project was offered. Usually, third semester nursing students are assigned to a pediatric facility or hospital for their clinical experience but COVID-19 regulations meant instructors had to find more creative ways to get their students hands-on experience.

"The students reported a sense of purpose. They learned that being a nurse is not just caring for the sick, but it's also about health promotion and disease prevention in our community," Escarilla said in a news release. "The students did a pretty good job making the activities interesting, so the kids remained engaged the whole time."

One student coordinated with the Orland Park Park District to speak with younger teenagers on the most effective way to brush their teeth. Bridget McCormick presented a cartoon video to explain why going to the dentist would be a lifelong commitment and gifted each young adult with a new toothbrush kit.

Another Oak Forest student, Filomena Paolella, presented to a kindergarten class at Edison School in Stickney on how eye screenings work. She brought vision charts and gave the children their own copy to take home and test their family members' eyesight.

According to Paolella, two parents brought their children to an optometrist because of vision concerns discovered while looking at the eye chart.

"I was nervous going in front of 5-year-olds, but it was easy," Paolella said. "The kids were really excited to do it. I enjoyed it and was happy it actually made a difference."