First-year University of Delaware nursing student Jack Feldmann learned valuable lessons in his introductory nursing class: never assume and when dealing with a person’s health, consider the whole person.

During his time volunteering at the Bellevue Community Center near Edgemoor, he learned of a local resident who was prescribed insulin but wound up back in the hospital to the doctor’s disbelief.

“The person didn’t have a refrigerator. You can never assume someone has something, even a refrigerator. There are disadvantaged people, and you need to ask every single important question to capture their entire situation and plan accordingly based off that.”

That realization came during 28 hours of service learning that’s a requirement in the Introduction to Population Health class, taught by Jennifer Saylor, associate dean of faculty and student affairs for the School of Nursing within the College of Health Sciences. Saylor said service-learning is at the heart of the nursing profession.

“This course is open to all majors and includes an understanding of cultural competency and social determinants of health relative to diverse and vulnerable populations,” Saylor said. “In addition to the service-learning component, students complete a group presentation at the end of the semester focused on assessment of a particular population related to the social determinants of health.”

While at Bellevue, Feldmann and his classmates, David Metcalf and Nadav Golan spent time with at risk youth in an afterschool program and worked in the community garden that provides fresh fruits and vegetables to residents as it tries to combat public health crises from obesity to smoking and alcohol abuse.

To address some of the social determinants of health, the students devised a community health survey for Edgemoor Gardens residents so the community center can devise strategies and programs to improve residents’ health. The behavioral health survey asks questions like how often a person exercises, how many hours a day they spend watching TV or using their cellphone, whether they have health insurance, what time their children go to bed, what social services they receive, and where’s their favorite place to get food.

While data from the survey hasn’t been collected yet, the community center’s goal, according to Feldmann, is to survey at least 30 homes each month to glean valuable information on living conditions, health risk factors and community safety.

“Community center staff wants to use the results to raise awareness at the county level so the community can center can obtain additional funding for social programs, bring in more fresh fruits and vegetables, and maintain an afterschool sanctuary for youth,” Feldmann explained.

Feldmann is hopeful the survey serves as a tool for long-lasting development for the community center.

“This survey can be used and expanded on to pinpoint more aspects that can help the community years and years down the line,” he said.

Saylor is also proud of what the students developed.

“These students took a real-world problem for the community center and came up with a solution that when put to use will improve health outcomes for residents of Edgemoor Gardens,” Saylor said. “Their first experience with service-learning has proven valuable and lessons learned will follow them on their quest to help others as aspiring nurses.”

While he starts clinicals sophomore year and looks forward to spending more time with Men in Nursing, Feldmann called service-learning the most important aspect of his nursing education thus far.

“Seeing other people struggling, it really makes me want to do something to help their situation, especially in nursing, where you’ll deal with their physical ailments as well as family and insurance issues.”

He found laughter is the best remedy to bring people together and called the experience eye-opening and one he’ll take with him as he pursues a career in nursing.

““Not everyone has had such a privileged life as I’ve had. My parents have done fairly well for me. I grew up in the suburbs in Hockessin. Kids at the Bellevue Community Center grew up in the city of Wilmington. You’re going to see those differences every day in a hospital, but you must treat everyone with respect no matter their background or where they come from,” he said.