1. Running Head: What I Learned in College 1
What I Learned in College:Personal BSN Reflection Journal
Desiree Ferwalt
NUR 4953

2. Running Head: What I Learned in College 2
This is my NUR 4953 journal for the BSN program to reflect on what all I learned in this
course for this semester. With it I was able to reflect on my learning experiences in this course
through my personal, spiritual, and professional growth.
There are many different methods to meet the spiritual needs of victims of disaster. One
of the most important things we as nurses to help a person in need is we can just be there for the
person, whether it is someone for them to talk to, or just someone to hold their hand and be a
physical presence of support. Many times people especially those who have just survived a
disaster just need to know that they are not alone in the world and that there is at least one stable
person to rely on. Sometimes the only way to support a person is to let that person know that you
are there if they need you since many times they are not ready to share right after a disaster.
Another way we can help out the survivors of a disaster with their spiritual needs is getting in
contact with their spiritual advisor whether it is their pastor, rabbi, priest or some one else who
can take care of their spiritual needs. With certain spiritual cultures there are certain needs that as
nurses we can not do so that is where their spiritual advisor can help them. We can also put them
in contact with their family members. Families often get separated during disaster and this can
add enormous amount of stress. A person can cope better with a disaster when they know their
families are safe. One of the final methods we as nurses can do for disaster survivors is to keep
records of who we have in our care. If we can do this the victim’s families and friends will be
able to find them and know that they are safe. In this way we can affect the several lives
beneficially by giving them the piece of mind of not wondering if their loved ones are still out
there.
The roles of faith-based institutions such as churches or synagogues play in meeting the
needs of disaster victims can be vast and varying. One major role they can play is a place where

3. Running Head: What I Learned in College 3
separated families can meet up. As stated in the paragraph above sometimes during a disaster for
whatever reason families can not stay together. This makes faith- based institutions an excellent
place to be a meeting point. Without a meeting point it can cause families be separated for long
periods of time and this can lead to long term spiritual damage to a person because they don’t
have their support group. Many times the faith-based institutions are a central base to shelter
during times of disaster. They usually can offer warm bed and a hot meal and spiritual support to
those in need. These buildings of worship can also store and run emergency supplies. The
reasoning behind this is because as stated before these churches are a focal place to meet.
Another reason could simply be that sometimes these are the only safe and clean areas to keep
and disperse these items of need. One of the most obvious roles that churches, synagogues, ect.
are to give spiritual advise when a person is in spiritual distress. Many times during natural
disaster people find that their faith is shaken wondering how their higher power could do
something so horrible as to allow the disaster to happen.
The first thing I learned in this course was about the other students and the situations that
brought them to take this class. I now know in an emergency where my family will meet up. I
learned what our procedures at work are both off-site and on-site procedures. I also learned what
my role would be in an emergency situation at work. I also prepared a emergency kit during this
course. I found information on National Response Plan and the American Red Cross. I also
learned from other educational projects while evaluating others projects. I learned many
challenges that go into disaster planning. I also learned the roles of the mass media in disaster
management. There are many chemical or biological agents that can be used during disaster. I
feel that this course was able to prepare me personally and professionally in the event of a
disaster.

4. Running Head: What I Learned in College 4
NUR 4953 journal for the BSN program to reflect through my personal, spiritual, and
professional growth.