Fox Cities News

University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh nursing students recently participated in the WPS Farm Show, providing free health screenings and educational services. The students, including Nick Churchill, Harleigh Eagan, Maddy Erdman, Rosa Jahns, Amber Nygren, Emily Schendel, and Emma Stuettgen, engaged with the farming community at the event held on the EAA grounds in Oshkosh.

“Students performed telehealth education and blood pressure screenings and health education for WPS (Wisconsin Public Service) attendees,” mentioned UWO Clinical Associate Professor Debbie Walrath. The screenings addressed participants' health concerns, including those known and unknown to them, and referrals to primary care providers were made as needed.

“We had all ages of participants, and students educated the community members—many rural who experience poorer health outcomes and chronic disease due to lack of access to care,” Walrath stated. She continued explaining the challenges faced by rural populations, citing fewer available providers and the necessity of traveling greater distances for medical services.

These efforts were part of the students' Communities Clinical class, focusing on bolstering knowledge and offering telehealth services education. This initiative aimed to improve access to and the quality of healthcare in rural areas.

Walrath highlighted the importance of partnerships with local organizations, noting how these experiences are integral to student development and community service. Community members expressed their gratitude for these services and wished the students success in their upcoming careers.

The University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh's College of Nursing is preparing to graduate nearly 100 students into the healthcare workforce following Commencement next month.