Nursing Students Show Children How to Be, Stay Healthy

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Students from the University of Arkansas Eleanor Mann School of Nursing will hold their 10^th annual health fair at Mathias Elementary School in Rogers from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 16. Because activities rotate throughout the day, it will be possible to observe lively interaction between nursing students and children at any time, with the exception of a lunch break from noon to 12:30 p.m.

The senior class of 67 nursing students will take more than 500 elementary students through education stations focusing on such issues as dental health, hand washing, living a drug-free lifestyle, CPR, healthy lungs, nutrition and exercise. The students will also perform health-related skits. In past years, they danced in fruit and vegetable costumes to teach basics of good nutrition. Carroll Electric Cooperative will present a program on electrical safety.

Students organize the fair at a different school each year under the direction of Marianne Neighbors, professor of nursing, to learn organizational and management skills while experiencing first-hand the role of nurse as teacher. The fair encourages healthy behavior among children and makes learning about health fun.

The children will receive health information pamphlets, also available printed in Spanish, and the nursing students will distribute soap, toothpaste, fruit and other items for the children to take home to remind them of what they learned as well as to show their parents.

Photographers and reporters must check in at the school office to receive a visitor’s pass and go from there to the gymnasium or cafeteria. Nursing students Ryan McSpadden and Chris Wellhousen can answer questions and assist media on-site.

From Interstate 540, take exit 86 and turn east on U.S. 62. Turn south on 24^th Street.