Chaminade University of Honolulu

Nursing & Health Professions

Chaminade’s Student Nurses Association Served More than a Side Dish at Thanksgiving

It was the annual Salvation Army Thanksgiving Lunch at Neal Blaisdell Arena on November 24, with 800 volunteers serving 2000 people in need.  Most of the volunteers served the holiday guests a traditional Thanksgiving meal — mashed potatoes, roasted turkey, cranberries, stuffing, rolls, cooked vegetables, salad and, of course, pumpkin pie.

However, 30 of those volunteers, all members of Chaminade’s Student Nurses Association (SNA), were on a different mission. The student volunteers offered blood pressure screenings, serving more than 150 people before the door to the dining area even opened. Dressed in their Chaminade logo shirts, they shared on healthy lifestyle habits and assisted at the first aid station. Several senior citizens who had high blood pressure were directed to see their primary care physician as soon as possible by the nursing faculty. “I was surprised that many elders were not aware of how to care for their blood pressure,” said Lena Souza, SNA senior student member.

This was the School of Nursing’s second year at this event. Chaminade SNA advisor and assistant professor, Eurina Yujin-Cha Kee, Ph.D, RN, MSN, CRRN organized the service project. Last year, the volunteer group was limited to nursing students in Kee’s public health nursing section. Opening the opportunity up to include SNA members allowed for more participation.

Kee and her students have found this community service to be meaningful. “Serving people in the community is our Chaminade mission and the School of Nursing’s mission,” Kee remarked. “And sharing our love and ‘ohana with people in need is SBA’s community service goal as well.”

Kee added, “I will support this event every year.”

Her students and the guests at next year’s Salvation Army Thanksgiving Lunch will be glad to hear that.

School of Nursing Alumni Return to Network

One evening in late November, nearly 50 Chaminade graduates and seniors gathered at Henry Hall Courtyard for School of Nursing’s second annual alumni mixer.

Alumni from the classes of 2014, 2015 and 2016 along with seniors from the class of 2017 met with representatives from seven clinical sites including Ka Punawai Ola Rehab Facility, Hawaii Pacific Health, Navy Nurse, Leahi and Maluhia Hospital, the Hawaii Department of Health, Express Healthcare Professional and Hale Nani. Attracted by the job networking opportunities, the participants listened intently to the descriptions and needs of each of the sites. All sites offered job possibilities for the graduates and soon-to-be graduates.

Later participants heard from Honza Hroch, representing CreativeNurse.  Hroch presented on managing finances including student loans.  His presentation was tailored to help guide nurses and recent graduates with their financial concerns.

The event culminated with a rich mentoring session between alumni and seniors. The attendees were broken into smaller groups for roundtable discussions where alumni could share their experiences with seniors, as well as answer any questions. For the dean of the School of Nursing, Gwenevere Anderson, and her faculty, Denise Cooper, Julie Elting, Denise Hackman, Eurina Kee, Edna Magpantay-Monroe and Julieta Rosado, it was fulfilling to reconnect with former students and to see these former students pass their wisdom forward to the seniors.

Chaminade University accepted its first cohort into its School of Nursing in fall 2010. That first cohort graduated in spring 2014, with two more graduating cohorts following each spring. The mission of the Chaminade University of Honolulu School of Nursing embraces the key elements of education and service. Specifically, it is to educate students “…to be competent and caring nursing professionals who will promote health and high standards of practice, decrease health-related disparities in society, and enhance the quality of life for their patients in a dynamic health care environment.”

Nursing Students Gain Cultural Competency through Ho‘okuikahi I Pu‘ukohola Cultural Event

Thanks to a grant from HMSA Foundation, 12 students and four faculty members from the Chaminade University School of Nursing were able to again participate in providing health screenings and wellness education at the annual  Ho‘okuikahi I Pu‘ukohola Cultural Festival held on the island of Hawaii at Pu‘ukohola Heiau. The Chaminade team partnered with representatives from the ‘Ahahui o na Kauka and from the Department of Native Hawaiian Health (DNHH) at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). The overall mission and purpose of Chaminade’s participation was to deliver health screening services and to learn how to carry out these services in a culturally sensitive way.

Participating in the event continues to be enriching for students and faculty in the School of Nursing.  In light of the experience, the School of Nursing hopes to develop a Native Hawaiian Cultural Competency elective course at Chaminade University that would lead to a stronger foundation in cultural holistic understanding for its students.