service learning project holly ehrke ferris state...
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Running head: SERVICE LEARNING 1
Service Learning Project
Holly Ehrke
Ferris State University
SERVICE LEARNING 2
Abstract
Service learning was researched and project established with the Onaway Area School. Contact
at the school was informed of the project requirements and goals. Permission granted to work
with the adolescent athletes at the school in organized sports and with additional gym classes.
Education on injury prevention, nutrition and hydration, and sportsmanship will be taught to the
athletes. Goals and objectives will be evaluated after completion of the project. Self-reflection of
the project as it relates to the RN to BSN completion will be evaluated at the end of the service
learning.
Keywords: service learning, athletes, sports injuries, nutrition, and sportsmanship.
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Service Learning
According to the National Service Learning Clearinghouse, “service learning is a
teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and
reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen
communities” (National Service-Learning Clearinghouse). The goal of service learning is to
improve the student and community by reinforcing self- esteem and civic responsibility. Service
learning differs from volunteering, in that service learning enhances the learning experience for
the student by providing a planning process and reflection of the project. “Overall, the most
important feature of effective service-learning programs is that both learning and service are
emphasized” (National Service-Learning Clearinghouse).
I will be conducting my service learning project with the Onaway Area School athletic
department and gym classes. I obtained permission from Marty Mix, athletic director and
secondary principal to work with the students and athletes of the school. Student athletes can be
very competitive and injuries can occur to their developing bodies. I plan to meet with each
sport during their season and educate them on injury prevention, hydration and nutritional needs,
and sportsmanship. I will also meet with the gym and high intensity classes to capture those
students that may participate in sports outside of school such as dance, cheerleading and hockey.
This service learning project is more than fulfilling a requirement for the RN to BSN
completion. It is also more than just volunteering my time to a specified agency. This project is a
giving of myself with the intent to reflect back upon the nursing profession. I am not only
educating a specific group, but I am learning and evaluating how my service has helped others
and myself grow into a BSN prepared nurse. Upon completion of this project, I will be able to
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reflect back onto the project and evaluate my success of the education with the athletes of the
Onaway Area School in meeting my objectives not only for them, but myself.
Agency Description
My service learning project will take place at the Onaway Area School. The Onaway
Area School is a rural kindergarten through twelfth grade public school containing six hundred
eighty-four students. The school serves the students of Presque Isle and Cheboygan counties.
The mission of the school is “working together to prepare students for life”. With this service
learning project, I plan on preparing these athletes for lessons both on and off the field that will
assist them in life. Being that the school is rural in nature, there are not a lot of extra-curricular
activities in the area and many students participate in sports. My target population at the school
will be high school students. My contact at the Onaway Area School is Marty Mix, athletic
director and secondary principal (Dianne Peterman, Onaway Area School).
Service Leaning Described
I perceive my role, with the athletes of the Onaway Area School, to be an educator and
role model. Under permission of Marty Mix, I will meet with each team at the beginning of their
season. The teams will consist of volleyball, cross-country, football, basketball, softball, baseball
and track. I will also meet with the gym and high-intensity classes to try and capture students that
are involved with sports outside of school such as dance, cheerleading and hockey. I will educate
them with injury prevention materials that are specific to their sport. In some instances,
education may be gender specific. I will provide sport specific injury prevention sheets to the
athletes. Secondly, I will educate them on proper nutrition and hydration requirements of an
athlete. I will provide examples of appropriate snacks while exercising and competing. Education
materials will be obtained from the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), the
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Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), the American Orthopaedic Society for
Sports Medicine, and the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).
I will also educate the students about the emotional and social aspect of being part of a
team; sportsmanship. I want the students to develop a respect for themselves, each other, their
opponents and the school. I want these athletes to become the role models of the school and
society. “A community is made of many interrelated and independent parts that are organized to
function for the good of the community (Lowry & Martin, 2004; Shuster & Goeppinger, 2004).
These parts include school systems… The function of these parts are interrelated, as a change in
one part affects other parts of the community” (Pender, 2010, p.78). “Peer groups play a critical
role in molding lifestyles for school-aged children, particularly adolescents” (Pender, 2010, p.
