Running head: SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL 1

Service Learning Proposal

Shannon Vandenberg
Ferris State University
























SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL 2

Abstract

The Service Learning Project is a requirement among the Ferris State University nursing
students prior to graduation. This activity includes a community based program that is related to
health where I as a student can perform a service that benefits my personal and professional
development along with my community (Service Learning, 2012). The agency I selected to
perform my Service Learning Project is called Kent Career Technical Center. It is a free program
full of numerous program options for junior and senior high school students within the district
area. I will be attending Kent Career Technical Center as an assistant to the instructor of a
Certified Nursing Assistant program. I am helping the students with their skills such as toileting
and transferring where I will emphasis on the importance of these skills. Then I become an
instructor in the classroom where I educate the students on professional communication. This is
where I will share my personal experience and knowledge. In the end, I will assist with the final
check-offs for the students. For the seniors, a simulation is created where I interview them for a
position as a future employer and for the juniors, evaluating their performance on technical
skills. I will learn how my services can benefit myself and my community through the response
of the students. I will receive feedback from students on how influential my assistance was. This
is to enhance my development and knowledge as a health professional.





SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL 3

Introduction
The Service Learning Project is a specific requirement for Ferris State University nursing
students to complete prior to graduation. According to the Handbook for Undergraduate Student
Nurses (as seen in Appendix A), The faculty defines Service Learning for the professional
nursing students as work done or help provided for another or others by faculty, staff, and
students (Service Learning, 2012). The work done by the student has to be a service occurring
outside assigned program activities. The activity should be related to health care to enhance our
professional development (Service Learning, 2012). According to the Handbook for
Undergraduate Student Nurses, Service Learning is a form of practical experience, enhances
learning in all areas of a nursing program, and the experience of community service reinforces
the moral and civic values inherent in serving others (Service Learning, 2012). There are goals
of the Service Learning that are for the professional nursing student that include goals such as
developing a plan for community service learning and providing a health-related service (Service
Learning, 2012). The proposal is for second semester students in NURS 250 (Health Promotion)
for the selected service learning project (Service Learning, 2012). The proposal must be
approved by the instructor prior to beginning the work with the agency selected (Service
Learning, 2012).
Agency Description
Kent Career Technical Center is the name of the Agency that I will be performing my
required Service Learning volunteer hours. It is a free program for families or schools that rely
on property taxes and grant funding to support the Tech Center (Kent Career Technical Center.
n.d.).. The program is for high school junior and senior students from all schools in the district. It
is to prepare the students for college, certifications, internship, apprenticeship, technical training
SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL 4

and a rewarding career (Kent Career Technical Center. n.d.). They provide a variety of
programs such as accounting, automotive, construction technology, criminal justice, health
careers, hospitality, and many more. Their vision statement is, Kent Career Tech Center will be
the communitys first choice for a world-class education focusing on career exploration, career
preparation, and continuing education leading to successful employment (Kent Career
Technical Center. n.d.). The program is about making connections to start students futures and
explore careers to lead them in the right direction (Kent Career Technical Center. n.d.).
Volunteer Role Description
I have accepted a role in the Kent Career Technical Center as a volunteer in a class of
senior high school students becoming Certified Nursing Assistants. After speaking with the
teacher of the class, we have agreed I will assist with skills, final check-offs, and contribute to
the growth and self-development in relation to the profession of nursing. I will provide a quick
lecture on intrapersonal communication among professionals using personal experience and
professional education. Then, I will have a session where I take students that are interested in
exploring the nursing profession and relate to them by sharing my experience. At the end, I will
be performing final check-offs with the senior students by initiating a professional interview
simulation for a health related position. The junior students also have check-offs with their
technical skills where I will also be an instructor grading their performance. I will specifically be
the teachers assistant during the volunteer hours helping out with the function of the classroom.
I will be demonstrating my responsibility in a professional and personal manner.
Objectives as Related to Program
I hope to learn from this experience that I can provide activities and services that benefit
a professional health-related program of my community. This will benefit me from this program
SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL 5

because it will enhance my development as a health professional. I personally believe that I can
help benefit the students through my experience. I attended Kent Career Tech Center my junior
and senior year of high school. I then became a Certified Nursing Assistant at a long-
term/rehabilitation facility for four years. I remember the things I wish I was provided with
during my experience. I didnt understand the importance of some activities and didnt
thoroughly apply myself to the things that were beneficial to focus on. Now I have the
opportunity to provide a service that I wish I had during my experience. I can be the voice that
the student can personally relate to from being in their shoes not too long ago. I can help them
explore their careers more and become more prepared for their next step in life. I believe this will
benefit my community because this specific program is within my district. The program that I
will be contributing my knowledge with has future health professionals where some will be
applying themselves to our community based health facilities. By taking the time to engage the
students in the importance of the things they are becoming educated on, I can benefit the future
employers in my community.
Activities to Meet Objectives
During my Service Learning Project I will be required to assist with skills that the
students are learning to perform as Certified Nursing Assistants. This includes skills that I myself
have learned in the first semester of the nursing program in our 253 skills lab. I will be a role
model to the students to express the importance of these skills. Some skills we will be
performing include transfers, toileting, ambulation, hygiene, and many more patient-aide skills.
Then, I will be attending final check-offs for the students. I will be creating a simulation where I
represent a professional interviewing the student as a future employer. This type of simulation is
for the senior students finishing up Kent Career Technical Center. For the junior students, I will
SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL 6

