How has Service Learning changed me?

I think it is evident from reading my blogs throughout the last 3 semesters that providing health care services to those who are underserved and underprivileged is a priority for me.  I started with Service Learning 11 years ago and have continued my commitment. I have used myself as an example many times for justification of the betterment that one person, one encounter, can influence future opportunities.  From one Service Learning project 11 years ago I have brought about change in serving those in my community that are underserved ever since.  From that one chance Service Learning opportunity children have continued to benefit from interaction with nursing students, the Head Start organization benefits from having the students there to assist, nursing students at the basic nursing education level of LPN are expanding their self-awareness through their own Service Learning opportunities, and I have continued to commitment myself to service.  From the first time I realized how I could impact a child’s well-being through my commitment, I became more mindful of what an awesome opportunity that serving others has for everyone involved. 

 

 

STORY OF ENGAGMENT

I have again chosen to commit my Service Learning hours to lending my time, knowledge and skills to the underserved children of both the Head Start population in surrounding communities and to the UMOS (United Migrant Opportunity Services) childcare services.  Throughout my educational journeys at Regis University, during my MSN program and now the DNP program, I have been committed to this population.  So committed in fact that when I was first introduced to Service Learning at Regis in 2005 during my MSN program I integrated this concept into my own teaching curriculum while I was the administrator of Practical Nursing program.  It is still being implemented today.  I was so impacted from my time at Head Start that I utilized my SL opportunity to bring my students (at the time) into the Head Start environment during their clinical rotations.  Since 2005 I have been committed to serving the underserved and underprivileged children of my community.  When I began my practice as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (APRN) I again incorporated the Ignatian Pedagogy into my professional practice and collaborated with Head Start to provide health screening services.  This commitment has since grown by the number of Head Start organizations throughout the surrounding communities that I visit at the beginning at each school year to offer my services.  It has also expanded into serving the UMOS population for the same purpose. 

Utilizing the DEAL (Detail, Examine, Articulate the Learning) Model to describe my experience begins with background on both organizations and my role in service, as well as my time spent at the Concordia Missouri Senior Center.  UMOS child development division meets the needs of seasonal and migrant farm-workers in the rural Missouri area by providing early care and educational services.  My role was donation of my expertise skills and knowledge in family practice to provide childhood health screenings to the children that attend the childhood care center. The children are brought by bus to one of the 4 clinic locations, at the request of the UMOS health care coordinator. My role in providing health screening services for this population is more expanded than what is provided to the children who attend Head Start.  Because these children are from a migrant population that travels (usually from Texas to Missouri and vice versa) during specific seasons of the year, there is more in depth screening needed.  These children are not only receiving health care screenings, but I am reviewing their immunization records and making recommendations on needed immunizations, lead and/or hemoglobin testing that is required by the UMOS organization and the state of Missouri.   All of these children were Hispanic and bi-lingual.  However, some of the very young children were only Spanish speaking and the staff, who is also bi-lingual, assisted in translation.  I completed 25 well child health assessments, including all components that a “well-child check” for that particular age would encompass.  I also made recommendations on any further health needs for each child, if there were any.  My role also involved assessing the child’s immunization status and determining what immunizations were still needed, as these were administered at a different time. 

Head Start is a national child development program for children from birth to age 5.  I assessed children from 2-6 years old, on multiple days, in 4 different communities, 58 children total, for a total of 32 hours between the 2 programs.  This program provides services to promote academic, social, and emotional development.  It provides nutritional services as well to income-eligible families.  The goal is to enhance the child's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development.  I provided health screening assessments in accordance with the organizations and Missouri’s guidelines and policies. 

Another focus of my Service Learning this semester was donating my time and skills to the Concordia Community Senior Center offering blood pressure and glucose screenings.  This organization provides the citizens of the community with lunch each day for a small fee, and delivers meals as well to homebound senior citizens.  During the screenings I am able to offer advice on further medical treatment if needed, and provide a sense of reassurance to those that are being screened.  It is a wonderful opportunity to meet the people of the community and interact in their environment.

As I have referred to in my previous blogs, providing health promotion and prevention screenings is one of my favorite activities to do in the community as it gives those receiving the services an opportunity to ask questions and get information they need.  I am very grateful to work for an FQHC that believes in a mission of serving the underserved and underinsured.  For many of the pediatric population, especially the UMOS population, this may be one of the few times they receive health screenings or encounter a provider in what is perceived by the child as a “good” setting.  The UMOS population is unique as their culture does not prioritize health care. Working and providing for their families are top priority.  Many migrant workers will continue to work while sick, parents will not miss work to their child to health care provider, and they rely on the services of UMOS to care medically for their child as well.  I enjoy being in the childcare care setting where the children feel comfortable and I can accommodate that need to feel safe.  I am not giving a shot or causing pain.  This is an opportunity to influence the child positively to that “going to the doctor” is a good experience.  I received one of the biggest compliments from the Head Start Coordinator this semester when she thanked me over and over for not wearing a white coat.  She went on to describe how at ease the children felt when I came each year because I didn’t give them the perception of a “doctor” or someone that was going to cause them harm (as a child see’s it) from getting a shot or whatever experience they have previously had.  Remember that with this population, most do not receive screenings so going to the doctor means they “sick.”  She complimented me on my ability to communicate and interact with the children, allowing them to ask questions, play with equipment, and making this a positive and fun experience. 

 

This is one of my passions in my professional career; providing services to those who are underserved and underprivileged.  I am very grateful that I have such a unique opportunity to be employed by a health care organization that shares the same vision and passion for health care.  All of the children served come from low-income, many uninsured, and much underserved populations.  This may be the only time they ever see a medical provider.  Programs like Head Start and UMOS provide more than daycare, they provide nutrition and education to the children.  The staff at the child development centers are just as passionate about the care the children receive as I am about the medical care they receive. I will continue to participate in offering outreach services to my community.  I believe in the mission, values and goals of this organization and want to assist in all ways to continue to promote health care for all in the community.  I will continue to be a voice for those in my community, advocating for needs of the population.  Collaboration is the key to sustainability and success of this organization in its’ ability to continue to offer these free services.