Course Description:
Self-paced community service module for nursing students at all levels. Focus is on participating in experiences in the community that reinforce skills and concepts addressed in NUR courses. Emphasis on nursing assessment of community needs, community as client, and community as classroom. Analysis of individual experiences through journal writing and critical reflection sessions.
Competencies:
1. Describe the skills necessary for identifying and addressing health needs of the client in the community.
2. Describe and demonstrate therapeutic communication techniques when interacting with community clients and other health care providers.
3. Utilize the nursing process to establish nursing diagnoses relevant to the physical, cultural, and social needs of the client in the community setting; develop, implement, and evaluate appropriate plans of care.
4. Demonstrate patient teaching for health promotion and disease prevention in the community setting.
5. Utilize legal and ethical concepts to provide safe and effective care of the client in the community setting.
6. Describe the role of the nurse as patient and community advocate.
Teaching methods and learning activities:
1. Handouts and journal articles
2. Selected other references as appropriate
3. Self-evaluation
4. Journal writing
5. Critical reflection
Teaching facilities:
1. GateWay Community College
2. Isaac School District
3. Thomas N. Pappas Regional School
4. Wilson Primary School
5. HealthCare for the Homeless
6. Others as identified by student and/or instructor
Journal writing:
Students will keep a journal of Service-Learning experiences. Entries should average one notebook page. Journals are to be turned in to the instructor at the conclusion of the Service-Learning experience.
Research paper
Students will submit a 5-6 page research paper.
RESEARCH PAPER GUIDELINES
All NCE 282 students will submit a research paper which reflects their Service-Learning project(s).
Length 6-8 pages, typewritten, double spaced
Format APA, MLA, or Chicago
References At least 4. Personal communication with the preceptor at your Service-Learning site may be used for one of the references. Check with me if you are unsure how to include this in your reference list.
Topic: Choose one of these topics
1 . Analyze the role of the nurse in your S-L setting.
- Include:
Client group served
Educational preparation of the nurse
Case finding (how are the clients selected)
Barriers to care
Use of resources (community, volunteers)
2. Discuss a major chronic disease endemic (frequently present) in thepopulation served at your S-L site.
- Include:
History of the disease in this client group
include incidence and prevalence of disease
Factors which delay or exacerbate the disease process
What motivates or deters the client from seeking care
How to prevent complications of the disease
How to promote wellness and improve the quality of life inthis client group
References Newspaper articles
Professional journals
News magazines such as Time, Newsweek
Personal commmunication with healthcare professionals
Your textbook
The preceptor at your S-L site may have some materials to share.
Grading The paper, like the course, is Pass/Fail. However, papers of excellent quality may, with the permission of the student, be included in an anthology of student Service-Learning experiences and/or submitted for publication at a local or national level.
SERVICE LEARNING FOR NURSING – REFLECTION
Please comment on the following topics:
How did you feel about your service learning experience?
What did you learn that you really didn't know (or understand) before?
Has this changed the way you think/feel about your nursing career?
How?
What will you do differently because of it?
Are there other, unmet needs for this population that could be addressed through Service-Learning?
How would you do this?
Other comments on your Service-Learning experience.
