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Lori Pierangeli, Ph.D., associate professor of nursing at East Stroudsburg University, along with senior community health nursing students and members of the nursing faculty, engaged in a variety of events to teach and learn the values of service and community health throughout the spring semester.

Through careful planning, Dr. Pierangeli utilized these events to emphasize goals and initiatives not seen in the classroom. “Students realize how much nursing has to offer the public, which then energizes students to continue volunteer opportunities after graduation,” she said.

Dr. Pierangeli and her group spoke at several events to discuss the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle, and provided tips and ideas on healthier living. At the first event in January, students worked with Crossroads Community Services by engaging in their National “Point in Time” count of the homeless in Monroe County, Pennsylvania.

The count is a federally mandated activity that determines funding for services to the county to assist vulnerable populations each year. Crossroads Community Services provides supportive housing programs to people with serious and persistent mental illnesses as well as those experiencing homelessness in the area.

In April, the nursing students created interactive health education exhibits to demonstrate a variety of health promotion topics at North Pocono School District in Daleville, Pa. and participated in the Monroe County Health Fair, which was held at Stroudsburg High School and sponsored by State Representative Rosemary Brown. These were both public events.

The group also offered three sessions of “Lunch and Learn” at Martin Guitar in Nazareth, Pa., offering discussions on hypertension and nutrition and the importance of blood pressure screening. This event was recorded by the company for future use for employees on alternate work shifts.

Dr. Pierangeli spoke highly of these events and their impact on the nursing department. Participation in these events provided students with “the opportunity to integrate theory into practice.” She also received positive feedback about the interactive style from her students. “Students comment on how they never realized how many agencies exist within the community to assist those in need,” said Dr. Pierangeli.

These opportunities allowed students to meet with many ESU alumni who graduated with degrees in education and nursing, including former mayor of Scranton, Pa., Jimmy Connors. Alumni were invited to join in on the discussions.

Dr. Pierangeli said that “students learned the value of engagement within the community.”