Running head: MONTCALM COUNTY EMS SERVICE LEARING PROJECT

Montcalm County Service Learning Project

Ken McIntyre
NURS 320 Ferris State University

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Abstract

The purpose of this proposal is to outline Ken McIntyres intended service learning project at the
Montcalm County Emergency Services located in Stanton, Michigan. The Bachelor of Science
Nursing (BSN) program at Ferris State University (FSU) requires all registered nurse (RN) to
BSN students to perform twenty hours of service learning as part of their professional nursing
program (Ferris State University, College of Health Professions, School of Nursing, 2015).
According to the FSU, College of Health Professions, School of Nursing, student service
learning projects are designed to provide practical experience that will enrich learning and
reinforce societal values (2015). This service learning proposal includes the academic concepts
for service learning, a description of the service learning site, the volunteer role, objectives of the
FSU RN to BSN program, activities to meet objective, an evaluation plan, and a conclusion.
Also included is the agency contact information.

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Montcalm County EMS Service Learning Proposal

With my service learning project, I would like to focus on the immediate, emergency
medical needs of the people of Montcalm County. Montcalm county is home to over sixty-two
thousand people (United States Census Bureau, 2015). In the county where I live, the Montcalm
County Emergency Services responds to approximately seven-thousand calls for emergency
services each year (E. Smith, personal communication, September 30, 2015).
Working with the Montcalm County Emergency Medical Services will be an excellent
opportunity to provide skilled emergency medical services to the community and will enhance
my skills in nursing. I will be able to gain skills and insight into emergency medicine and the
needs of those requiring emergency care.
Service Learning
Learning new skills can be a challenge for students since students are either working as
nurses in a position with limited opportunity to experience other aspects of the nursing field, or
the student is exclusively in an academic environment and is subject to a classroom or clinical
setting determined by the school. It is important to practice what is learned in the classroom in a
real-life situation. Service learning allows students the opportunity to practice critical thinking
skills and apply learning in real-world settings, while meeting authentic needs of the community
(Jenkins & Sheehey, 2011).
According to Bentley and Ellison, Service-learning combines service and learning in
intentional ways (2005). The goal of service learning is not to just serve, but learn. Learning
new skills and information is important to the development of any nurse. It is also important to
reach out and learn new talents. Service learning must also challenge the traditional

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identities and roles of students and calls on them not only to consume knowledge but also to
produce it (Felton & Clayton, 2011).
A service learning project at the Montcalm County EMS fits the definition of service
learning in two ways I will learn and practice important skills, and the community will benefit
from the skills I already possess. This service learning project will also give me confidence and
additional skills when encountering emergencies not only where I currently work, but in the
community and with any future employer.
Description of the Montcalm County EMS
According to information found on the Montcalm County website, Montcalm County
Emergency Services operates 10 Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance transport units, 7
medical first response rescue units, 3 heavy extrication vehicles, and 1 technical rescue team
(Montcalm County Emergency Services, 2015). In addition, the Montcalm County EMS
manages disaster preparedness and response, along with an ambulance subscription program
(Montcalm County Emergency Services, 2015).
The annual budget of the Montcalm County EMS is approximately $5.2 million dollars,
which is funded by a county-wide millage and ambulance fees (Montcalm County Emergency
Services, 2015). The Montcalm County EMS main office is located in Stanton, Michigan, and
has several substations located throughout the county.
Volunteer Role
I intend to provide volunteer services for the Montcalm County EMS as a registered
nurse and put into practice the skills I have learned such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR),
focused assessment of patients, and emergency interventions. A registered nurse accompanying

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emergency medical technicians (EMT) and paramedics will be a great asset for these emergency
personnel due to the assistance I can provide as a result of my education and training.
Although I have had two experiences in what could have been a life-threatening situation,
I have not experienced situations where a victim was in an actual condition or circumstance
where the outcome would be fatal if immediate interventions were not implemented. As a
registered nurse volunteer, I would be able to assist in providing these interventions. According
to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, EMT 's, by law, are
supervised by a physician or a registered nurse (Michigan Department of Licensing and
Regulatory Affairs, 2015), however, I will not be in a role of a supervisor.
Objectives of the Project as related to the BSN Program
Ferris State Universitys RN to BSN Program Outcomes focus on six areas of nursing:
collaborative leadership, theoretical base for practice, generalist nursing practice, scholarship for
practice, health care environment, and professionalism (Ferris State University, 2011).
This service learning opportunity will help me practice and improve my skills in areas
where I have limited experience through collaboration with local EMTs and paramedics. I will
have the potential to apply my education, nursing theories, and the knowledge I have learned onthe-job to enhance the theoretical base for my nursing practice. To practice as a nursing
generalist, I will address the immediate and emergency health care needs of individuals in my
community. To fulfill the scholarship for practice and health care environments aspect, I will
apply evidence-based practice to my emergency interventions, advocate, and help locate
community resources for those individuals in need.

