Elementary students at LFJ Elementary recently welcomed a special group of visitors for the school’s first Teddy Bear Clinic, where stuffed animals became patients and young students got a playful introduction to health care.
Senior nursing students from the Iona University School of Nursing and Health Sciences led the clinic as part of a community public health initiative designed to give future nurses hands-on experience working with children in a real-world setting.
Through imaginative play, students helped care for their teddy bears while learning simple lessons about nutrition, exercise, sleep, injury prevention, and what happens during a visit to a healthcare provider. The nursing students guided children through taking vital signs, applying bandages, and helping their stuffed patients “feel better.”
Monica Diamond-Caravella, Senior Clinical Lecturer of Nursing at Iona, said the event gave her senior nursing students a meaningful first opportunity to promote health in a community setting while practicing how to communicate with young children in age-appropriate ways.
“The Teddy Bear Clinic is a win-win,” said Diamond-Caravella. “It allows elementary school students to feel comfortable talking to healthcare providers, while giving our nursing students meaningful experience communicating with children in ways that are culturally, linguistically, and developmentally appropriate.”
For the nursing students, the experience was as rewarding as it was educational. Many of the seniors will graduate in just a few weeks and begin careers in specialties including pediatrics, emergency medicine, oncology, and intensive care.
“Being friendly and talkative with the students is really helpful, and bandaids are always a great icebreaker,” said nursing student Olivia Conca.
“The students are really engaged,” added Angelica Shea. “It’s great to see how much they enjoyed taking vital signs and helping their teddy bears get better.”
The elementary students embraced their roles as teddy bear caregivers, arriving with stuffed animals in need of attention and plenty of stories to tell.
Kayden explained that his teddy bear, Freddy, had “a belly ache, a hurt foot, and a headache.” After receiving treatment, he happily reported, “He’s feeling better now!”
Michael introduced his patient simply as “Teddy Bear.”
“Teddy Bear hurt his arm, but we put bandages on him and bandaids,” he said. “Now everything is going to be ok.”
Diamond-Caravella said the success of the first Teddy Bear Clinic, made possible through teddy bears donated by Iona, has already inspired plans to return in the fall to work with kindergarten students as well.