Working with Penn professor Terri Lipman, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, the NP students partnered with local high school students to evaluate 233 children in West Philadelphia's Sayre Beacon After School Program for diabetes risk factors. The findings yielded results that 30 percent of respondents were at-risk for type 2 diabetes. As a response, growth charts and letters about the survey findings were sent to the children's parents.

“It is fitting and appropriate, therefore, that the City of Philadelphia officially recognize with this Citation - University of Pennsylvania Pediatric Acute Chronic and Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner Students and Sayre High School Students and congratulate them on their outstanding work: Academically Based Community Service-  educating and assessing children in the community for risk factors of diabetes,” the Citation read.

The Citations were awarded to the 12 NP students at a celebration at Dean Meleis' home on June 22. "This is a group of students who are exemplars of what engagement is all about," the Dean said. "They develop knowledge and advance science in order to make a difference."

Dr. Lipman, who established the project in 2005, said one of the "amazing ripple effects of the project" is that NP students were able to engage high school students and possibly direct them toward careers in nursing. Acting as guest lecturers, Penn Nursing students educated Sayre High School students about normal versus abnormal growth, development and body mass index, as well as provided instructions on how to evaluate children for diabetes risk factors.

All NP students discussed how important the project has been for their personal and professional development.

"It's important to know the community you're taking care of," said Tara Williamson, a Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner. "It's easy to tell kids, 'ride your bike' or 'play in the park,' but if their neighborhoods aren't safe or if they're parents are working and can't supervise, it won't work. It forces you to think more creatively about the resources your patients have." 

"As nurse practitioners, we need to understand the barriers that exist," added Rachel Cohen, a Pediatric Acute/Chronic Care Nurse Practitioner student. "As RNs, we often put others' critical thinking in action. As NPs, we learn to think critically. This project helped teach that."