Radford community nursing students to host senior health fair on Feb. 23

HealthFair2
Seniors from Radford's School of Nursing will join healthcare colleagues to focus on preventative efforts and health promotion at the fifth annual New River Valley Senior Health Fair on Feb. 23 at the Christiansburg Recreation Center.

As patient educators and organizers, Radford nursing students will again host the fifth annual New River Valley Senior Health Fair.

The fair will be on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Christiansburg Recreation Center at 1600 N. Franklin St.  In the event of inclement weather, the fair will take place Tuesday, March 2.

The event is part of Emeritus Professor of Nursing Maggie Bassett's Community Health class.

“Nursing in the community occurs when the patient is a population or community of people. We focus on preventative efforts and health promotion,” said Miranda Blackburn, a fourth-level nursing student and part of the eight-person New River Valley Health and Wellness Fair organizing team. “We are looking forward to welcoming the senior community from the New River Valley, getting to know them and connecting them with the many health-related resources available.”

The Radford nursing students will be joined by more than 30 community health organizations from the New River Valley. During the four-hour fair, the Radford nursing students and their professional colleagues will perform various screenings and assessments and offer guidance on topics ranging from dental, hearing and vision health, nutrition, drugs and emergency preparedness. 

Aspiring professionals from Radford’s nutrition and dietetics program and Radford's two chapters of the Student Nursing Organization will also be on-hand to share helpful and current information, practice consultation skills and do research.

“There is a shift from a hospital and acute-care focus to working in communities to prevent health problems before they begin,” said Blackburn. “Community-based nursing is focused on wellness rather than illness.”

Guests at the fair will be eligible to win door prizes, courtesy of the New River Valley business community.

“Our thanks go to so many of the local stores in Radford and Christiansburg that have made donations for the fair and the participating vendors who have also been generous,” Blackburn said.    


Feb 17, 2017
Don Bowman
(540) 831-5182
dbowman@radford.edu