Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN) is launching a new program that will teach student nurses about preventative practice.
McLean County needs to shift towards a preventative model in order to properly care for its population, according to McLean County Health Department Assistant Director Cathy Coverston Anderson.
“McLean County is the largest county in Illinois. 26 percent of people living below 200 percent of poverty are uninsured. Beyond that, we are facing a rapidly growing 65 and older population. It is critical that we continue to shift to a more preventative model if we want to keep people healthy and out of the hospital. CAUSE is a large step in that direction,” said Coverston Anderson.
With the Change Agents to the Underserved: Service Education (CAUSE) project, student nurses will gain clinical experience in preventing hospital readmission and coordinating care for patients with chronic illness, mental health, and substance abuse issues.
“At Mennonite College of Nursing, we believe that delivering an excellent education to our students means that we stay on the leading edge of where healthcare is going. Because of that, we’re incorporating more and more primary care and preventative practice into our curriculum, first with America’s Promise and now with CAUSE,” said MCN Dean Judy Neubrander.
The college will have registered nurses at three local organizations: the McLean County Health Department, Community Health Care Clinic, and Chestnut Family Health Center.
The project was made possible from a $2.8 million Health Resources and Service Administration grant. ISU is one of 42 universities in the U.S. to receive the grant.
People like you value experienced, knowledgeable and award-winning journalism that covers meaningful stories in Bloomington-Normal. To support more stories and interviews like this one, please consider making a contribution.
