N479 Professional Activity Evaluation Form

Your Name: Molly Hughes Date of Activity: 1/9 & 3/17 Faculty name: Darlene LaCroix

Describe the community service/professional activity/s you attended or participated with.

The first professional activity was on January 9th, 2018 in the SILC lab with Yvette

Mathesen. I distributed SILC bags to second semester students. I found many second semester

students sought out my advice on how to survive second and third semester. I was able to

communicate with younger students and provide insight on how to succeed. It was fascinating to

inventory items; many had no idea what certain supplies were for, so there was room for

explanation and teaching. My role was to act as a mentor to younger students and be an expert

witness to what 3rd and 4th semester is like. I also assisted in preparing mannequins for

simulation. I prepared kits for naso-gastric placements and wound care.

The second activity was a Pow Wow on March 17th, 2018 at the San Xavier Mission del

Bac. I was able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the community and speak with

members of the tribe. I also did a 473 rotation at the San Xavier Mission School, so it was

fascinating to transfer observations from that experience towards the entire community . I was

also able to observe the different levels of hierarchy in the tribe. The school nurse whom I work

with on Thursdays was present and we were able to discuss how strong traditional values are

amongst this group of people and how it can be difficult to implement change. I would say that

observation, assessment, identification of strengths and weaknesses, and communication between

different generations were all skills that I utilized.

Where was this held and what was was program/activity length?

The professional hours on January 9th, 2018 were held at the College of Nursing in the

SILC lab with Yvette Mathesen. This event lasted four hours (1pm-5pm). The professional
hours on March 17th, 2018 took place at the San Xavier del Bac Mission. I attended the Pow

Wow for four hours (10am-2pm) with Nancy McGuckin as my witness.

Discuss the value of this experience to you (be specific).

I enjoyed my time at the SILC lab. It was exciting to see the younger students begin their

clinicals. It showed me how much I’ve grown as a health care professional within a year and

reminded me that there is always room to learn. The time passed quickly and realized that taking

a job with a focus in teaching is something I would enjoy. I left this professional activity feeling

that I provided reassurance that it is possible to survive (and enjoy!) the program.

I felt incredibly humbled after the Pow Wow. Deep traditions were integrated in every

activity. It was incredible to see how old values are still upheld by members of this community.

Witnessing the hierarchy between generations and communication between tribe members

provided me insight on a different type of leadership that I have never observed before.

Observation, speaking with members of this community at a traditional event allowed me to

view the Native American culture with a whole new respect.

Would you recommend this specific community/professional experience in the future?

I absolutely recommended both the SILC volunteering and the Pow Wow community

experience. The SILC experience made me feel like I could appropriately communicate with

others who had less experience in nursing with a great affect. The Pow Wow provided insight to

an entirely different type of leadership/tribal communication that I would have never had

observed had I not attended the event. Both experiences contributed drastically towards my

ability to communicate with others in a professional manner.

Brochure or proof of attendance obtained? No

Signature on validation of clinical hours form obtained? Yes