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Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to state the rationale for and the health screening needs of children in rural India.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to state the special needs of nursing students in rural India.
Purpose: To collaborate across borders in the health screening of over 700 children in rural India. Significant findings were reported to the superintendent and principal of the schools for follow-up. Secondly, to provide collaboration across borders, experiences and findings were disseminated to members of Delta Lambda.
Method: A Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) accompanied a group of volunteers on a mission trip to rural India. The CNS coordinated and instructed the volunteers on health screening measures. The health screening measures included height and weight, temperature, dental exams, auscultation of heart and lungs; near and distant vision exam, demonstration on hand washing and hygiene, education on proper nutrition and sleep, general care for healthy bodies. All abnormal findings were reported to the CNS for further assessment. In addition, the CNS met with nursing students of a rural school of nursing. The CNS experienced innovative ways a school with limited resources addressed the learning needs of the students.
Findings: Abnormal heath screening findings included: dental caries, near and distant vision loss, irregular heart rates, wheezes and lung congestion. Abnormal findings were reported to the superintendent and principal of the schools. Follow-up with health care workers from Christian Medical College in Vellore were scheduled.
Discussion and Dissemination: This project is an example of collaboration across borders to address the nursing needs of a vulnerable population in rural India. Efforts were led by a Clinical Nurse Specialist who is a member of Delta Lambda. Additional ways the chapter might collaborate with a rural nursing school were identified.