Weekend BSN Students Participate Participate in Boot Up Day

Seniors in Gwynedd Mercy University's Weekend Bachelor of Science in Nursing program participated in "Boot Up Day" on Saturday, October 25 as part of their Nursing 422 course under the director of Professor Emerita Jean Michiels, MSN.

"Boot Up Day" is a community outreach event hosted by Saint John's Hospice (SJH) in Philadelphia to provide supplies and essential services to people facing homelessness in Philadelphia. The event served more than 2,000 participants.

WBSN students presented projects related to a healthcare topic, some working in groups and some working individually. This year's topics included suicide prevention, first aid (kits were given out), blood pressure education and monitoring, frost bite and STI prevention and treatment. Students and faculty also provided blood pressure assessments and addressed any issues the participants wished to discuss.

“The students were professional, respectful and compassionate to the people they served," GMercyU Professor of Practice Frances McAdams, MSN, MS, RN said.

This is just one of the many opportunities GMercyU Nursing students have to put their skills and knowledge into real-world action to serve vulnerable communities - a hallmark of a GMercyU Nursing education.

“Taking part in 'Boot Up Day' allowed me to connect with people often overlooked in healthcare. It was humbling and inspiring to apply what I’ve learned to meet real needs, and it reminded me that nursing is about more than treating illness — it's about restoring hope,” GMercyU WBSN senior Erika Bumbrey said.

The event also provided essentials such as new coats, boots, socks for children and adults as well as household items. Resources on where to obtain care and housing in Philadelphia were also available.