help with their final check-offs that relate to the specific skills performed. Not only will I be
assisting the students with their activities, but I will also share my knowledge about being a
Certified Nursing Assistant and current student nurse. Some students in the class will be
furthering their education which includes the nursing profession. I will take the time to express
some important guidance that could lead them in the right direction. This includes sharing my
experience throughout college and especially in the nursing program. I can help clarify any
uncertainties and relate on a personal level since I was once in their shoes. Then, I will instruct
my own lecture to the students about professional communication. How we have our own
language among health professionals that wouldnt translate to our patients. This type of
communication also means how we speak as to our other health professionals, meaning how a
nurse and aide communicate. My specific activities will be assisting the teacher and educating
the students.
Evaluation Plan
I will evaluate my own learning by how the students respond to me. When I am educating
them on the importance of skills, interviewing, or even material I will evaluate on how
influential my assistance was. When I am helping with skills and I see that the students have
effectively performed the skill with confidence, I will know that I made a beneficial effect on the
students. While I am instructing, this gives me a chance to learn. I have the opportunity to apply
my current knowledge and then enhance my development as a professional in health care. The
instructor I am following has been a registered nurse in the emergency room for twenty-five
years. I can learn a lot from her by her personal experience and education.


SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL 7

Appendix A
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS
SCHOOL OF NURSING
HANDBOOK FOR UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENT NURSES Supplement to the Ferris State University Code of Student Community
Standards
July 2012
SERVICE LEARNING
The nursing faculty at Ferris State University defines Service Learning as work done, or help
provided, for another or others by faculty, staff, and students. Such activities for the professional
nursing student will include documented service occurring outside assigned program activities
and those not required by their employer. This activity may involve service to the community,
University, or a health care institution or the nursing profession. Such activity is expected to
enhance their professional development and should be related to health care.
Service Learning is a form of practical experience that enhances learning in all areas of a nursing
program, and the experience of service learning reinforces the moral and civic values inherent in
serving others. The faculty view Service Learning as an important component of the professional
nursing program and, as such, they require that these activities be completed prior to graduation.

The goals of Service Learning for the professional Nursing student are:

1. To develop a plan for community service learning to take place over the course of the
professional education program.
2. To provide a health-related service to a community of need.
3. To work closely with the faculty advisor to implement this plan for community service
over the course of the program.
4. To complete a written report and presentation which identifies what significant
personal and professional insights have been gained due to this service learning activity.
5. To give clearly described and verifiable examples of such learning experiences.
6. To critically examine how this service learning has impacted their career process.




SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL 8


Appendix B
Contact information:
Instructor: Kathleen, Bogucki (R.N.)
Email: kathybogucki@kentisd.org
Phone number: (616) 364-8421 ext. 2694
Fax number: (616) 364-1990
Kent Career Technical Center:
1655 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Phone number: (616) 364-8421













SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL 9

References
Kent Career Technical Center (n.d.). In Kent ISD. Retrieved April 24, 2014, from
http://www.thetechcenter.org
Service Learning (2012, July). In Handbook for Undergraduate Student Nurses. Retrieved April
25, 2014, from http://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/colleges/alliedhe/Nursing/RN-to-
BSN/Handbook-for-Undergrad-Nursing-Students-2012.pdf

































SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL 10

POINTS
POSSIBLE 50
POINTS
EARNED



INTRODUCTION and AGENCY
DESCRIPTIONIntroduce assignment. Purpose of
paper. What is role of agency, not just name?
Should be sourced.
15
VOLUNTEER ROLE DESCRIBED What will
you do or how will this be determined?
5
10
OBJECTIVES AS R/T PROGRAM What do
you hope to learn or how will you benefit AND
how will your service benefit the community?
Relate to program objectives.

ACTIVITIES TO MEET OBJECTIVES What
specifically do you anticipate your activities will
be?
5
EVALUATION PLAN How will you evaluate
your own learning and the effects of your activities
on the community?
5
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION /
INSTRUCTOR APPROVAL Include all
pertinent information for contact. Name, title,
phone, street address, email
5
REFERENCES:
The following areas should be addressed and a
reference included to support each:
Support for agency information
Role of service learning in professional education
Support for planned outcomes is there evidence
that the activities positively influence the
outcomes desired?
5
Deductions of up to 30% of total grade may be
made for errors in APA /Writing including:
Title page w/ running head, Abstract, Margins,
Headers, Headings, References, Sentence
Structure, Grammar, Punctuation, Typos,
academic tone, and clarity of ideas.