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Running head: SERVICE LEARNING
Service Learning
Joella M. Show
Ferris State University
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Abstract
This paper is my service learning proposal for my RN to BSN program at Ferris State
University. In this proposal I state how I am involved in the community, why service learning
is important and how this project will give me experience for my nursing career. My service
learning proposal states that I plan to volunteer for Saginaw Adventist Community Services
by teaching eight healthy lifestyle classes at the Saginaw Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
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Service Learning
“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” (NSLC, 2012). According to the nursing
faculty at Ferris State University (FSU), service learning is defined as “work done, or help
provided, for another or others” (FSU School of Nursing, 2010). Service learning will
provide me with practical experience that I will use in my nursing career (FSU School of
Nursing, 2010). My service learning project will provide me with an opportunity help others
in my community while developing skills that will help me in my future professional nursing
career.
Description
I chose to complete my service learning project with an agency called Saginaw
Adventist Community Services. The Saginaw Adventist Community Services Center is one
of “fifty-four community service centers and community service activities…in the Michigan
Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists” (MACS, 2012a). Michigan Adventist Community
Service is a branch of a national organization, Adventist Community Services (ASC), that
serves the United States and Bermuda (Kwon, n.d.). The mission of Michigan Adventist
Community Service is to “‘to serve the poor and hurting in Christ’s name through
humanitarian acts we make known the just, merciful, and loving character of God” (MACS,
2012b). The seven areas of Adventist Community Services, Worldwide include community
development, community health, elder care, crisis care network, youth empowerment, disaster
response, and tutoring and mentoring (MACS, 2012b). I will be focusing on the second and
seventh area. The second area is community health which “includes health screening,
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education, and faith community nursing” (MACS, 2012b). The seventh area is tutoring &
mentoring which states that “through teaching ministries we can give new lives to those
around us” (MACS, 2012b).
Role Description
I plan on teaching a healthy lifestyle seminar for the Saginaw Adventist Community
Services Center. Pastor Ben Garcia, my contact person (see Appendix A), told me that the
Saginaw Adventist Community Service Center has been looking for a speaker to teach a
healthy lifestyle seminar since April (personal communication, November 13, 2012). The two
hour classes will be held in the Saginaw Seventh-Day Adventist fellowship hall on two
Thursdays each month from January–April, 2013. I will teach healthy lifestyle modifications
in a way that will draw the participants’ interest. I will share ideas for lifestyle changes that
can improve a person’s quality of life.
I want to make a difference in the lives of the community members. I do not know of
a better way to help them than to provide them with education on health and prevention. I
want to help them help themselves. The following two paragraphs are my inspiration for
teaching this class.
I have been told that Hippocrates said, “Let food be your medicine, medicine be your
food.” There is science now that supports Hippocrates’ ancient statement. Many chronic
diseases today can be prevented. Science has proven that it is possible to overcome genetic
risk factors for chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, with diet and lifestyle
modification. Willet states in the book, Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries
(2006), that “low rates of these diseases can be attained without drugs or expensive medical
facilities” (p. 833). A challenge for most people is that “preventing these diseases will
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require changes in behaviors related to smoking, physical activity, and diet” (p. 833).
Hippocrates was right, but there is a lot more to preventing chronic diseases than just food.
I love to teach what I call “preventative lifestyle medicine”. I look for opportunities to
educate others on how they can change their lifestyle and reduce their risk or possibly reverse
their risk factors in developing these scary diseases. People tell me I smile bigger and my
eyes shine when I have an opportunity to share this good news! When I am teaching someone
about lifestyle modification to prevent disease I use the acronym, NEWSTART, which was
developed at the Weimar Center of Health & Education (2012). NEWSTART is a way to
remember how to live a healthy lifestyle. The N stands for nutrition, the E stands for
exercise, the W stands for water, the S stands for sunshine, the T stands for temperance, the A
stands for air, the R stands for rest, and the T stands for trust in Divine Power. If you add a
balanced portion of the right kinds of each of these elements into your day you will be on the
way to a long and healthy life.
