PHOENIX -- Arizona State University's College of Nursing is rolling out a new way to treat those in the community who may not be able to seek medical attention on their own.
The WOW van, or Wellness On Wheels, makes a weekly trip to the Children First Academy for the homeless, as well as visiting several Headstart programs around the Valley.
"(We) make sure they don't have strep throat or mononucleosis, or some of the other common childhood illnesses, and then we can treat them right from the van," said Leigh Small, a nurse practitioner and the coordinator of ASU's Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program.
The WOW van is also utilized at senior centers and for obesity clinics.
The van was made possible through a grant from
UnitedHealthcare, and since all of the services are provided for free, they do rely on other donations as well.
A nurse practitioner handles the examinations, but there is often a nurse practitioner student along side, making the exam room also a classroom.
"We can really provide one-on-one mentorship with the students and help them develop their skills," Small said.
"A key thing is getting to watch and observe what she does and replicate it and learn it myself," said Danielle McBurnett, a nursing practioner student.
McBurnett said that taking what they have learned in the books and the classrooms, and putting it into a real life situation with real people and real problems, is the best way to learn.
"It's such a great experience," said McBurnett, "I'm so excited to embark on this educational journey to become a pediatric nurse practitioner."
