Rachel Saxton, Avery Tee, Izzy Grubbs, Louise Maloney, Megan Jacobsson, Hannah, Parulski, Antonia Norman, Sam Zanoni
Andrea Wehrer, BSN RN – NURS 417
Interfaith Sanctuary
Introduction
Service learning integrates course content with relevant community service to gain a broader understanding of the discipline and enhance our sense of civic responsibility (Boise State Service-Learning Program, n.d., Definitions).
Our time at Interfaith has helped us develop a better understanding of underserved and vulnerable populations, identify needs within our community, and plan interventions to address these disparities.
We identified the need for standardized health information documentation to streamline communication between Interfaith Staff, residents, and EMS in the event of an emergency.
Reflection
- We got to see our documentation in action when a patient needed emergency medical care. Paramedics were able to easily access their pertinent medical information to provide care.
- We immersed ourselves in the experiences of individuals in the medically vulnerable community, as well as those in need of stable housing and improved food security.
- We have engaged in a wide range of support activities to serve the community such as providing meals, organizing a clothing closet, running a daycare, participating in a vaccine clinic, and creating patient health information sheets for paramedics.
- This service learning experience is invaluable because it provides us with the opportunity to truly understand the experiences of the unhoused population and the challenges they face daily. Each individual has a unique story, which reminds us that homelessness is not a monolithic experience, but a complex and personal journey.
- Through this community service learning experience, we have become better nurses by enhancing our communication skills, exposing ourselves to diverse populations and healthcare challenges, and enriching our knowledge and commitment to nursing practice. This experience has strengthened our ability to advocate for vulnerable patients, empowering us to be more effective in our future roles.
Community Partner: Interfaith Sanctuary
Mission Statement:
“Interfaith Sanctuary Shelter is home for a warm meal and a safe place to lay your head for all genders, races, religions, and sexual orientation. We are a sanctuary for families with children allowing them to find shelter together. We are a shelter full of hopes and dreams offering second chances and supportive services everyday.”
Project Purpose/Community Identified Need:
Accurate handoffs between EMS providers and ED staff decrease medical errors and improve guest care” (Martin et al., 2018).
We created medical profile cards for medically fragile guests to improve information handoff between emergency services and staff at Interfaith Red Lion Hotel.
Methods
Interviewed medically fragile guests at Red Lion to assess their needs and how we can better serve them
Collaborated with the medical case worker of Red Lion to identify how we can improve their current medical practices
Identified a medical barrier: medical information is not easily accessible for emergency medical services (EMS)
Designed medical profile cards for each medically fragile guest to be displayed inside their room for quick and easy EMS access in the event of an emergency
Interviewed an ER nurse and paramedic to identify the most important (allergies, medications, health history, etc.) information they need when a new patient arrives
Results
Non-medical staff have a resource to communicate with EMS in the case of an emergency
Medically fragile residents are better prepared for emergency situations because their medical information is more easily accessible
We facilitated access to services for our residents such as administering vaccines, organizing supply closets, and running a daycare.
