Earlier this month, 17 faculty and 39 junior and senior-level students from TCU's Harris School of Nursing provided disaster mental health volunteer services for evacuees of Hurricane Katrina. The faculty and students worked in conjunction with Fort Worth's Chisholm Trail American Red Cross chapter. Along with gathering information on hurricane patients at Fort Worth area hospitals, they also helped answer phones at the Red Cross facility and provided activities for children.
"This was supposed to be the nursing students' first day of clinicals at a maternity ward," said Kris Riddlesperger, TCU nursing instructor. "They all opted not to go to their assigned clinical location, but to help with patients arriving from New Orleans. They were very nervous, wanting to make sure they did the right things. As soon as they started admitting nurses, they were doing just fine. They have been meeting the hurricane survivors at seven local local hospitals, including greeting them and staying with them during the admitting process. They were also taking vitals and escorting the patients to the doctors if they need additional care."
"I am so proud to see our students working in the community. We have the best students in the Metroplex! Our other TCU volunteers (outside the clinicals) are also helping connecting survivors and their families and providing other grief support at the phone banks.”
The information gathered by the students and faculty was a crucial first step in reuniting family members separated by the storm and the ensuing evacuation from New Orleans shelters. All information was entered into the Red Cross family matching system. Students and faculty also assisted in the placement of local volunteers seeking opportunities to serve. Harris School of Nursing instructor Susan Weeks was instrumental in connecting the Red Cross with TCU students and faculty. Weeks, who has provided mental health volunteer support in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, is a long-time volunteer with the local chapter.
"Working with the Red Cross provides great work experience for our students," said Weeks. "It also enables TCU to actively engage in the community and provide much needed services."
