Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

NUR 4144: Professional Role Development Servant Leadership

Summative Service-Learning Reflection
Grading Rubric
Student Name: _____Harrison Black_____
Instructions: Reflect upon your personal experience with service-learning activities across your
nursing program, using the following key components. This is a reflection of how servicelearning has shaped your values.
Papers should be between 1000-1500 words.
Points
Points
Possible Earned
1. Noticing & Interpreting:
30
What expectations did you have of service-learning from the
beginning of your nursing program? Were these
expectations met or not met (with explanation)?
What strengths and problems did you, personally, see in the
community? What assets/solutions to problems did you see?
How did your values and experiences as part of a certain
cultural, racial, ethnic, religious group, socioeconomic status
group, or exposure to media or other sources of information
concerning needy communities shape what you saw and
heard throughout your nursing program?
2. Responding:
20
What have you learned about the needs of the surrounding
community?
Have you found the service-learning activities to be truly
relevant to the community and your learning experiences?
3. Reflecting on service-learning:
30
Has your service-learning experiences influenced your
perception of your call to serve?
Has your concept of service-learning changed since you
began your career as a nursing student?
Briefly describe how your past experiences of servicelearning in your nursing courses (NUR 1100, NUR 3113,
and NUR 3114, NUR 4144) helped prepare you for servicelearning.
4. Reflecting on civic engagement:
20
What is civic engagement? (cite any ideas that are not your
own)
How do you plan to stay engaged with the local community
when you graduate?
Total Personal Summative Reflection Points:
100

Noticing and Interpreting

To be honest my expectations for the service learning at BSMCON were moderate, not
too high, but not too low. I simply thought we would serve some food and talk to some homeless
people, help some small children in the community, and help some of the older population. We
did all of those things, but they were much more enjoyable and fulfilling than I thought they
would be! My experiences exceeded my expectations. It felt good to do good work for a
multitude of populations in need. It also enjoyed helping the other workers at the various places
run their events smoothly and efficiently.
One strength I saw in the community was the willingness for individuals to step up and
support their fellow human beings. This was not common place, but it seems to happen enough
that those populations in need have at least some resources to pull from, when otherwise theyd
have none. Another strength I saw was the resilience of the human spirt and a determination to
not give up even when times were hard, there was no money, or there were not enough people
supporting their cause. The strengths of the communities I saw in my service learning
experiences were strong, but there were also weaknesses and problems as well. One problem is
that not enough people and resources are available to those who need them. It seems that there is
only enough help and resources to go around to keep people and needy communities just off the
brink of disaster and then sometimes it simply isnt enough. It is fortunate that there are solutions
to these problems. If everyone helped out around the community just a little bit then it might be
enough to make a big difference. As it stands, it seems like a few are doing a ton of work and its
yielding results, but it is not enough. If everyone donated, say, an hour of their time every week

to feeding the homeless, building houses for those who need them, or joining a big brother/big
sister program, then it might put a sizeable dent in some of the needs of our communities.
I think the biggest changes in me are my feelings and views towards those with mental
health issues, and thus the homeless population. In our mental health clinicals and mental health
service learning activities I learned a lot. I learned that many people that suffer from mental
illness are misunderstood. For example, most people do not understand mental illnesses and what
type of toll it can take on ones life, so they belittle someone who seems to have a tough with
depression. I understand the homeless population better because a lot of homeless people suffer
from mental illness.

Responding

The needs of the surrounding community are significant. The educational needs regarding
health in the community needs a lot of work, especially those of lower socioeconomic status.
Another need is food and shelter for the homeless. If the homeless do not have to worry about
basic care needs such as food and shelter, then it may be possible to help them with other issues.
Access to wholesome food for everyone is also an issue. Some areas are known as food
deserts. The areas that are called food deserts are normally heavily populated, but they do not
have access to things like fruits and vegetables, but they do have a lot of things like fast food and
other foods that are not healthy options.
Yes, I have found that my service learning activities have been truly relevant to my
education as a nurse and to the community. Every service learning activity I have been to, the
people there have been very thankful that we have come, and I can also see that my fellow

nursing students and I have made a difference. I have grown as a person and as a nurse through
these experiences. For example, I now know much more about the homeless population and that
new knowledge will serve me well if I get a homeless patient.

Reflecting on Service-Learning

Yes, my service learning experiences have influenced my call to serve. They have
widened my view of what it is to be a nurse. My job as a nurse does not end when I leave the
hospital. It extends to my friends, family, community, and even the world. I initially went into
nursing because I knew I wanted to help people in need. I thought, I know! I can be a nurse, that
will satisfy my need to help people and I can make a living in the process! However, I have
learned that that is not enough for me anymore. I now feel the need to be a healing presence in
my community as well. Even if it is only helping out at a homeless shelter once a week or
building homes for Habitat for Humanity once a month.
Yes, my concept of service learning has changed since I became a nursing student. Before
I was a nursing student I didnt even know what service learning was. I practiced service
learning, but I did not have a name for it. The concept has widened to include people of all ages.
At first I thought it was mostly the elderly that needed the most help, but now I know it includes
everyone.
My past experiences in service learning in my other nursing courses have helped me
greatly on my journey to being a servant leader. They have helped me be flexible when at the site
of service learning. You never know what is going to be asked of you, or what role you are going
to play. For example, we went to a facility in the community that gave people with different

mental illnesses something to do during the day. Here we played a variety of roles; helping run
different workshops, talking with the participants, serving food, and providing teaching to those
who wanted it. This flexibility has also helped me in my nursing practice. My past experiences
have also showed me many different ways one can serve in the community. One can volunteer at
a homeless shelter, tutor children in various subjects, spend time with the elderly at long term
care facilities, or build homes for Habitat for Humanity.

Reflecting on Civic Engagement

Civic engagement is simple, it means working to make a difference in your community.

This can be accomplished any number of ways. You can work at a soup kitchen or write a letter
to your congressman. Civic engagement also means taking responsibility for your community. If
you are part of a certain community you should help optimize it, make it better, and improve the
lives of those in your community (www.apa.org).
Honestly, I 100% plan to engage with my local community when I graduate. Id like to
help out at the same church we went to for our most recent service learning activity near Monroe
Park in Richmond. They do a lunch for the homeless every Friday that I would like to volunteer
for on a regular basis. I would also like to get back into Habitat for Humanity. When I went to
Randolph-Macon College I was heavily involved with H4H, but I have not been to a build in a
long time. I would definitely like to get more involved with my community. As I have gotten a
little bit older and accumulated a wider range of experiences I value servant leadership and civic
engagement much more.

http://www.apa.org/education/undergrad/civic-engagement.aspx