Students gain experience screening for kidney disease through partnership
Lockwood leads kidney health group with students
A growing partnership between the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois and the UIC College of Nursing Alpha Lambda chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the international honor society of nurses, has led to increased opportunities for nursing students to gain clinical skills and help the community.
Led by associate professor Mark Lockwood, UIC Nursing students volunteered late last month at a kidney screening event at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, the third time the group volunteered at a National Kidney Foundation of Illinois event this year. Of the more than 60 people screened, 47% had abnormal results, highlighting the importance of screening, Lockwood says.
“It’s a really great opportunity for students to practice clinical skills,” Lockwood says. “They get a lot of practice in, so that helps them build their confidence. They become familiar using different devices and they also get the opportunity to interact with patients, which is really beneficial to students.”
At the screenings, students help conduct urine analysis, and administer stations to check blood pressure, blood glucose and body mass index (BMI). Other events UIC Nursing students have volunteered at include World Kidney Day in March and the Walk for Kidneys in June.
“Untreated hypertension and diabetes are the main drivers of kidney disease” Lockwood says. “These conditions are manageable, but a lot of people don’t know they have these issues because they may not have any signs or symptoms until it’s in advanced stages and the damage is done.”
He adds: “By knowing and regularly checking your blood pressure and blood glucose levels, you can prevent or delay kidney disease. No one wants to be hooked to a machine for four hours, three days a week.”
The UIC Nursing Alpha Lambda chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, is nearly 60 years old with more than 300 members. The chapter inducted 41 new members at a ceremony on Monday, Nov. 3. The chapter also issues over $3500 in scholarships annually to students and faculty to support their research and evidence-based practice projects.
