March 23, 2014: Trinity Wesleyan Church

Trinity Wesleyan Church is located in Eden, NC and provides the congregational home for the Hispanic Ministries service following the traditional Sunday Morning Services.  This church operates the Trinity Wesleyan Church’s Childcare Program that provides the largest daycare in Rockingham County as well.

The Cone Health Congregational Nurse Program provided a Health Screen and Counseling activity for the Hispanic members of Trinity Wesleyan Church this afternoon at 3pm.  Health screenings included blood pressure checks, blood sugar screenings, health counseling, and scheduled referrals as needed to the Free Clinic of Rockingham County and Rockingham County Health Department.  There were two minors (age 16 and 17) that attended the health screening event and they were referred to the health department for follow-up care since the Free Clinic services are limited to those people over age 18.

My role in this service learning experience:

During this Health Screening program, my role again included checking and recording blood pressures with documentation provided to the Congregational Health Nurse as she followed up with blood sugar screenings.  An interpreter was available to translate health counseling advice as needed for the participants.  I discovered that several of the people I checked had never received medical care in this country.  These people were immediately referred to the Free Clinic for routine physicals including mammography as needed for the female participants.  As I become more comfortable talking with these participants (with the interpreter) I am finding that I am more relaxed and therefore the participants share their anxiety over having their blood pressure checked by frowning and with gestures.  I found myself reassuring them with smiles and they responded quickly by returning my smiles. 

Sandra Rakestraw, the Certified Diabetes Educator, is an expert clinician and provides special reassurance and care as she provides the blood sugar screenings.  She is patient and kind with each individual and very meticulous with follow-up care (picture used with permission).

Congregational Health Nurse
and
Hispanic Medical Interpreter

Going forward:

Again, because Eden, NC is my home town, I would like to continue providing assistance with health care screenings and educational programs as needed for the Hispanic members of our community.  Next Sunday, I will assist with another screening program at St. Joseph of the Hills Catholic Church in Eden.  I plan to continue my Regis Service Learning activities with the Cone Health Congregational Nurse Program and feel privileged to serve people in my community.   

To be continued…