The IU School of Nursing at IUPUC, in collaboration with Columbus Regional Hospital, brought increased awareness to the role nurses play in our community. As part of this awareness, IUPUC nursing students and faculty participated in the QMIX Women’s Expo on April 19 at the FairOaks Mall in Columbus.

IUPUC nursing students provided a community service by conducting blood pressure and glucose checks using the skills they attained throughout their hands-on lessons in their BSN courses. Furthermore, while at the event, the students were advocates of healthcare education at IUPUC. Additionally, the participating students received clinical hours during their interactions with the participants at the expo. 

Melissa Wilson is an academic advisor in the division of nursing at IUPUC. In her presentation, she discussed career options in health care and the coursework being offered at the IU School of Nursing at IUPUC. In a co-presenting with Caroline Sims from CRH, the duo covered the field of healthcare in a hospital setting. Sims’ focused on entry level and non-degree professions, while Wilson focused primarily on degreed professions. Both discussed the attributes and values needed to pursue a career in the health care profession.

Melissa Wilson holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s degree in education in school counseling, and is certified in emotional intelligence assessments with a keen interest in career inventory.

The Women’s Expo is a popular local event with a history of robust attendance. Over 1,000 women attended the inaugural QMIX, KORN Country, MOJO and Local News Digital Women’s Expo in 2015 at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus. The Women’s Expo is so well-attended the organizers moved the event to the FairOaks Mall in 2015.