Courtesy photos.
CAMARILLO — Selected Nursing students and two outstanding CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Chemistry students will benefit from grants awarded to Associate Professor of Chemistry Ahmed Awad, Ph.D. and Assistant Professor of Nursing Charlene Niemi, R.N., Ph.D.
Awad received $37,829 from the Parker Hannifin Corporation, a global company specializing in motion and control technologies. The grant will enable two senior Chemistry students to work as paid interns for Parker Hannifin, which Awad will choose carefully based on their commitment, academic performance, and level of respect they show for their studies.
“I will choose students who are academically involved at school and in other activities outside the classroom like undergraduate research,” Awad said. “And they must show commitment. Commitment involves respect. They must know how to respect themselves and others.”
The internship will allow the two interns to gain valuable hands-on work and research experience that can’t be obtained in a classroom while earning money at the same time.
“In addition, students will be able to explore their career path and build relationships,” Awad said. “By networking with professionals in the field, that might help them receive their first job offer.”
Hands-on experience is also essential for nursing students, according to Niemi. To that end, Niemi has received $1,500 from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in continuation of their support of a project called “Health Literacy/Education Station by Community Health Nursing Students.”
The $1,500 is the third installment of the overall $15,000 grant from the AACN, which awarded the grant in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The grant enables CSUCI Nursing students to continue their participation in Care Harbor/LA, a massive event in downtown Los Angeles in which hundreds of volunteer health care providers administer free medical, dental and vision care to the uninsured, underinsured and underserved in the surrounding community.
Niemi has coordinated the participation of many of CSUCI’s Nursing students in Care Harbor, which typically serves 2,500 to 3,000 people over the three-day event. Nursing students provide education to patients after being seen by the medical, dental, and vision providers. This year alone students provided information on the importance of nutrition, exercise and stress relief to about 1,500 participants, as well as education on diabetes, hypertension, glaucoma, and dental health. The grant will provide for items like blood pressure cuffs, glucometers, 3-D models and other health information material to allow the students to provide effective education to patients.
“Patients walk away with a better understanding of the disease process and the equipment to monitor their own health,” Niemi said.
Care Harbor takes place in a section of Los Angeles County where there is the highest level of unemployment, poverty and individuals who did not complete high school.
“There is also more hypertension, and diabetes there than anywhere else in L. A county” Niemi said. “The students are able to educate patients with limited understanding of health and that perhaps can’t read. This is the importance of public health nursing — disease prevention and health promotion. ”
Niemi, who has a background in public health, said the experience helps nursing students get a first-hand look at the importance of public health and health literacy.
About California State University Channel Islands: CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) is reimagining higher education for a new generation and era. We are an innovative higher education institution that enables students to succeed and thrive – serving as an engine for social and economic vitality that provides the intellectual resources necessary for a thriving democracy. With more than 7,000 students, 1,200 employees and 14,000 alumni, CSUCI is poised to grow in size and distinction, while maintaining one of the most student-focused learning environments in public higher education. Connect with and learn more by visiting www.csuci.edu or CSUCI’s Social Media.