Nursing Students Meet Needs for St. Christopher’s Patients
Nursing students Jayson Osorio, Kabira Arnold, and Kaitlyn Bradley recently completed their clinical rotation at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.
Due to a number of factors, including distance and social needs, the children are often alone with no family members at their bedside. The hospital recognized the need for love and support early on, specifically 4 North, a trauma floor. St. Christopher’s started a trauma closet to collect clothing for children in need.
Jayson, Kabira, and Kaitlyn, alongside registered nurse and GMercyU alumna Jada Crawford ’23, recognized that there were needs that went beyond clothing. Specifically, the need for products for children with textured hair.
Textured hair requires extra care to maintain health, and the hospital lacked even the most basic of hair products, such as hair ties and combs. In collaboration with Jada and Dr. Welsh, Assistant Professor at GMercyU, the students asked for a product list and quickly sprung into action.
“A little girl needed to bathe and we didn’t have the proper products for her hair, which had a sticky substance in it. We realized in that moment how unrealistic it was to not have these products available in the area/demographic in which St. Christopher’s serves,” shared Kabira.
During spring break, the students used their own money to purchase products designed for textured hair such as conditioners, scarves, bonnets, hair ties, and more.
“They were able to witness how important these products are for making a child feel seen and feel beautiful even during their hardest times. Their donation brought a parent and patient to almost tears after a mother was able to care for a patient’s hair after being so sick they were stuck in a hospital bed for days,” shared Jada.
“We were able to give an abundance of products to the unit and even see a patient’s family receive these products in real time,” Kabira shared.
Jada’s goal is to eventually have the products stocked on all floors.
“I am a graduate of Gwynedd Mercy and I know first-hand how important the four core values are to us. Each of the students showed this during their clinical rotation, and it wasn’t for a grade or for props. It was done solely out of the kindness of their heart,” Jada said. “I am so thankful for them!”