When their stuffed snowmen catch a fever, or when plushie Rudolph’s nose isn’t so bright, Mount Saint Mary College’s Fuzzy Friends Clinic will be there to make sure Christmas is merry and bright for Santa’s youngest fans.
Local children recently learned the ins and outs of medical care at a Fuzzy Friends Clinic, staffed by Mount Nursing students and held at the Newburgh Free Library.
Spearheaded by Linda Kelly, assistant professor of Nursing, the clinic featured the students demonstrating how doctors and nurses use stethoscopes, bandages, blood pressure cuffs, and more to keep patients happy and healthy.
The patients, in this case, were the children’s very own stuffed animals – ranging from traditional teddies to stuffed sheep.
“Sometimes children get scared at a doctor’s office when they see the stethoscope or other unfamiliar equipment, so this allows them to get comfortable with healthcare and nursing professionals,” noted Kelly.
The Mount has hosted several Fuzzy Friends Clinics throughout Orange County and beyond, including on the college’s campus.
The Mount’s service-focused approach to education goes hand-in-hand with helping professions like Nursing, Kelly noted. Mount Nursing students enjoy state-of-the-art simulation labs and clinical relationships with dozens of area hospitals. The Mount’s passionate faculty are dedicated to the success of both their undergraduate and graduate students.