284).
Goals and Objectives for the Athletes
My goals for the athletes during this service learning project include:
1. Athletes will verbalize ways to prevent injuries related to their specific sport.
2. Athletes will verbalize importance of communicating injuries to coach or parent.
3. Athletes will verbalize knowledge of concussions after completion of the “Heads Up
Concussion” quiz by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services.
4. Athletes will verbalize knowledge of proper nutrition and hydration while exercising.
5. Athletes will verbalize proper ways to demonstrate sportsmanship.
6. Upon completion of the project, the athletic director will verbalize positive behavior changes
with the athletes and within the school.
Objectives as Related to RN to BSN Program
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The main objective for this service learning project, as related to the RN to BSN
completion program, is developing into a professional nurse. The transition from RN to BSN
allows the nurse to develop professional skills such as accountability and autonomy. Personal
and professional accountability is demonstrated in this project by planning specific goals and
objectives for the focus group (Ferris State University School of Nursing). Professional
autonomy is having the power to make decisions within the scope of one’s practice (Journal of
Clinical Nursing). Also, “planning learning activities in nursing curricula can foster perspective
transformation in professionalism” (Journal of Nursing Education).
My Professional Goals
My professional goal is to enhance my accountability and autonomy skills, as a nurse, by
collaborating with the Onaway Area School. I will demonstrate this by preparing health
promotion education materials for the athletes that will be delivered in group settings. Working
with adolescents can be difficult at times; they see themselves as invincible. My professional
communication and clinical leadership will hone these skills as I work with this population.
Another professional goal that I have, that will not affect me personally, is to enhance
learning opportunities to the adolescents of the school. I love working with kids! Adolescents are
a vulnerable population; with increased peer pressure. The services that I will be providing, with
the service learning project, will help benefit the school and families of athletes. With proper
education, the athletes will be able to identify injuries, such as concussions, and seek proper
treatment as needed. They will be able to make informed decisions about nutrition and hydration;
thus prevent additional injuries. And foremost, with proper role-modeling and discussion, I will
actively be “working together to prepare students for life” (Onaway Area School).
My professional goals for the service learning project include:
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1. I will develop a plan for a service learning project to take place, in collaboration with the
Onaway Area School, during the course of the RN to BSN program.
2. I will provide education to the athletes of the Onaway Area School.
3. I will work closely with my FSU faculty advisor and course faculty and with my agency
contact to implement this community service learning project.
4. Upon completion of this service learning project, I will identify personal and professional
insights that have occurred and submit this information in a written report.
5. Upon completion of this service learning project, I will give clearly described and verifiable
examples of the project in written format.
6. I will critically examine how this service learning project has impacted my career process.
7. Upon completion of this project, I will evaluate my transition from RN to BSN and
development into a professional nurse.
Evaluation
I will evaluate my own learning by indirectly evaluating the goals and objectives for the
athletes. I will also evaluate the discussions with the athletes that are prompted with my
education to them. Successful implementation of these goals will demonstrate that I effectively
and autonomously taught the athletes the proposed materials. I will evaluate my outcomes, as
related to the community, by communicating and evaluating with the athletic director and
coaches any positive behavioral changes noted in the athletes and if they feel that changes within
the athletes have promoted positive changes within the school.
Agency Contact Information
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My approved agency contact is Marty Mix, athletic director and secondary school
principal at the Onaway Area School. The address of the school is 4559 M-33 Onaway,
Michigan 49765. The phone number is 989-733-4970. Email is [email protected]
Conclusion
“Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful
community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic
responsibility, and strengthen communities” (National Service-Learning Clearinghouse). This
project not only enables teaching to specified group, but also enhances the growth and
professionalism of the RN to BSN student. Upon completion of this project, with the adolescent
athletes of the Onaway Area School, injury prevention and health promotion behavior will be
evaluated. In theory, improved health promotion behaviors with the athletes will promote
healthy behaviors among the student population. “Peer groups play a critical role in molding
lifestyles for school-aged children, particularly adolescents” (Pender, 2010, p. 284). Also,
completion of this service learning project will enhance my learning and self-reflection upon the
nursing profession.