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This service learning project will allow me to apply all the standards of professional
nursing practice, ethics, and knowledge I have learned to date, and will allow for further growth
and development as a nurse.
Activities to Meet Objectives
The activities that will occur during my service with the Montcalm County EMS will be
centered on providing emergency care to those individuals who are experiencing life-threatening
illnesses or injuries. Other activities will include a teaching and therapeutic communication
aspect when providing information to not only the patient, but the patients friends or family
during the crisis.
It will be difficult to plan activities to meet objectives within a fixed timeframe since it is
unknown when emergency calls will be received and ambulance runs made, however, planning
for the objectives can be accomplished prior to this service learning project and can be
completed in a timely fashion. To meet objectives, I will keep a log of the activities and teaching
I perform.
Evaluation Plan
My plan for evaluating my service learning activities will be to assess how effective my
interventions were by monitoring the patient from the site of the emergency to transfer to the
emergency department and keep a written log. The written log will record the type of injury or
illness, the interventions performed, and condition of the patient upon arrival at the emergency
department. In the instance transfer to the emergency department is not warranted, the log will
record the type of injury or illness, the interventions performed, and the outcome. Any teaching
will be recorded in the log also.

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Feedback and comments from the EMT or paramedic staff that I work with will also be
included in my records.
Conclusion
As part of a professional nursing education, service learning plays a vital role by allowing
a volunteer to learn from real-life experiences in the community. A service learning project at
the Montcalm County Emergency Services will augment and enrich my professional nursing
education as I provide emergency health care to individuals in need. I believe this service
learning project will teach me new skills while I provide a valuable service to the residents of
Montcalm county.
Agency Contact Information
Name: Montcalm County Emergency Services (MCES)
Address: 655 N. State Street, Stanton, MI 48888
Contact Person: Eric J. Smith, Deputy Director
Secondary Contact Person: Doris Case, Supervisor, EMT-P
Telephone: (989) 831-7580
Email: esmith@co.montcalm.mi.us

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References

Bentley, R., & Ellison, K. J. (2005). Impact of a service-learning project on nursing students.
National League for Nursing, 26(5), 287-290. doi:10.1043/15365026(2005)026[0287:IOASPO]2.0.CO;2
Condon, B., Grimsley, C., Knaack, L., Pitz, J., & Stehr, H. J. (n.d.). The art of service learning.
Nursing Science Quarterly, 28(3), 195-200. doi:0.1177/0894318415585624
Felton, P., & Clayton, P. (2011). Service-learning. New Directions for Teaching and Learning,
2011(128), 75-84. doi:10.1002/tl.470
Ferris State University. (2011, January 17). BSN program outcomes. Retrieved November 18,
2015, from http://www.ferris.edu/colleges/alliedhe/nursing/BSN-program-outcomes.htm
Ferris State University, College of Health Professions, School of Nursing. (2015, January).
Service learning requirement for the RN to BSN completion program [PDF document].
Retrieved from
http://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/online/documents/Serv_Learn_reqment.pdf
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. (2015). Health Careers - Emergency
Medical Technician and Paramedics. Retrieved November 18, 2015, from
http://www.michigan.gov/healthcareers/0,4590,7-221-39742-64516--,00.html
Montcalm County Emergency Services. (2015, August 27). Montcalm County Community and
Information Center - Montcalm County Emergency Services (MCES).
Retrieved November 18, 2015, from http://www.montcalm.org/ems.asp
United States Census Bureau. (2015). Montcalm County QuickFacts from the US Census
Bureau. Retrieved from United States Department of Commerce website:
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/26/26117.html

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Appendix