Senior nursing students study community health impacts of Boyce data center project
Senior nursing students at Northwestern State University's Cenla campus conducted a community impact project, studying the health concerns related to a data center under construction in Boyce, Louisiana. Their research highlighted potential issues such as water consumption, air pollution, and rising energy costs, connecting these to residents' health and well-being. The students developed and distributed informational flyers to engage local residents and advocate for their health.
Senior Bachelor of Science in Nursing students from Northwestern State University's Cenla campus undertook a Level 5 community impact project to examine the health concerns surrounding an ongoing data center construction in Boyce, Louisiana. The project, a capstone assignment for their final semester, aimed to assess community needs and advocate for residents' health, as explained by Alicia Book, MSN, RN, campus director for nursing and allied health.
Student Matthew Delrie, a Boyce resident, noted his group selected the project due to community concerns about the data center. He highlighted potential issues such as increased water consumption, air pollution, and rising energy costs, expressing worries that these factors could negatively impact the health literacy and equity of the rural community. Delrie emphasized that these issues could hinder access to healthcare or directly worsen residents' health.
As part of their initiative, the students created and distributed an informational flyer detailing the economic and environmental effects of data center development, linking them to broader community health impacts. They engaged with local residents at popular gathering spots, finding that some shared similar concerns while others lacked information about the development. This outreach aimed to inform and empower residents regarding the data center's potential consequences.