McNeese Student Nurses Engaging With the Community 

McNeese State University nursing students engage with the community to provide education during their senior year through a course on community and public health. 

Danielle Guillory is an assistant professor of nursing focusing on adult health in the College of Nursing and Health Professions. She explains that student nurses in her course go into the community to provide health promotion and education focusing on disease and prevention.  

“Participating in this program, nursing students contribute to improving community members’ health and well-being and develop skills in health education and advocacy,” Guillory said. 

Community outreach also provides nursing students with practical, real-world experience outside of the classroom and they gain an identity as a professional nurse. 

The students also learn about health disparities and addressing the populations’ unique health needs and challenges and how they can contribute to the efforts to reduce the disparities. 

“Cultural competence is also learned through community outreach, exposing nursing students to diverse cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds and healthcare practices,” Guillory said. “This exposure helps students develop the awareness, sensitivity and understanding necessary to effectively communicate and provide care to individuals from different cultural backgrounds.” 

Guillory and the students meet with community members at two local churches, New Sunlight Baptist Church and Emmanuel Baptist Church.  

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