2.  Service Learning is an important educational component to the RN-BSN program at Ferris State University.  Nursing students are given the opportunity to learn first-hand about the roles and services that are offered in their community.  Service Learning provides an opportunity for students to give back to the community a fraction a their time and talents through volunteerism.

3.  Identify a community organization in need of volunteer services. Provide 20 hours of volunteer service to the agency by the completion of NURS 450. Give a brief agency description that includes historical background & community services provided. Describe my personal roles and volunteer service provided to the agency. Provide a critical reflection & synthesis of my learning experiences with the agency as it relates to ANA Professional Standards of Practice & Ferris State University RN-BSN program objectives. Give recommendations for future students seeking service learning experience through this agency.

4. The American Red Cross Historical Background Service Roles within the Community

5. Clara Barton has been credited as a founder of the American Red Cross Organization. She was a pioneer in providing nursing services to sick and injured soldiers during the American Civil War in 1861. Through her experience in the Civil War she identified the need for immediate personal services to soldiers that included: a sanctuary for nursing care, food, and clothing. She organized a group of volunteer women to assist in providing these much needed services. She learned how to collect, store, and distribute needed goods. Her service experience in providing war time relief to soldiers and communities became the foundation on which the American Red Cross Disaster Relief effort was built. (www.Red Cross.org, 2006) Through her work with wounded soldiers, she gained a great deal of personal information about them. She utilized this information at the end of the war to assist families in locating men that had been reported missing, a service that is still provided by the American Red Cross today.

6. In 1869, Clara traveled to Geneva, Switzerland in search of reprieve. It was in Geneva that Clara was introduced to the idea of the Red Cross. She read A Memory of Solferino, a book written by Henry Dunant founder of the Red Cross Movement in Europe. This movement advocated for international agreements for the protection of the sick & wounded, regardless of nationality, during wartime. It also called upon voluntary national societies to render aid on a basis of neutrality. This founded the basic principles of the Geneva Convention. Inspired, Clara returned to the United States in 1877 and persistently lobbied congress for the ratification of the Geneva Treaty, which was signed in 1882. In 1881, Clara and a group of supporters founded the first American Association of the Red Cross in Washington D.C. In 1883, the organization was re-named The American National Red Cross. In 1905, the American Red Cross was given the Congressional Charter under which it still operates today. (www.Red Cross.org, 2006)

7.  To facilitate the completion of my Service Learning requirement, I chose to volunteer service through the American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids & The Ottawa County Chapter located in Holland, MI. Transportation Appointment Driver International Family Tracing Caseworker. Disaster Readiness & Response Volunteers. Services to Armed Forces Caseworker. Readiness & Response Volunteer Manager. World Refugee Day Coordinator. Disaster Mental Health Associate. Measles Initiative Board Members. Disaster Services Community Correspondent. EHL Marketing & Community Outreach Volunteer. Client Caseworker. International Student Relations Intern. Office Skills Instructors. Youth Services Project Planner. Blood Drive Volunteer. (www.Red Cross.org, 2009)  The American Red Cross offers a variety of volunteer opportunities to those willing to donate their time to community service Registration Services. P&PE Marketing Intern. First Aid/CPR/AED/Blood born Pathogens Instructor. Preparedness & Prevention Education Instructor. Development Intern. Heroes Campaign Sponsorship Committee. Philanthropic Advisory Committee Member. Prospect Research & Grant Writing Intern. Heroes Event Coordinator. Lifesavers Event Committee Member. Community Visibility Events Support Team Head. Community Visibility Events Support Team Member.

8.  I selected two volunteer roles: Blood Services Volunteer Community Visibility Events Support Team Member.  The majority of my hours worked were through the Blood Services Department.  I selected these two roles for the following reasons: They interested me. Offered scheduling flexibility with my work & school schedules. Provided me with an opportunity to utilize my nursing skills to benefit the organization.

9.  Blood Services Volunteer.  Community Visibility Events Support.

10. (www.Red Cross.org, 2009)

12. RN-BSN Program Objectives American Nurses Association (ANA) Standards of Professional Nursing Practice

13.  Initial Thoughts Prior to my volunteer experience with the American Red Cross, I was aware that the organization provided blood donation services and some disaster relief efforts. I was unaware of the extent of other services provided by the Red Cross. Assumptions Initially, I thought that having found an organization as large as the Red Cross, obtaining 20 volunteer service hours would be simple. I learned that it is not easy to volunteer in this organization. There is an application process, criminal background check, and a 2 hour orientation process that must be completed. I also found that opportunities to volunteer for events filled very quickly and were not as frequent as I had previously thought. (www.Red Cross.org, 2009)

