WILSON, N.C. — Educating customers about healthy hearts was the focus of a Heart Health Awareness Day at Belk of Wilson on Saturday, and partnering with Belk for the wellness education event were the Barton College School of Nursing and the Barton College Association of Nursing Students (BCANS).
From noon until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Barton nursing students Nancy Thompson, Ashley Murray, and Amy King were on hand at Belk to provide free blood pressure screenings. In addition to sharing information about cardiovascular disease and stroke, the nursing students discussed the risk factors of smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol, and their damaging effects on the heart. Customers were reminded that choosing a heart-healthy diet, making time for exercise, and scheduling regular check-ups with physicians were important ways to keep their hearts healthy.
“The Barton College School of Nursing was pleased to participate with Belk in the Heart Health Awareness Day event,” shared Dr. Sharon I. Sarvey, dean of the Barton College School of Nursing. “Barton welcomes opportunities to reach out in service to our hometown of Wilson, and partnering with Belk provides a great venue for our nursing students to provide health education to members of the community outside of the traditional health care settings. Nursing is very much focused on educating the public about preventive care so that patients can enjoy a healthier lifestyle, and we welcome opportunities to share these important messages.”
Committed leaders in our community, Barton College and Belk welcome opportunities to provide service to the greater Wilson area, and this wellness education event provided a great opportunity to promote best practices in heart health.
“Belk is incredibly appreciative of our customers, and we are very pleased that they have responded so well to our community initiatives, including the Heart Health Awareness Day this past Saturday,” said Zeb Whitehurst, Belk store manager. “Barton’s School of Nursing proved to be a great partner in educating our customers about heart health. The College’s nursing students were well informed and professional as they provided blood pressure screenings and offered great health tips. We look forward to broadening our health focus for our customers as we partner once again with Barton’s School of Nursing on Feb. 22nd.”
Barton College and Belk will team up again on Tuesday, Feb. 22, from noon until 3 p.m. for Belk’s Healthy Living Appreciation Day to offer free blood pressure screenings and to share additional tips for healthy living.
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Questions? Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: [email protected].