Summative Service-Learning Reflection

Noticing & Interpreting:

My expectations that I had for service learning from the beginning of the nursing school program

were to learn more about the vulnerable populations in my area, to be able to help the needy

populations throughout the community, and to learn about the services provided throughout the

community for those in need. These expectations were all met throughout my time with the

college of nursing. I learned all about vulnerable populations in my area and around the world in

NUR 3113. I was able to help the needy population in my area in all my courses that I performed

a service learning project in. I was able to learn about the services in my community for those in

need in all the courses I did service learning projects in and also by going to clinical in the

mental health facilities we had to visit and throughout the Bon Secours hospitals. A strength I

have seen throughout the community is the various programs set up to help the need population

in our area from mental health programs to the Salvation Army Angel Tree there is pretty much a

program for everything that this population could need. As addressed in my other reflection I

think a problem in the community that many people cant speak English. This problem can make

it extremely tough when you need a job to provide for your family. A solution to this problem

would be a program to help these families be able to learn English so that they can get a job to be

able to provide for their family. I dont feel like my values and experiences as a part of a certain

group of people, socioeconomic class, or exposure to media really shaped what I saw and heard

throughout my nursing career. I feel like I saw just as much as any other student did and I did not

allow anything to block me from hearing and seeing what I needed to see in order to understand

what these needy communities go through and need in order to get by.
Responding:

I have learned several things about the surrounding community. I have learned we have a major

mental health need. I learned we have a major need for food services in our area. I also learned

many people need help with keeping up with their help and getting to and making appointments

to do so. I learned we have a need for free classes for the non-English speaking population to

learn English. I have learned that we need ways for the surrounding community to learn and

know what types of services are around the community to help them. There are so many things

that I have learned, but, these are what come to mind when thinking of the major things that

stand out to me. I have found the service-learning activities to be truly relevant to the community

and my learning experiences as a student in nursing school. Without these experiences, I would

not be aware of many issues going on in my community and I also would not know how to direct

those individuals that need these services in the right direction.

Reflecting on service-learning:

My service learning experiences have influenced my perception of my call to serve by showing

me all the different types of people in my community that really do rely on so many of these

services that we have done service learning project and other services available throughout the

community. My concept of service learning has changed since I began my career as a nursing

student in several ways. Before going to nursing school I just knew what community service

was, I had never heard of service learning. I feel like I truly understand how to know how to

volunteer in many different areas in the community vs just a few general places that I knew of

before starting nursing school. For my service learning experience in NUR 1100 I volunteered to

help out around my church. The man I was helping asked me to help clean the church. This

activity helped prepare me for my service learning experience because I learned how to reach out
to places that I felt like needed help. My second service learning experience was in NUR 3133.

For this experience, my partner and I volunteered to do activities with the after school program at

St. Josephs Villa. This experience helped me to prepare for this service learning experience by

learning how to be flexible in planning and coordinating activities. I had to plan and coordinate a

day with the people at St. Josephs Villa that worked good for their schedule as well as planned a

few activities to do with children ranging from 4-18 years old. My third service learning

experience was for NUR 3114. My mental health practicum group planned a thankful chain

activity to do at the Little Sisters of the Poor when we went there for clinical. The activity we did

with those patients helped prepare me for this service learning experience by helping me with my

communication skills. I used to be very shy when talking with people I dont know but now I am

able to reach out and talk to others without feeling awkward or not knowing what to say.

Reflecting on civic engagement:

According to the American Psychological Association civic engagement is defined as

individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern.

Civic engagement can take many forms, from individual voluntarism to organizational

involvement to electoral participation (para. 2). I plan to stay engaged with the local

community by volunteering in my spare time whenever possible. I would like to volunteer for

feed more and deliver meals to those in need. I would also like to volunteer for the angel Tree

registration and for the gift pick up next year. I would like to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald

house and with the women and children in the area that have been victims of domestic abuse.
 Reference

Civic Engagement . (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2017, from

http://www.apa.org/education/undergrad/civic-engagement.aspx