MC Student Nurses Assist Clinton Senior Citizens Appreciation Day

Mississippi College student nurses who administered health screenings at the 2012 Mississippi Baptist Convention in Jackson.

Mississippi College student nurses will be out in big numbers to administer health screenings at an appreciation day for Clinton senior citizens.

The April 15 event at the Wood Activity Center, site of the old Clinton library, is expected to attract 200 seniors. Beginning at 8 a.m., the four-hour program, including a to-go box lunch, is free. Lunch will be served at 11 a.m.

Spotlighting the needs of senior adults, the event will draw MC student nurses sharing information on heart health, diabetes, cancer, and blood pressure as well as doing health screenings, says School of Nursing Dean Mary Jean Padgett.

“The benefit for the community is information about health care resources, screenings, and networking with agencies that focus on senior adults,” Padgett said.

The Senior Appreciation Day Health Fair is designed to meet the needs of Clinton seniors in a state that ranks the worst in America when it comes to rates of heart disease and diabetes.

For nearly a decade, the MC School of Nursing has worked with the Clinton Parks and Recreation Department to sponsor the health fair. In the past, it has been held at Brighton Park and at the Baptist Healthplex. This year’s site, the Wood Activity Center, is new.

School of Nursing students have assisted at numerous health fairs over the years. They’ve done health screenings at annual meetings of the Mississippi Baptist Convention in Jackson. They also administer flu shots to MC faculty, staff and students each year on the Clinton campus and at the MC School of Law in Jackson.

With vendors coming to the mid-April health fair, including representatives from area healthcare companies and hospitals, it should bring the total to nearly 300 people, said Chandra Fontenot, special services coordinator with the Clinton Parks and Recreation Department. There also will be entertainment booked to spice up the festivities for senior citizens.

For more information or to register for lunch, contact Chandra Fontenot at 601.924.6082.