1. Presentation of Service Learning
Cristin Barnaby, RN

2. Grand Rapids Red Project
Mission: Improving Health, Preventing HIV, Reducing Risk
Programs
Clean Works
Positive Influences
Bar Outreach
Special Events
The organization that I did my volunteer hours with was the Grand Rapids Red Project. Their organization revolves around health promotion. Their mission is: Improving health, preventing HIV, reducing risk (Grand Rapids Red Project, 2012). In order to do this they offer programs like: Clean Works, Positive Influences, Bar Outreach, and host special events throughout the year. Clean Works is a risk reduction program that targets IV drug users. The volunteers at Clean Works participate in a needle exchange program, and engage clients in conversations about risk reduction with motivational interviewing skills. Positive Influences is an HIV support group for young people affected by the diagnosis. Bar Outreach is a program in which volunteers interact with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community at a local bar to educate on risk reduction, provide them with condoms, and provide them with resources for free HIV and Hepatitis C testing.
Grand Rapids Red Project

3. Bar Outreach Community based
Partners with local bars and entertainment venues
Promotes education
HIV awareness
As a prospective volunteer I was attracted to the Bar Outreach program that the Grand Rapids Red Project offers. As a nurse who works in community health this type of intervention appealed to me because it was community based. Volunteers with the Bar Outreach program were asked to step outside of the safe walls of an organization and into the territory of the people they intended to serve. The Grand Rapids Red Project Partners with local bars and entertainment venues that the LGBT community patrons in order to build a relationship that will foster the promotion of education and HIV awareness in this often overlooked population.
Bar Outreach

4. Volunteer Role Education HIV Hepatitis C Safer Sex Practices
Risk Reduction
As a volunteer I primarily was involved in education regarding HIV, Hepatitis C, safer sex practices, and risk reduction. My background as a registered nurse (RN) prepared me for this role. As a nurse I felt prepared to talk with people about diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C. My nursing career also has helped me understand how to speak with people using motivational interviewing when discussing things like safer sex practices and risk reduction.
Volunteer Role

5. Evolution of Thought Process
Initial Thoughts
New Knowledge
Evolution of Thought Process
Initially, I was both hesitant and nervous to participate in Bar Outreach. I felt that it was a great way to approach our target population. However, I was also nervous that I might not be accepted by the LGBT community in my volunteer role. Despite this initial nervousness I was able to gain comfort and familiarity with the groups that I was interacting with. Because of this I gained new knowledge regarding the LGBT community, and the health disparities that affect them. Overall, I say an evolution of my thought process from hesitant or reserved volunteer to excited and empathetic advocate.
Reflection

6. Synthesis Effect on my current practice Relevance to BSN outcomes
Scholarship for Practice
Healthcare Environment
Professionalism
This volunteer internship has really had an effect on my current practice. As a community health nurse it has made me better understand the importance of meeting clients where they are. It also improved my understanding of risk reduction strategies. It has shown me that it is possible to build relationships with diverse groups of people over even the smallest common interest. Bar outreach has also proven to be relevant to many of the BSN outcomes as outlined by Ferris State University. My volunteering directly relates to the Scholarship for Practice objective, because it has allowed me to better see health disparities within the LGBT community that I wasn’t as aware of prior to this experience. I was able to better understand that these disparities most often stem from “societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of their civil and human rights” (DHHS, 2011). In other words, many of these health disparities are related to the oppression this group has faced—historically and currently (DHHS, 2011). These disparities have also highlighted the trend in the Healthcare Environment for the LGBT community. Prior to my research, I did not really consider this group underserved, underrepresented or maligned in the health care setting; I was slightly ignorant to the way members of this group may feel when interacting with members of the health care community. For example, I did not comprehend or understand the fear of disclosing sexual orientation to healthcare workers who have unknown morals, values or lifestyles that are not those of the majority. The low percentage of LGBT members in the US creates an increased risk for members of this group to have health disparities. This is mainly because they are not being adequately represented in the health care environment or general population (Pelletier & Tschurtz, 2011, p. 95). All of this knowledge that I gained from volunteering with the Grand Rapids Red Project has allowed me to further my Professionalism. I now feel more committed than ever to providing ethical and equal quality of care to all the patients I work with.
Synthesis

7. Highlights Impacted people on individual level.
Spread awareness to multiple groups.
Became more understanding of risk reduction strategies.
Opportunity to build lasting relationships
One of the best parts about volunteering for the Grand Rapids Red Project is the way I felt I was able to impact people on an individual level. By meeting with individuals in their comfort zone I was able to promote education and spread awareness. I also became more understanding of risk reduction strategies. I now feel comfortable engaging in difficult conversations, and with the choices people make for themselves. Lastly, this volunteer opportunity provided me with the ability to build lasting relationships.
Highlights

8. Recommendations Step outside of your comfort zone.
Meet new people in the community.
Build connections within the healthcare community.
Use your skills to make a difference!
Future Bachelor of Science in Nursing students can greatly benefit from volunteering for a place like the Grand Rapids Red Project. It is important that students use their volunteer opportunity as a chance to step outside of their comfort zone. Organizations will value these students as volunteers because they are able to use their skills to make a difference! This opportunity will also enable them to meet new people in the community, as well as build connections within the healthcare community. I personally found that volunteering in this capacity will allowed me to see another side of the people that I encounter. “Competency in the care of individuals…requires nurses to move beyond misconceptions to more trusting and respectful nurse-patient collaborations” (Loewenson, 2011, p. 348).
Recommendations

9. Grand Rapids red project: Improving health, preventing HIV, reducing risk. (2012). Retrieved from Loewenson, K. M., & Hunt, R. J. (2011). Transforming Attitudes of Nursing Students: Evaluating a Service-Learning Experience. Journal of Nursing Education, 50(6), doi: / Pelletier, M., & Tschurtz, B. (2012). Meeting the health care needs of LGBT patients. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 27(2), doi: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS]. (2012, September 6). Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health. Retrieved from
References