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References
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. (2010). Stop sports injuries-keeping kids in
the game for life. Retrieved from http://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/media/statistics.aspx.
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association. (6th
ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Hoisington, D. (October 2010). NURS 325 Class Syllabus and Discussion Board.
Michigan Department of Community Health. Protecting against brain injury (concussion)
during sports. Retrieved from http:// www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-2941_4868
_42176-196414--,00.html
Michigan High School Athletic Association. Promoting healthy and safe athletic classrooms.
Retrieved from http:// www.mhsaa.com/Schools/HealthSafetyResources.aspx.
Mix, M. & Peterman, D. (October 2010). Onaway Area School.
Morris, A.H., & Faulk, D. (2007). Perspective transformation: enhancing the development of
professionalism in RN-to-BSN students. Journal of Nursing Education, 46(10), 445-
451.
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). (2010). Coach and trainer toolkit. Retrieved
from http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
National Pender, N.J., Murdaugh, C.L., Parsons, M.A., (2006). Health Promotion in Nursing
Pratice (5th
ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
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Pender, N.J., Murdaugh, C.L., Parsons, M.A., (2006). Health Promotion in Nursing Pratice (5th
ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Service Learning Clearinghouse. Retrieved from http://www.servicelearning.org/
Skar, R. (2010). The meaning of autonomy in nursing practice. Journal of Clinical Nursing,
19(9), 15-16. Retrieved from http://0-dx.doi.org.libcat.ferris.edu/10.1111/j.1365-
2702.2009.02804.x
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Center of disease control and prevention
Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ConcussionInYouthSports
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Appendix
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Appendix B
SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL RN to BSN and Traditional BSN Tracks
STUDENT NAME:__Holly Ehrke_______________SITE_____________
DATE SUBMITTED__10/23/2010__________________ADVISOR: Dionne _Serges______
PROPOSAL COMPONENT POINTS
POSSIBLE
POINTS
EARNED
INTRODUCTION Introduce assignment. Purpose of paper, 10
AGENCY DESCRIPTION What is role of agency, not just name? Should be
sourced.
10
VOLUNTEER ROLE DESCRIBED What will you do or how will this be
determined?
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?
20
ACTIVITIES TO MEET OBJECTIVES What specifically do you anticipate
your activities will be?
10
EVALUATION PLAN How will you evaluate your own learning and the
effects of your activities on the community?
10
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION /
INSTRUCTOR APPROVAL Include all pertinent information for contact.
Name, title, phone, street address, email
10
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
20
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Support for planned outcomes – is there evidence that the
activities positively influence the outcomes desired?
TOTAL CONTENT POINTS 100
APA /Writing including:
Title page w/ running head, Abstract, Margins, Headers,
Headings, References, Sentence Structure, Grammar,
Punctuation, Typos & clarity of ideas.
(30)
TOTAL POINTS TO BE DEDUCTED FOR APA ERRORS -30
TOTAL POINTS OVERALL
100
COMMENTS: I had a peer review done by Jamie Fortin, RN.
| From: Jamie Fortin
| | Subject: RE: Serv Learn paper peer review
| | Date Sent: October 22, 2010 6:07 PM
| | To: Holly Ehrke(ehrkeh)
I have reviewed your paper there are a few errors, on the second paragraph of service learning
you skipped the space between the period and the next sentance. On your citation of American
Orthopedic Society I think you spelled Orhtopedic wrong if correct in citation ignore. I also feel
you could add something into your evaluation on the feed back you will get form the athletes
themselves while working with them. Other than a few small things this is a great paper, keep up
the good work.
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Appendix D
Service Learning Log
RN to BSN and BSN Traditional Tracks
AGENCY: Onaway Area School
DATE HOURS and ACTIVITY
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STUDENT SIGNATURE:____________________________________________
AGENCY SIGNATURE:_____________________________________________
AGENCY PRINTED NAME:_Marty Mix_________________________________
DATE:___________________________________________________________