Newsfeed
Printer-Friendly ModeHealth Services ready for busy first week of school
August 25, 2005 —
Anticipating loads of paperwork from new drop-in students, administering immunizations and advertising campus activities, such as a blood drive in September, the SVSU Health Services is prepared and ready to start the semester.
Busy throughout the fall and winter, the first couple weeks of the academic year tend to be the busiest for Health Services.
"The first week tends to be busy giving immunizations, with people discovering they have requirements [for class]; some are ill," says Gloria Hansen, director of Health Services. "Most of it [for students] is preparation and catching up for school. By the second week, people come back and share symptoms from other things, like rashes, sunburns and poison ivy."
Despite the limited availability of meningitis shots, Hansen likes to keep Health Services well stocked in preparation for the first week of school.
"Last year we had given over 100 shots the first week," she says. "It's our job to keep people healthy from various diseases."
Since Health Services is closed during the summer semester, only Hansen is working in the office, getting ready for its opening during the first week of school. She says she wants to make sure students know what is available at Health Services.
"Preventing illness is so much better than taking care of people after they are sick," Hansen says. "I try to be proactive and have immunizations available at a low cost."
Hansen encourages everyone, especially dorm students, to get flu shots.
Available in October and November, flu shots are approximately $15. Other immunization shots range from a $10 tuberculosis test to $90 Meningitis vaccines. Health Services also has registered nurses available by appointment to diagnosis illnesses and prescribe medication.
"We have medication and advice for all kinds of normal everything things, like colds, flus, headaches, rashes, and minor first aid," Hansen says. "[Nurse practitioners] are trained to do advanced medicine. [Practitioners] can do as much work as a doctor, with the exception of surgery. They can prescribe lab work and X-rays and are trained to do advanced diagnosis. They are a real benefit to students for $10."
Nurse practitioners are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays by appointment.
Drop-in hours for Health Services are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
There is also a registered nurse available at no cost for students during drop-in hours, no appointment needed. If the nurses in Health Services cannot help, they will do what they can to help attain local help.
"We have a lot of resources and referrals to send students anywhere for a reasonable cost," Hansen says. "We try to find affordable medicine. It's hard to do a good job, studying for exams if you feel sick. We're here to make this the best experience; to keep you healthy, so you can do a good job, go out, and have a good life in the world."