It’s hard to ignore an eye-popping headline on a bright pink background that reads, Between the Sheets, even when you are in a hurry and just passing through Memorial’s University Centre (UC) enroute to the food court.

That’s exactly what Memorial bachelor of nursing (BN) students were counting on when they held their first mini-health fair at the UC.

“Our age gives us an advantage, it makes us more approachable,” said Leah Aiken, a second-year fast-track student who worked on the sexual health poster display. “It’s useful information and at this young age of lot of people are in relationships.”

Nursing students in fast-track and four-year options organized and ran two mini-health fairs as part of the Community Health Nursing Practice course.

“Health promotion is an important component for overall health,” said Prof. Judy Moody, who is the course leader. “Health education has been identified as a significant factor empowering people to make lifestyle choices that increase their level of health.”

Consulting with Memorial’s student wellness co-ordinator, the Salvation Army and the Seniors’ Resource Centre, the students created presentations with diverse audiences in mind.

The first mini-health fair at the UC on the St. John’s campus was aimed at a young adult audience; the second was focused on an older demographica and took place at George Street United Church with clients from the Seniors’ Resource Centre and the Salvation Army’s New Hope Community Centre in attendance.

“We wanted them to apply concepts they had learned previously in Health Promotion,” said Dr. Cindy Murray, one of several faculty members who teach Community Health Nursing Practice.

Dr. Murray, Prof. Moody and other course instructors including Professors Mary Bursey, Anita Ludlow and Judy Power enjoyed watching students interacting with the public at the mini-health fairs.

Some examples from the booth on cancer prevention and early detection at the UC’s health fair include:

“Can you feel the lump in our bumps? Can you feel the nut in our nuts?”

These catchy headlines were accompanied by an interactive display. Students were encouraged to feel partially inflated balloons that had been filled with either a bean or a dried pea, drawing attention to the importance of detecting prostate and breast cancers in their early stages.

Over at George Street United Church, the audience was different, but the information shared was also practical, relevant, interesting and experiential.

At the fitness display, students posted information about a variety of local activities.

“We even went to a tai chi class so that we could recommend tai chi for cardiovascular health,” said Amber Higgins, a second-year BN student.

“Students learned how to work together as a team for the purpose of designing, developing and presenting a poster to the public,” said Prof. Moody. “They learned about community partners, collaboration and resources in our community."

Mini-health fairs will also take place as part of the Community Health Nursing Practice course during the 2015-16 academic year.