SOMERS - Racine's Melissa Singh was among the nine University of Wisconsin-Parkside/University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee consortial nursing program students who recently made a positive impact on the health of school children in Racine. Students in the university's Foundations of Clinical Practice course conducted hearing and vision screening and referral for hundreds of students attending Racine's 21st Century Preparatory School.

Led by Nursing Professor Dr. Sandra Underwood, Singh and fellow students Melissa Bartelson, Ruth Ivalis, Dannielle Kuchar, Jori Russ, Cyndie Shelton, Stacy Williams and Maureen Vander Kamp performed a series of eye examinations and hearing tests on every student in every class. This was the second consecutive year UW-Parkside students have screened 21st Century Prep students.

"It wasn't until we returned this semester that I learned about the outcomes of our students' efforts. It is truly amazing. They have really made a tremendous impact," said Dr. Underwood.

School nurse Delta Naus said the student nurses screened more than 400 children for vision and hearing acuity, identified many with vision problems. With Dr. Underwood's help, students needing glasses received them regardless of their ability to pay.

And the help 21st Century Prep received didn't stop with screenings.

"Our students also benefitted from the nursing students' health presentations," Naus said. "Last spring, the nursing students made grade specific presentations to educate our students on a variety of health issues. Our kindergarten through eighth grade students learned about good dental hygiene, nutrition, growth and development and much more."

Naus praised the nurses "genuine concern and commitment to our school" calling them "great role models!"

The UW-Parkside/UW-Milwaukee consortial nursing program allows students to complete their pre-nursing and nursing major coursework and important clinical experiences like the 21st Century Prep screening at the Kenosha campus.

For more information about the UW-Parkside/UWM nursing program, call (262) 595-2480.