As featured in Sunbury's The Daily Item
Written by Rick Dandes

NORTHUMBERLAND — Twelve nursing students from the LPN Center, Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU), spread the love at Nottingham Village Wednesday morning by handing out Valentine’s Day cards to all 121 residents.

“We made sure we made enough hearts to give out to everybody,” said Gretchen Erb, nursing instructor, at the center.

This was a first-time event, Erb said.

“We thought it would be something to do to give back to the community, and to the older population,” Erb said. “Bring a little bit of light into their day. This is a special opportunity for the students to bond with patients.”

“It’s fair to say that some of these residents don’t get many visitors. Relatives might live out of state, so they don’t visit until holidays like Christmas.”

The students went room to room, “to get some one-on-one time with the residents,” Erb said. “We want to make sure no one is left behind, everyone gets a valentine. Everyone is offered a treat, according to their diets.”

For some student LPNs this was their first experience in a facility such as Nottingham, Erb said.

“So it’s a great chance to appreciate a geriatric population better, that in some sense, is isolated,” she said. “It’s like we are their connection to the outside world.”

Student Paula Guzman, who attends to Phyllis Gordon, is familiar with Nottingham Village, she said.

“I was a CNA (certified nursing assistant) here,” Gordon said. “Ultimately I’d like to be an RN (registered nurse).”

Besides the special Valentine’s gifts, students escorted residents back and forth to the dining room. They helped them go to the restroom if they needed assistance, and helped with anything a resident rings their bell for such as needing their position in bed turned.

The visiting LPN students were Laura Croft, Ashley Derk, Stacey Frey, Kalah Robbins, Alexandria Brought, Molly O’Rourke, Julie Foreman, Stephanie Bartholomew, Faith Knopp, Megan Linder, Olivi Eifw and Guzman.