Running head: SERVICE LEARNING

Service Learning Proposal

Brandie Zimmerman
Ferris State University

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Abstract
This paper is a proposal of the service learning project required as a part of the RN to BSN
degree program. My service learning proposal is to provide service as a volunteer Ambassador
for the Twin Bays AACN. I will serve as an active board member to provide education,
resources and mentorship to nurses. I will assist in the planning and implementation of charities
for the community and will assist in the planning and implementation of the first annual Critical
Care Conference hosted by Twin Bays AACN.



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Service Learning Proposal
The purpose of this paper is to discuss my service learning project. This project will be
completed throughout the course of the BSN program and will meet the program requirements as
listed on the Ferris State University website. The assignment for the service learning portion of
my degree requirement is to volunteer in a community agency that will allow me to provide
service to the community and the nursing profession. This project will encourage professional
development and promote leadership skills through service learning.
Project Description
Agency
The agency I chose to conduct my service learning through is the Twin Bays Chapter
(TBC) of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). I am both a National
AACN member and a Twin Bays Chapter member. I am an Ambassador for the National AACN
and serve on the board of the Twin Bays Chapter as an Ambassador. The Twin Bays Chapter is a
local chapter of the AACN. This chapter is a non-profit organization of acute care and critical
care nurses. It is the vision of Twin Bays Chapter, to be the resource for acute and critical care
nurses to grow professionally and to promote evidence based patient care (TBC-AACN, 2013).
I will facilitate this vision through my service learning project.
Volunteer Role
My volunteer role will be accomplished by serving as an Ambassador for AACN and the
Twin Bays Chapter. I will work with the National AACN to promote nursing education,
certification, and mentorship and provide resources to fellow nurses. I will assist in coordinating
TBC volunteer work at the State Theater, and I will assist with planning the first annual Critical
Care Conference hosted by the TBC. I will be involved in other projects hosted by TBC
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throughout my degree program and serve as an active board member in the
planning/implementation process as opportunities are presented and available.
Achievement of Program Objectives
My service learning project will achieve the program objectives as required by my degree
program. The program objectives as listed on the Ferris State University website are:
Collaborative Leadership, Theoretical Base for Practice, Generalist Nursing Practice, and
Scholarship for Practice, Health care Environment and Professionalism. The Collaborative
Leadership objective will be accomplished by collaboration with the Twin Bays Chapter board
members to plan and implement community service projects and projects that benefit the nursing
community. The Theoretical Base for Practice objective will be met by integrating theoretical
nursing ideas into nursing education and providing education to nurses, as well as, the
community. The Generalist Nursing Practice objective will be met by providing community
education and projects, such as volunteering at the State Theater. The Scholarship for Practice
objective will be achieved by providing nurses with education from the National AACN
regarding evidence based practice alerts and by providing mentorship to nurses. The Health care
Environment objective will be met by serving as an ambassador for both the National AACN and
the Twin Bays Chapter. The Professionalism objective will be achieved by serving in a
leadership role and representing the nursing profession as an Ambassador (Ferris State
University, 2013).
Description of Activities
The activities that I will be involved in while serving as an Ambassador for the AACN
and the Twin Bays Chapter include: attending general membership meetings monthly, planning
and implementing community charities, assisting in planning and implementing the first annual
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Critical Care Conference hosted by Twin Bays Chapter, and providing education directly from
the National AACN to nurses in my community. Through these activities, I will learn the
benefits of community service. I will benefit personally by the education that I receive and I will
pass this information on to fellow nurses. I will benefit from serving as an Ambassador by being
a resource person and mentor for fellow nurses. The Community of nurses will benefit from the
education that I will provide and will be up to date on evidence based practices and practice
alerts. The community will benefit from various charities that I will assist in planning and
implementing through my role as an Ambassador, as well as, the education that will be provided
to the nurses that will care for them. I will advocate for nurses and my community to provide the
best care, education and practices that I can.
Evaluation Plan
I will evaluate my own learning by keeping a record of CEUs and CERPs that I earn at
general membership meetings, the AACNs NTI and through my role as an Ambassador. I will
evaluate my learning by following evidence based practices and patient outcomes. I will evaluate
the effects of my service to the community by noting the reception of education and charitable
events provided. I will also implement a survey to evaluate the educational needs of nurses and
the community that I serve and follow through with the needs assessment. I will then conduct a
post survey to evaluate the effectiveness of services provided.





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References
Ferris State University, (2013). BSN Program Outcomes. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from
http://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/colleges/alliedhe/Nursing/SON-Organizing-Framework-
2013.pdf
Twin Bays Chapter- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, (2013). Retrieved April 4,
2013, from http://www.twinbaysaacn.org