fbpx
Students in field

Finlandia Blood Drive brings aid and education to community

April 3, 2017

The Finlandia University Student Nurses Association (FUSNA), in association with the U.P. Regional Blood Center, is hosting their annual blood drive from 12 to 4 p.m. on Monday, April 10, in Finlandia Hall. The blood drive offers nursing students a great opportunity to develop their professional skills, while also providing an invaluable service to the community.

Blood Drive imageThe blood drive offers an excellent opportunity for students to put their nursing knowledge into practice. Nursing students are responsible for taking the vital signs of donors throughout the process, said Patrice Lompre, Vice President of FUSNA, which is great chance for professional development. As the U.P. Regional Blood Center does not supply any nurses to help with the blood drive, this is not only a good arrangement for the students to gain hands-on experience, but is also vital to the operation of the program.

As a service to the community, there are very few opportunities that parallel the blood drive’s positive impact. “Every pint that’s donated can save up to four lives,” said Lompre. “It’s very important, and I don’t think enough people donate blood.” There is a high demand for more donations, as blood is always needed for emergency events, as well as a number of other functions. Donated blood is broken down into various components, which can go to benefit anemics, hemophiliacs, cancer patients and trauma patients. Donated blood does not have a long shelf life, resulting in a constant need for more donations. There is a positive side to that, however, said Lompre. “The nice thing about this is that the blood stays in our area… it helps our community and the nearby counties.”

The blood drive is an excellent opportunity for any eligible donors to give back to the community in a meaningful way that will help save lives and will help Finlandia’s nursing students to hone their skills. To find out if you’re eligible to donate, read the list of requirements here.

Tags: , , ,
FinnU will not enroll students for 2023-2024Learn More
+