14. Information Attained Prior to working with the American Red Cross, I was required to attend a two hour orientation process in which I learned a lot of information about the organization. Historical Background and foundation of the Red Cross. The various services that the organization provides to the community, as previously described. The American Red Cross relies primarily on a volunteer work force. 40% of the Nations blood supply comes from Red Cross Blood Donations.. Blood donations are accepted on a volunteer basis only. The American Red Cross provides an exceptional screening process and health assessment prior to allowing a person to donate. Donors are monitored in the canteen area closely for adverse effects of donating for a minimum of 15 minutes. The American Red Cross collaborates with other National and global organizations like the Red Crescent and FEMA. The American Red Cross employs registered nurses to work at blood drives. (www.Red Cross.org, 2009)

15.  BSN Objectives Professionalism: Volunteers for The American Red Cross are screened for integrity and professionalism through an application process and criminal background check. A two hour orientation class is required in which the organizational mission and expectations are discussed. Volunteers are expected to dress and interact with other members & the general public in a professional manner in accordance with their signed agreement of the American Red Cross Code of Conduct. This aligns with the ANA’s Practice Standard of Professional Practice Evaluation by meeting the competency of “interacting with peers and colleagues to enhance his/her own professional nursing practice or role performance”(ANA, 2010, p.59). Collaborative Leadership: The American Red Cross collaborates with National & global organizations like FEMA & Red Crescent to provide disaster relief services to communities. Volunteers through the Red Cross are required to work together in a collaborative manner to facilitate goals & services provided by the organization. For example, through my experience working in Blood Services I needed to work with registered nurses, donors, and other station volunteers to ensure that the blood drive ran smoothly. This aligns with the ANA’s Practice Standard of Collaboration that states “the registered nurse engages in teamwork and team building processes. He/she adheres to standards & applicable codes of conduct that govern behavior among peers and colleagues to create a work environment that promotes cooperation, respect, & trust” (ANA, 2010,p.57).

16.  BSN Objectives (con’t) Generalist Nursing Practice: I found that I was able to apply nursing process while volunteering as a Blood Services volunteer. When registering donors, I utilized assessment skills to evaluate the individuals’ physical eligibility and emotional readiness to donate. Working in the canteen/recovery area, I used physical assessment skills & nursing knowledge base to monitor & observe donors for adverse reaction signs & symptoms from donating. This meets the ANA practice standard of Assessment in which “the registered nurse collect comprehensive data pertinent to the healthcare consumer’s health and/or situation”(ANA,2010,p.32). Healthcare Environment: Services provided by the American Red Cross improve quality and safety of the healthcare environment. Transportation services are available, in which volunteers provide transportation to medical appointments to those in need. This ensures that members of the community receive appropriate primary medical care. The American Red Cross provides lifesaving CPR& AED utilization classes to the general public. Blood donation services ensures quality of blood supplied to healthcare organizations by vigorously screening donors & testing blood supplies prior to shipment. This meets the ANA Professional Practice Standard of Health Teaching &Promotion that states that “the registered nurse employs strategies to promote health and a safe environment” (ANA, 2010, p.41).

17.  Theoretical Base for Practice I could not come up with a specific nursing theorist to describe my service learning experience with the American Red Cross. The humanitarian efforts and services provided by the organization are nearly identical to the ideals of the health promotional ideals of the nursing profession.

18.  I would recommend the American Red Cross for service learning experience with caution. While I found my experiences relevant to the goals of service learning, I found working with the organizational administration to be highly disorganized & frustrating. In order to complete my service learning hours I had to work with two chapters of the Red Cross, Ottawa County & Grand Rapids chapters. My organizational contact person at the Grand Rapids Chapter has changed several times over the course of two years. At one point, when e-mail communications with my contact person fell silent, I called to inquire about upcoming volunteer opportunities. The person in charge of Blood Services had no idea who I was, or who my contact person was. I found out that my volunteer information was lost at the Grand Rapids Chapter and I had to re-apply & attend the orientation a second time. I then received another contact person and was also recommended to try the Ottawa County Chapter as well. The Ottawa County Chapter was much more organized, I would strongly recommend anyone considering the Red Cross as a venue to go there. I also found that volunteer opportunities fill up fast and are not nearly as frequent or convenient as I had thought.

19. American Nurses Association. (2010). Scope and Standards of Nursing Practice (2nd ed., p. 57). Silver Spring, MD: Nursing Standards. The American Red Cross. (2009). Volunteer Opportunities at the American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids. From http://greatergrandrapids.redcross.org The American Red Cross. (2008). Volunteer Handbook of Greater Grand Rapids. Retrieved from http://greatergrandrapids.redcross.org