Student Name: Kristen Crewe, I pledge...
Summative Service-Learning Reflection
Noticing and Interpreting
From the beginning of the nursing program, I was a little unsure of what to expect of
service-learning. As I began to transition into the role of a student nurse, I learned that servicelearning was more than just volunteering my time at an organization. I expected to learn how
provide my service to populations in need and uphold the values of Bon Secours. I also expected
faculty at Bon Secours to provide expertise on places to complete service-learning projects. My
expectations were met from the moment I began to learn about service-learning. From day one,
faculty at Bon Secours were sure to instill the expectations of students regarding service-learning
and how to uphold the values of Bon Secours. Faculty at Bon Secours always gave suggestions
about places to complete learning experiences and approved any locations that we, as students,
discovered.
Most of my service-learning experiences were completed in the Greater Richmond
community. Strengths of service-learning experiences include organization, a clear definition of
the agenda for the day and a welcoming atmosphere. Common problems that were encountered
included the lack of volunteers that were present to help in the community. Majority of the time
in the Greater Richmond community demand is greater than supply, resulting in a need for more
volunteers to willingly participate in various agencies that serve the "needy."
My values and experiences as a part of a certain cultural, racial, ethnic, religious group,
socioeconomic status group, or exposure to media or other sources of information concerning
"needy" communities shaped what I saw and heard throughout the nursing program by providing
knowledge about how to provide services. It is important to be socially aware of how to care for
each population encountered all while upholding their values and mine, too. As a nursing
student, I was always taught to assess and evaluate the needs of the people being served.
Responding
During my tenure at Bon Secours, I have learned that education is a huge need in the
Greater Richmond community. Many community members that are in need are not aware of
resources available to them to improve their health and wellness. I have also learned that many
people of this community lack basic needs such as food, clean clothing and shelter. The needs of
this community expand further than basic needs, including emotional, spiritual and psychological
needs as well.
I have found that service-learning activities are truly relevant to the Greater Richmond
community as well as my learning experiences. Service-learning activities are relevant to the
Greater Richmond area because it fulfills the needs of vulnerable populations. Service-learning
also offers an opportunity to educate the community in need. Service-learning has been relevant
in my learning experiences because it has taught me how to help vulnerable populations in ways
that do not require any monetary compensation and results in a rewarding experience.
Reflecting on Service-learning
My service-learning has significantly influenced my perception of my call to serve. My
service-learning experiences have opened my eyes to ways that I can make an impact on the
communities being served. Service-learning has made me eager and excited to serve the
community. As I progress in my career, I plan to continue to incorporate the values of servicelearning.
My concept of service-learning has evolved since I began my career as a nursing student.
I have learned the importance of service-learning through purposeful community service. The
overall concept of service-learning is geared towards the immediate needs of the community
being served. I am aware that it takes a team and planning to participate in service-learning.
My past experiences of service-learning in my nursing courses that took place in the
community, as well as in clinical setting, has shaped how I engage in each activity. I have learned
to place the needs of others before my own for a greater outcome. I also learned the importance
of team collaboration to effectively meet the needs of the population being serve. Lastly, I
learned that it is imperative to have prior knowledge about the population before engaging in a
service-learning activity. Learning and anticipating the needs of the community has allowed me
serve the population in an appropriate manner.
Reflecting on Civic Engagement
According to The New York Times, civic engagement involves working to make a
difference in the civic lives of our communities (The New York Times, 2006). Civic engagement
means developing a combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to encourage the
difference in the civic lives (The New York Times, 2006). Through both political and nonpolitical processes, civic engagement means promoting the quality of life in a community (The
New York Times, 2006).
I am from a small town called Charles City County, located just 30 minutes east of
Richmond. Every since I graduated in 2009 I have played an active part of my community by
participating in my church. I work with the youth of my church by providing tutoring services,
incentives for passing grades, and assisting with the youth choir. Unfortunately, in my
community, there is a lack of prompt medical services available. While there is a volunteer
emergency medical squad present, there is a need for updated knowledge, training and
experience to assist when there are any emergencies within the county. The lack of medical
services is very alarming to me considering the growing population of seniors in Charles City.
There have been several instances where people of Charles City required immediate medical
attention but had to wait for extended periods until help arrived. There has also been cases where
members of the community have decided that it would be more beneficial to transport their loved
ones on their own in emergent situations. While my vision would require a lot of assistance from
others, I would like to help in providing adequate volunteer emergency medical services to my
community. This plan would most definitely require me to take on the role of a servant leader. I
plan to hopefully recruit other known medical professionals in the community to assist with this
vision. I also plan to continue my mentor services to the youth of my church and my community.
References
The New York Times. (2006). The definition of civic engagement. Retrieved from
[Link]