Mary Kate Kitchin
  • Nursing (Generic)
  • Class of 2013
  • Orland Park, IL

Mary Kate Kitchin of Orland Park Provides Child Health Tips to Head Start Parents

2012 Dec 4

Lewis University pediatric nursing students recently presented a health education program for more than 40 parents and caregivers in the Catholic Charities' Head Start program at St. John's Center in Joliet. They presented information with four different bilingual health education posters on topics, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Pediatric nursing students Roxana Barrios and Maria Velez served as Spanish translators for the event along with student volunteer Ivette Manzo.

"The student translators' work with that of our nursing students was invaluable to the families who do not read or speak English," said Anne McShane, assistant professor. McShane and Sheila Berkemeyer, instructor, started an interdisciplinary initiative as part of the Service Learning activity for the Health Maintenance and Restoration: Children course.

In the 2012 Spring semester, Martha E. Villegas Miranda, university minister and coordinator of ministry outreach, helped identify Lewis University students who could attend the health education fair and serve as interpreters for a presentation. The health education project progressed this fall semester by having students translate the posters from English to Spanish. Lewis University students Ivette Manzo, Stephanie Hernandez, Jocelyn Alvarez and Elizabeth Guerrero worked with the pediatric nursing students to translate the posters.

Mary Kate Kitchin of Orland Park, Ill. participated in the project.

"The Head Start families need presentations the nursing students provide each semester that include current and relevant information about the healthcare needs of their children," added McShane. The collaboration, partnership, and association between the nursing students and the student translator / interpreter volunteers are an integral part of the Lewis University mission, which includes a commitment to social justice.

Pediatric nursing students working on this project included: Christine Ahrens, Roxana Barrios, Samantha Bernal, Kimberly Coyle, Brandon Cruz, Jade Diaz, Samantha Doering, Kelly Kaleta, Megan Konewko, Mary Kate Kitchin, Paula Nuguid, Lindsey Polke, Gina Romanelli, Amy Simms, Malgorzata Tylka and Maria Velez.

Lewis University is a Catholic university offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 6,500 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally connected, and socially responsible graduates. The ninth largest private not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.