“Developing a Service Learning
Project that Meets both the Needs
of the Community Partner and
Nursing Student"
Clemson University Service Learning
Presenter: Jackie Gillespie RN, MN, CNE
Guests: Dr. Arlene Privette and Hillary Baker
Background
Clemson University and Service Learning
Clemson University School of Nursing
N415 Community
Health Nursing
Clemson University
Clemson University defines service learning as “a form of
experiential education that uses community service
experiences to enrich academic education.” This teaching
process involves students in:
• identification and analysis of actual community needs
• providing solutions to meet those needs
• implementing those solutions.
• evaluation and impact
(Clemson University, 2002://virtual.clemson.edu/LEARNING).
Spirit of Service
Clemson Nursing students have the “spirit of service” that
Clemson University is known for. They are actively involved in
assessing, planning and implementing service learning projects
each semester. In the process serving others, they discover what
it means to provide a community service for hundreds of people,
teaching them skills that will equip them to live happier, healthier
lives.
N415 Community Health
Nursing
The last semester of their senior year, Nursing students
take N415 Community Health Nursing and learn to plan
service learning projects
N415 Service Learning
For their service
learning project they
work as a team to:
•partner with an
organization;
•study their community
and provide a service
•design, implement and
evaluate their service
learning project.
N415 Service Learning Project
Assessment Phase
 Goal is to know and understand
the community that is home to the
population or group with which
they are working with to provide a
service learning project
 Data is collected through:

Windshield surveys

Interviews with community
members and organization
leaders

Meetings with partnering
agency

Data collection
Assessment Phase
Assessment Data
Oconee Population: 74,273
Oconee Hospice House
formed in 1989; non-profit
entity affiliated with Oconee
Medical Center
Hospitalizations in Oconee
county for Chronic Disease
(2010):
Hypertension (78); Heart
Disease (1,378); Stroke
(266); Chronic Lower
Respiratory Disease (277);
Diabetes (151); All Cancers
(241)
Interviews: :
Fire Chief, Jan Oliver
Lila Doyle Director of Nursing, Nancy Farrah
Mayor Dan Alexander
Senior Solutions Administrator
United Way Campaign Manager, Sarah Rankin;
Executive Director of Oconee County Chamber of
Commerce, Sandra Jones; Clinical Coordinator Hospice,
Debbie Carter,
Bereavement Coordinator, Jeanne Malmgren
N415 Service Learning Project
Diagnosis and Goal Phase
Assessment data is analyzed and a
community diagnosis or identified need is
established by students and aggregate
leaders.
*Knowledge Deficit: Palliative Care r/t lack
of informative resources and public
misconceptions AEB repeat
hospitalizations of the chronically ill
N415 Service Learning Project
Outcome Identification Phase
 Objectives/ Goals are established for the
community diagnosis.
 Community Partner leaders and students
mutually develop measurable, realistic, and
aggregate focused goals.
N415 Service Learning Project
Planning Phase
 Partnering agency and
students will plan an
appropriate interventions
and steps to meet
objectives.
 Systematically establish
roles and responsibilities of
students and partnering
organization.
 Students need to submit a
written plan for review to
partnering organization
N415 Service Learning Project
Planning Phase
 Collaborated with staff at
Oconee Hospice of the
Foothills to promote their new
palliative care program
 Researched information on
palliative care and combined
with current information from
Hospice
 Set dates for research,
compiling information,
constructing posters, power
point, and brochures, and
presentations in the
community
N415 Service Learning Project
Implementation Phase
Service Learning
Project is carried
out in
accordance with
written plan.
Implementation Phase
Created material for
Oconee Hospice of the
Foothills :
• power point presentation
• Brochures
• three tri-fold boards
Set up tri-fold boards at
Oconee Medical Center
and Lila-Doyle; interacted
with employees and
members of the community
about the palliative care
program; distributed
brochures
N415 Service Learning Project
Evaluation and Permanence Phase
 Partnering agency,
students and recipients
evaluate the Service
Learning Project’s
achievement of
objectives.
 Assure tools in place to
provide continuation
 Recommendations for
future projects made.
Projects in Local and International
Communities
There are many sites
that contact the School
of Nursing to request
service learning projects
for their agency.
Partnerships and Projects
Selection of Agencies that support students
learning through service learning projects.
• Walhalla Middle and High School
• West Oak Middle and High School
• Centerville Elementary
• Anderson Christian School
• Foothills Crisis Pregnancy Center
•National Health Care Professional Groups
•International – Guatemala, Ecuador, Bahamas
Student Projects
Walking Club
Drug Education
Prom Safety
At-Risk High School
Students



Time Management
Goal Setting
Attendance/Attitude
Hygiene for Middle
Schoolers
Reproductive Health
Todays Discussion
A group of 9 Senior Nursing Students
Partnered with Oconee Medical Center
Hospice of the Foothills to provide a service
learning project for Hospice and Dr Arlene
Privette, PI Coordinator and Staff Educator
will share how agencies and students can
help each other and N415 Senior Nursing
Student , Hillary Baker worked with a group
that worked at West Oak High and she will
share the student perspective on service
learning.
Tips for Planning a Service
Learning Project
Partner with an agency/community that
has a need and wants your help
Be a presence in the agency/community
on a long-term basis, not just for a short
time
Line up course requirements
with the service project
HAVE FUN !
A Special Thank You!
To Wonderful
Partnering Agencies
Like Hospice of the
Foothills
To Fabulous CU
Nursing Students
To Service Learning
Alliance that supports
Service Learning.
Stain Glass Window at OMC Hospice of
Foothills/ Cottingham House
The Power of the Paw