Posted: 10/17/03
ETBU nursing students plan Caddo Lake project
MARSHALL–Senior nursing students at East Texas Baptist University have joined forces with the Caddo Lake Institute to promote better health in the region.
Beginning this week, the students will survey residents of Uncertain, Karnack, Leigh and Smithland to determine their knowledge of a health advisory issued in 1995 by the Texas Department of Health. That advisory warned people not to eat more than two 8-ounce servings per month of certain fish from Caddo Lake because elevated levels of mercury were found in largemouth bass and freshwater drum.
On Oct. 21 and 22, ETBU students will go door to door in the four communities to assess a baseline knowledge of health and community concerns, explained Carolyn Harvey, dean of the School of Nursing at ETBU.
Residents will be asked questions about the Texas Department of Health warnings, and students will seek information about how often residents eat the fish at Caddo Lake and if they are experiencing any health problems.
Then on Nov. 1, a health fair will be held at the Karnack Community Center. Available services will include flu shots, cholesterol tests and diabetes test, and new research information on breast cancer and prostate cancer will be disseminated. Hair samples may be voluntarily donated for further testing of mercury levels in the area.
On Nov. 3-4, ETBU nursing students will follow-up with at-risk residents who were not able to attend the health fair. Follow-up visits also will be made to individuals whose screening results indicate possible health concerns. Referrals will be made to appropriate agencies as needed for any abnormal health screenings, Harvey said.
“All graduates of the nursing program are expected to be lifelong learners and servants to their community,” she explained. “This project is the best way to demonstrate that expectation to our students. The faculty is planning this event to teach our students how to provide health care for all.”
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