Running head: SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT

Service Learning Project Jennifer Edson Ferris State University

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT Abstract

This paper will explain my role in the Service Learning project. My participation in said project will serve a dual purpose. The first is to explore the role of a Nurse Practitioner. The second role will be to service patients by way of education. I will build on my career by both obtaining further education in my specialty and by then teaching that information to patients.

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT Service Learning Project The Service Learning Project is an assignment that begins at the beginning of the RN-

BSN program at Ferris State University and continues until the completion of the BSN program. The purpose of this assignment is to build on our personal nursing skills and to help a community in need of services. Ferris State University School of Nursing states, students will demonstrate personal and professional accountability in nursing practice by identifying and planning activities that contribute to growth and self-development in relation to professional goals and advancement of the profession of nursing (2010). Description The agencies I will be participating with are the two orthopedic groups in Traverse City. I will mainly be working closely with the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Rachel Decker from Great Lakes Orthopedics (GLOC). I will also be participating with Dr. Justin Hollander from Traverse City Orthopedics. Infection rates are a big issue in the orthopedic surgical services. Infections can begin anywhere from preoperative care to intraoperative care to postoperative care. The best way to prevent infection is to educate the patients. One of my roles I will be taking on while participating with the service-learning project will be to educate. Volunteer Role Another role I will participate in during this project will be focused on learning the role of a Nurse Practitioner (NP). I will be an active participant with an assigned Nurse Practitioner, Rachel Decker. I will round with a Rachel in the hospital for postoperative care. With that, I will assume her role as the educator and will participate actively with patients so she can assume other responsibilities. By doing this, the patients will have more one on one time with an

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT educator, have a thorough education experience and upon discharge have more knowledge for postoperative care. I will participate with trauma call with Rachel as well. I will admit patients from the

emergency room to either the floors or the operating room (OR). During this process, I will have the opportunity to prepare the patient for surgery. I will also have the opportunity to assist Rachel in surgery by scrubbing and assisting in surgical procedures. During this project I will also assist Dr. Hollander with in office procedures including but not limited to; educating patients for their upcoming surgeries, procedures and postoperative care. Achievement of Program Objectives and Description of Activities During Ferris Universitys RN-BSN program I will develop professional growth and development. Obtaining a BSN will be a stepping-stone for future education and ultimately career advancement. This project is important because it will help further educate patients and serve as better surgical outcomes for them. This will also achieve personal and professional growth in my own nursing career. I will learn the entire process of care for a surgical patient. I will be able to follow a patient from a trauma in the emergency room, to the operating room, to the floor of the hospital and until patient discharge. I will have first hand experience regarding the Nurse Practitioner role. I will be able to either confirm my beliefs that I want to continue my nursing career into the Nurse Practitioner role, or I will be able to save myself a lot of time and money if this ends up being something I am not interested in. I am very fortunate to have this opportunity to explore this career choice. While I am expanding on my professional growth as a nurse during this program and project, I will be able to use my current skills combined with the skills I learn

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT from Rachel Decker, FNP and Dr. Hollander and apply those skills to my patients in my current position as an orthopedic circulating nurse. The patients I will come into contact with will have more one on one time with care regarding education regarding wound care and postoperative mobility and exercises. The patients recovery and rehabilitation will have the opportunity to be at its best by obtaining the one on one knowledge and care that they will receive. Evaluation

I will be able to evaluate my progress by ease of educating patients, the more I practice it, the easier it will become for me to explain, articulate and explore. The more I educate and instruct patients on postoperative care, the easier it should become. I should be able to monitor that progress by feedback from the patients. If they are able to repeat back to me in a descriptive and understanding fashion of their pre and postoperative care instructions, then I will know that they understand and comprehend the information necessary for a quick and infection free recovery. During this process I will be able to learn better teaching methods, have better understandings of patients needs and capabilities of learning information. I will be able to evaluate understandings by way of communication from the patients. Also, throughout this process, I will have a better understanding of the role of a nurse practitioner. I will come out of this project with a decision to either pursue a nurse practitioner career or not.

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT

References

Great Lake Orthopedics (2012). http://gogloc.com/staff/rachel-decker/ Ferris State University. (2010). Service learning requirement undergraduate (BSN) programs. Retrieved from Ferris State University School of Nursing FerrisConnect web site: http://myfsu.ferris.edu.