I want the individuals who participate to go home and tell their friends and family
about what they are learning. Education provides people with autonomy and power. My goal
is for the participants to go home excited after they have learned that they have the power to
help control their quality of life.
Objectives Related to Program
The healthy lifestyle class will provide me with teaching experience. I would like to
earn my living as a professional nursing educator. This class will provide me with experience
in coordinating, preparing, and presenting educational material to a group of people.
Preparing for this class will be a challenge. I will need to learn many new things. I will need
to learn how to advertise to the desired group of people. If I do not advertise well and no one
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comes, then my work in preparing will be partially wasted. I will still have learned from the
preparation, but I will have lost the opportunity to present the information in front of a group
of people. Presenting this series of classes to a group of people will be a great life experience.
I will need to learn more about how to effectively present information to a group of people. I
will also have to learn how to overcome being nervous when talking in front of an audience. I
will learn many things from preparing for this series of classes. I will probably learn things I
do not expect to learn. I look forward to this complex learning experience.
The healthy lifestyle class will benefit the community by providing them with
education on how to prevent common chronic illnesses. “Chronic diseases – such as heart
disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis – are among the most common, costly, and
preventable of all health problems in the U.S.” (CDC, 2012).
The Community Service Center will advertise this series of classes to the individuals
and families who go the center for food, clothes, and other needs. “Saginaw has the second
highest rate of children living in poverty in Michigan” (Burns, 2012). There are 29.3% of
Saginaw County’s children living in poverty (Burns, 2012). “Four modifiable health risk
behaviors—lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol
consumption—are responsible for much of the illness, suffering, and early death related to
chronic diseases” (CDC, 2012). The four modifiable risk factors tend to be more prevalent in
low income communities. I hope to provide the community with the education they need to
prevent these risk factors from occurring in their homes.
Activity to Meet Objectives
I will be teaching a series of eight – two hour classes as part of a healthy lifestyle
seminar. The classes will include the NEWSTART principles for a healthy lifestyle, a
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cooking demonstration video, a health lecture, and a natural remedy demonstration. In Table
1 you can see my initial plan demonstrating what I will teach about during each week’s class.
Table 1
6:00–6:15
Introduction
6:15-6:45
Movie
Meeting #1
Nutrition
Meeting #2
Exercise
Meeting #3
Water
Meeting #4
Sunshine
Meeting #5
Temperance
Meeting #6
Air
Meeting #7
Rest
Meeting #8
Trust in God
Breakfast
Show #1
Soups &
Sandwiches
Show #2
Entrees/
Salads
Show #3
Dinner
Time
Show #5
Pies
Show #9
Bread
Show #11
Vegetarian
Entrees
Show #12
Desserts
Show #13
Depression,
Stress, Brain
Wellness
Fomentation
Forgiveness
6:45-7:00
Discuss
Movie
7:00-7:30
Fiber
High
High Blood
Vitamin D
Diabetes
Metabolic
Lecture/Foo
Cholesterol
Pressure
Syndrome
d Sample?
7:30-8:00
Charcoal
Contrast Bath
Hot Foot
Natural
Heating
Ice Massage
Natural
Bath
Remedy
Compress
Remedy
Recipes
Naturally Gourmet Cooking Video’s Online- http://www.naturallygourmet.com/cooking-show-videos
Chair
Massage
While teaching this class I will be building relationships with the people in the
community of Saginaw. I hope to have at least ten people attending each week’s class.
Michigan Adventist Community Service states on their website that they rent out equipment
“to screen Blood Pressure Diabetes, cholesterol and life style risks” (MACS, 2012a). I hope
to rent this equipment to use during one of the healthy lifestyle classes. I will continue to
modify Table 1 as I put together the lesson plans.
I will meet each requirement in the Service Learning Proposal (see Appendix B). I
will also keep a Service Learning Log (see Appendix C). I have included a preliminary list of
resources I intend on using for this program (see Appendix D).
