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Poland Shepherd nurses spread the healthy news
By SARAH FOOR
The expert nurses at Poland Shepherd of the Valley always make sure their facility’s residents are comfortable, healthy and well-cared for. On Oct. 13, the nurses visited Boardman’s Barnes and Noble bookstore to share some of their expertise and teach the community about what they do.
The Barnes and Noble visit began with registered nurses Elida Cowles and Patricia Ahlswede teaching a group of young readers about nursing with the help of Dora the Explorer. Using the book “Say ‘Ahhh!’: Dora Goes to the Doctor,” the nurses explained that the youngsters will get weighed, measured, have their temperature checked and have their heartbeat listened to when they visit the doctor.
The nurses stressed the importance of staying healthy and taught the kids more about their body with a game of “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.”
After reading the Berenstain Bears story “Jobs Around Town,” Cowles and Ahlswede let each story time guest listen to the sound of their own heartbeat using a special stethoscope with two ear pieces.
Poland Shepherd of the Valley associate director Kelly Stansloski joined her co-workers at the end of their story time to host a “Ask a Nurse” station at the bookstore. For five hours, the public could get their blood pressure checked by the facility’s nurses and ask questions about any health issues.
“Most of the events at Shepherd of the Valley we host in-house,” explained Stansloski. “This is one of the first times that our staff has gone out into the community to teach people about what we do and we definitely hope to reach out more and more,” she added.