On Nov. 9, 83 nursing students from Georgia met on the Georgia Tech campus to participate in Moving Day Atlanta, a fundraising walk for the National Parkinson's Foundation.
Tigest W. Teshome had the idea to plan a multicollege service event after attending the Georgia Association of Nursing Students leadership conference last summer.
“Many nursing student associations do service activities and raise money for causes at their own schools, but rarely do they participate in something together,” said Teshome, a senior in Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. “I felt that collaborating with others going into the profession would let us start networking and form bonds early. That can only strengthen teamwork.”
Teshome, secretary of Emory’s Student Government Association and a member of the Emory Student Nurses Association, presented the idea to the Georgia Association of Nursing Students board and researched health care events that students in metro Atlanta could support.
“I chose diseases and conditions that didn’t seem to get as much publicity and sent a list to student nursing association presidents,” she said. “The associations voted on the Moving Day Atlanta event for Parkinson’s and I was very excited that we could bring more awareness to this disease.”
About 1 million Americans have Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative brain disorder that robs people of their ability to lead a full life. More than 60,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with the disease each year.
The National Parkinson’s Foundation launched the Moving Day campaign in 2011 to combat the disease through research that results in better treatment for patients and improved training for caregivers. Moving Day events are held in cities across the country.
Teshome registered the team as Georgia Nursing Students, which included students from Emory, Clayton State, Georgia State, Mercer, West Georgia Technical College and Brenau. By the end of the walk, the group had raised $1,808.10 and was continuing donation efforts though the end of November.
“Our collective goal is $2,500, but every school is raising money in its own way. Some are having bake sales or asking for donations. At Emory, we’re selling shirts that say 'Be a Nurse to Make a Difference’ for $5 each.”
Participation in the walk has resulted in unexpected benefits.
“When I registered the team, Annie Long, the coordinator for the Atlanta chapter of the National Parkinson’s Foundation, called to ask if we would like to learn more about Parkinson’s disease,” Teshome said.
Together they organized four lunch-and-learn sessions for students at four universities.
“When a Parkinson’s patient came to speak to us about living with the disease, he suddenly paused and got stiff. He told us he has to take medication every 90 minutes. We saw why it was so important for Parkinson’s patients to get their medication on time,” Teshome said.
Many students were moved to tears after hearing how the man and his wife were battling the disease as it progressed, she said.
“I’ve had great feedback from the students who attended,” Teshome said. “You can read about a disease and treatment in a book, but when you see it right in front of you there’s no need for memorization. It sticks with you. I know it will make us all better nurses.”
As a child in her native Ethiopia, Teshome was in a bus accident with her family. That incident helped inspire her to choose nursing as a profession.
“The nurses from a nearby clinic came to help us and they were so kind and passionate about what they were doing. They calmed me down and took care of my mom and uncles, who were seriously injured,” she said. “I want to help people like that, medically and personally.”
Since immigrating to Atlanta with her family when she was 10, Teshome has received help from people who mentored her. She also has received grants and scholarships to attend Georgia Perimeter College and Emory University.
“I want to do the same for others, to pass it on,” she said. “I chose nursing because I have a passion to care for people. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