Evaluation Plan
I will evaluate my own learning by whether or not I am prepared and ready for each
class. When I am prepared for my class I will have no reason to be nervous. I will evaluate
my preparedness by my confidence level during the presentations. Before each class I should
be able to answer the following question; do I know my material well enough to present the
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topic in an easy to understand manner and answer questions with confidence? Another way
that I will be able to evaluate the class is by the attendance. Did I advertise well? How many
people came to the first class? How many people are coming to the following classes? Is the
class size growing or dwindling? How I am able to answer these questions will help me in
my evaluation of the effectiveness of this healthy lifestyle seminar. I will be able to evaluate
the effect the seminar has on the community by watching to see if the class size grows and if I
am building relationships with those who attend the class. I plan on handing out a survey to
the participants at the last session. After the seminar is over I can ask the Saginaw Adventist
Community Center for an evaluation. I can ask them if they have received any feedback from
the community. I can also ask the center if any of the participants are now using other
resources at the center.
Conclusion
This service learning project will provide intense teaching experience that will help
me to decide if I really want to pursue a career in professional nursing education. This
experience will be a benefit to me as well as to the Saginaw Adventist Community Center and
the community of Saginaw, Michigan.
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References
Burns, G. (2012). Saginaw has the second highest rate of children living in poverty in
Michigan. The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved from
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2012/02/child_poverty_report_sagina
w_h.html
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2012). Chronic disease and health
promotion. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/overview/index.htm
Ferris State University School of Nursing. (2010). Policy - Service learning requirement
undergraduate (BSN) programs. (Available from the Ferris State University School of
Nursing, 200 Ferris Drive, Big Rapids, MI 49307)
Kwon, S.K., (n.d.) Community Services. Retrieved from
http://www.nadadventist.org/article/24/ministries/community-services
Michigan Adventist Community Services (MACS). (2012a). Services. Retrieved from
http://macsnet.org/services.html
Michigan Adventist Community Services (MACS). (2012b). Welcome to Adventist
Community Services. Retrieved from http://macsnet.org/index.html
National Service Learning Clearinghouse (NSLC). (2012). What is service learning?
Retrieved from http://www.servicelearning.org/what-service-learning
Weimar Center of Health & Education. (2012). What is NEWSTART? Retrieved from
http://www.newstart.com/newstart/what-is-newstart/
Willet, W. C., Koplan, R. N., Nugent, R., Dusenbury, C., Puska, P., & Gaziano, T. A. (2006).
Prevention of chronic disease by means of diet and lifestyle changes. In D. Jamison, J.
Breman, & A. Measham (Eds.), Disease control priorities in developing countries (pp.
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833-850). Washington DC: World Bank. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11795/pdf/ch44.pdf
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Appendix B
SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL
RN to BSN and Traditional BSN Tracks
STUDENT NAME: Joella Show
SITE: Saginaw Adventist Community Services
DATE SUBMITTED: November 18, 2012 ADVISOR: Dionne Serges
PROPOSAL COMPONENT
POINTS
POSSIBLE
POINTS
EARNED
10
10
AGENCY DESCRIPTION What is role of agency, not just name?
Should be sourced.
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10
VOLUNTEER ROLE DESCRIBED What will you do or how will
this be determined?
10
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?
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20
ACTIVITIES TO MEET OBJECTIVES What specifically do you
anticipate your activities will be?
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10
EVALUATION PLAN How will you evaluate your own learning
and the effects of your activities on the community?
10
10
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION /
INSTRUCTOR APPROVAL Include all pertinent information for
contact. Name, title, phone, street address, email
10
10
INTRODUCTION Introduce assignment. Purpose of paper,
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
 Support for planned outcomes – is there evidence that the
activities positively influence the outcomes desired?
TOTAL CONTENT POINTS
APA /Writing including:
 Title page w/ running head, Abstract, Margins, Headers,
Headings, References, Sentence Structure, Grammar,
Punctuation, Typos & clarity of ideas.
