NR725B_MaglaCh_Wk12_ServiceLearningBlog

NR725B_MaglaCh_Wk12_ServiceLearningBlog

For this semester, I did my service at the Goodwill charity in Clermont, Lake County, FL. Clermont is a 45 minute drive away from Orlando, and is used to be a rural area and also used to be popular with retirees. The onset of the housing market, the hills and the surrounding lakes in the area made Clermont very popular to the younger generation coming from Orlando and other parts of the country, and even people the United Kingdom. The population in Clermont had increased tremendously over the last past five years or so with younger generation and active adults for reasons that they can train for marathons and participate bike races in the area, the area has always sporting events for both the younger and older generation, and Clermont houses The National Training Center for US athletes.

The Goodwill charity in Central Florida was established in 1959. It began providing tools that help people in the community overcome barriers to employment and find meaningful work. Today, the community donations serve as funding resources to help people in need find jobs and achieve economic self-sufficiency. The process starts in receiving donated goods, then selling the donated items. The proceeds from sales will then be used as funds for training and other services to help people for success (education, counseling, training). Having the tools to be used for work, a person in the community can then find good jobs to support himself and his family.

The agency`s clients are mostly homeless and people living in shelters. These clients are provided with vocational assessment(s), planning, counseling and placement services, as well as follow-up to make sure that their needs are met. The ultimate goal of this process is providing the participants with the right equipment to maintain long-term work and to help them transition from being homeless to having a permanent housing and to being able to sustain their own needs. The agency`s funds came from the community`s donated goods/items being sold in a very affordable prices. The proceeds are then to be used as funds to supporting the maintenance and training of the personnel who are providing the services to the community through education, community training, counseling, assessment etc.

As a nurse with a higher degree such as the DNP, I have the knowledge and understanding that being well and healthy in the community is not only concern on the physical aspect of the individual but rather it includes psychosocial, emotional, and mental well-being. With the wealth of knowledge that I have gained through my critical care experience in the hospital and will be obtained from school through the DNP program at Regis University, I can guide the underserved in promoting healthy lifestyle such as eating vegetables and encouraging them that doing simple daily exercises are important as eating their vegetables. I can provide them with information about the importance of being healthy and the consequences accompanied of living an unhealthy lifestyle.

I can also share information that there are free medical services available in the community and in the hospital to keep them on track with their health, this includes having their vital signs taken on monthly basis, obtaining immunizations for their kids and getting free medications during the flu season. I can also help advocate the underserved without families nearby to make sure their rights and dignity are maintained, and keeping the underserved informed with their health and medical situations to make sure they are and can make appropriate decisions regarding their medical care based on the health information they have.

The most challenging experience I had this semester was locating a new agency. I have decided to do my service learning near my place of residence for easy commute but finding an agency was not easy and was a challenge. I contacted and inquired two agencies for possible placement but did not get a response after multiple visits and phone calls. Despite of the difficulties I had, I still feel that I was lucky as I was able to help the underserved. During my services, I saw multiple families with kids and individuals looking for jobs to sustain their immediate needs. I saw moms and dads with their kids at the facility looking for very cheap toys, books and clothing for their kids. While I was there, I realized immediately how lucky I am to have a job and be able to sustain myself without digging and hunting from somebody else`s old clothing to clothe myself.  

As an individual, I can help the underserved by continuing my services to the charity after the DNP program even just a few hours a week. Also, as I was packing my belongings for the past few weeks for my relocation, I found out that I have so many belongings (clothing, shoes, cutlery, pots/pans and furnitures) that I will not be needing and I found them very unnecessary for my move. Instead of throwing them away, I gave them to the charity so others may benefit and can use them. As a professional, I can use my advantage of having the medical training and knowledge by volunteering to health centers that are providing free medical services to the community. I can also help training the underserved in terms of taking blood pressures so they can help as well when clinics are closed. I can also volunteer to provide health education to the community.

I believe that in every act of kindness, big or small, can have a huge impact to the individual and to the community. In order for me to have an impact to the community, I need to practice and believe what I taught. I am not perfect but recognizing and learning from my mistakes will be a good start to move forward and for the better – for myself and to the community I serve.