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Nursing students from the UNMC College of Nursing Lincoln Division with their blood drive poster. Top row from left are Chyna Willis, Jessica Jammer, Rodney Bredemeier and Tiffany Holligaugh. Bottom row from left are Amanda Holcomb, Amy Pandorf, Chelsea Danek and Amy Stevens. |
The challenge: to see what class could recruit the most blood donors for the Community Blood Bank drive in Lincoln.
They smashed their goal of 40 donors by getting 57 people to give blood and the first semester nursing students won the competition. Their prize is a pizza party.
Tanya Tvrdy, a member of SNA who promoted the event, said she and other nursing students were excited about the opportunity to contribute to the great need for blood.
“We were really happy to do it because we’d never done anything like that before,” Tvrdy said. “We only expected to get 40 donors, but we exceeded our goal and we’re extremely happy about that.”
Jami Fulwider, instructor and faculty representative for the Lincoln Division SNA, said the blood drive succeeded on two levels — boosting the blood supply and educating students.
“Our students’ participation and enthusiasm was impressive. I expect some of them will become long-term donors,” Fulwider said. “The students also recruited their friends and families, so that should lead to even more donations.
“I think it has taught the students to appreciate the donations the community gives. The students take care of the patients that need the blood. They’re the ones administering the blood to the patients, so they see that side of things. Now they’re able to better appreciate where it comes from and the efforts of the people that donate.”
Myra Schmaderer, instructor in the Lincoln Division, said she is proud of the students.
“This is a great community service effort from our students,” Schmaderer said.