20
100
100
(30)
TOTAL POINTS TO BE DEDUCTED FOR APA ERRORS
-30
TOTAL POINTS OVERALL
100
COMMENTS: Absolutely Excellent, Joella!!
20
100
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Appendix C
Service Learning Log
RN to BSN Track
AGENCY: Saginaw Adventist Community Services
DATE
HOURS and ACTIVITY
STUDENT SIGNATURE:____________________________________________
AGENCY SIGNATURE:_____________________________________________
AGENCY PRINTED NAME:__________________________________________
DATE:___________________________________________________________
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Appendix D
Resources Page
Dr. Wes Youngberg – about Dr. Youngberg http://www-dryoungberg-com.tagnet.info/aboutdr-youngberg
 Naturally Gourmet Website and Cookbook Home Page - https://wwwnaturallygourmet-com.tagnet.info/
 Link to Watch Cooking Demonstrations for Free http://www.naturallygourmet.com/cooking-show-videos
 Excellent Free Lectures – www.youtube.com Search “Wes Youngberg”
 Audioverse.org – Search Presenters for Dr. Wes Youngberg
- https://www.audioverse.org/english/sermons/recordings/3094/natural-ways-tooptimize-the-immune-system.html
- https://www.audioverse.org/english/sermons/recordings/3095/optimizingbrain-wellness-how-to-promote-emotional-and-neurologic-healing.html
- https://www.audioverse.org/english/sermons/recordings/3087/how-to-evaluateprevent--reverse-diabetes-and-prediabetes-naturally.html
- https://www.audioverse.org/english/sermons/recordings/3086/how-to-turngood-genes-on--bad-genes-off.html
- https://www.audioverse.org/english/sermons/recordings/2524/thetransforming-power-of-our-health-message-good-news-about-reengineeringgenetic-health-risk.html
 Video Clips by Dr. Wes Youngberg - http://www-dryoungberg-com.tagnet.info/videolinks
 Transformational Wellness Store - https://www-dryoungbergcom.tagnet.info/store/products
 Youngberg Lifestyle and Nutritional Medicine - http://dryoungberg.com/
 More Video Clips - http://dryoungberg.com/sidebar-left/
 Practice Spotlight Dr. Wes Youngberg – by the American College of Lifestyle
Medicine- http://www.lifestylemedicine.org/youngberg
The Lost Art of Natural Remedies – Hydrotherapy Book/DVD by Lisa Puffer Meissner
 http://www.sustainablepreparedness.com/index.php/products/product/12hydrotherapy-book-dvd-combo/category_pathway-13
God’s Healing Way – by Mary Ann McNeilus
 God’s Healing Way – FREE Audio Book
http://www.ittookamiracle.ca/God%27shealingway.htm
 Paperback Copy - https://www.steps.org.au/Shop/Health/gods-healing-way.html
 Ebook that can be printed for FREE!
http://www.anym.org/pdf/health/Gods_Healing_Way.pdf
 You can buy a copy used off amazon.com
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NEWSTART – Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunshine, Temperance, Air, Rest, Trust in
Divine Power
 NEWSTART – What is NEWSART? - http://www.newstart.com/newstart/what-isnewstart/
 NEWSTART Lifestyle Club – FREE membership! - http://newstartclub.com/
The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted And
the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, And Long-term Health by T. Colin
Campbell
 http://thechinastudy.com/
Proof Positive by Dr. Neil Nedley M.D.
 http://www.drnedley.com/proof-positive-by-neil-nedley.html
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Teacher Comments and Grade
Submission Materials
Submission Field :
Student Comments :
Attached Files : NURS 320 Week 12 Fall 2012 Service Learning Paper with pastor
signature.docx
Instructor Feedback
Grade : 100.00 out of 100
Comments :
You have done exceptional work in this paper, Joella!
Thank you!
I would like to know if you would allow me to share your paper with the class - no pressure, I
just think it may help some other students to see what you have accomplished.
Send me an email if it is okay,
Dana