ASCC Nursing Students Assisting Manu’a Residents

ASCC Press Release Monday, April 22, 2013

ASCC Nursing Students Assisting Manu’a Residents

By James Kneubuhl, ASCC Press Officer

Thirteen students from the Nursing Program at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) will be in Ta’u, Manu’a from Monday, April 29th to Friday, May 3rd as part of a community outreach project to share information on healthy living and assist residents in understanding the diagnosis, treatments and medications associated with various diseases and disorders common to American Samoa. The ASCC nursing students will visit homes and schools within the villages of Ta’u, Fitiuta, and Faleasao to provide health education on asthma, foot sepsis, hypertension, diabetes, and skin disorders. They will also visit Manu’a High School to discuss the ASCC Nursing Program, assist the Public Health nurses at the Ta’u dispensary with care, and give flu shots.

The outreach project has been organized by the ASCC Nursing Department and its students working towards Registered Nurse (RN) certification, along with the American Samoa Area Health Education Center (ASAHEC). Participating students are enrolled in the class Adult Health II (NUR 207) and have had experience in the leadership and management components of the course through working in the Medical/Surgical, Operating Room, Intensive Care Unit, and Emergency Department at LBJ Hospital. “These students know the responsibilities of a Registered Nurse in the clinical area”, said ASCC Nursing Department chairperson Lele Ah Mu, “and the visit to Ta’u will provide them with the opportunity to apply these skills in a traditional village context.”

Ah Mu emphasized the importance of the Nursing students applying their knowledge in an unfamiliar setting. “This will give them a broader perspective on good communication skills and proper patient interaction as they put their health knowledge and care experience into practice”, she said. “They have a firm understanding of the common diseases and disorders that commonly afflict the people of American Samoa, and this part of their training will give them experience applying that knowledge on a human level.” The travelling student group consists of eight young ladies: Audrey Mauga, Fa’afaetai Tau, Fa’asili Feleti, Marsha Scratch, Renna Salanoa, Senerita Letufuga, To’elau Tuiasosopo, and Tu’u Panama; and five gentlemen: Don Eric Sebastian, Ritchell Toribio, Setoga Siatu’u, Shane Chen, and Staniel Dimaya.

Funding for the trip has been provided by ASAHEC and the American Samoa Department of Education Scholarship Program for Nursing. Ah Mu said that in the fall 2013 semester there are tentative plans for the ASCC Practical Nursing (PN) students to make a similar trip, during which they hope to serve Ofu, Olosega and Sili.

ENDS

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