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RUNNING HEAD: Reflective Practice: Turner Fenton Secondary School

Reflective Practice: Turner Fenton Secondary School

Kristin M. Carter
820668499
Humber College-North
NURS 153

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RUNNING HEAD: Reflective Practice: Turner Fenton Secondary School

When starting my community placement I decided to volunteer at a

Brampton High School called Turner Fenton Secondary School. This particular
high school focuses on a variety of academic levels from International
Baccalaureate, University, College and Basic/ESL level, this school adheres to
each students individual needs. Throughout my volunteering experience the
professional behaviors that I demonstrated at Turner Fenton S.S were
professionalism, patience and leadership. The students that I worked with were
both male and female grade nine students, ranging between 14-16 years of age,
both basic and ESL level classes who required a large amount of attention.
Through this experience what I have learned about myself is that when it comes
to people who require or need something from me I am able to be calm and
patient and assist them in as many ways as I can. I have also learned that
sometimes not one route of action is successful, sometimes in order for there to
be any effect you need to be persistent and re-evaluate and try a different path.
While volunteering at Turner Fenton S.S I was able to build relationships with the
students and assist them with different studying and life tips that they can use.

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RUNNING HEAD: Reflective Practice: Turner Fenton Secondary School
Because of my volunteering experience I think as a nurse I will be much more
patient and understanding as well as calm when dealing with patients who are
needier when it comes to care. Throughout the volunteering process I realized
that there are many different resources that students with special needs or
learning disabilities can access, these resources include; guidance, contact help,
counting on you and teacher assistants. Although the school has several
resources available for students they should also advertise for facilities out in the
community to assist students and families with health determinants that are
present.
Turner Fenton S.S has an abundance of students in the basic level
programs suffering with learning disabilities. The main determinants of health that
have been observed over the course of several weeks are education and care in
early life and poverty. The Canadian Nurses Association states that, Infancy and
early childhood are critical stages of physical, mental and emotional
development. Insecure emotional attachment and low levels of stimulation can
lead to reduced readiness for school and problem behavior. High quality childcare
can militate against such inadequacies. It can provide intellectual and social
stimulation that promotes cognitive development and social competence. The

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RUNNING HEAD: Reflective Practice: Turner Fenton Secondary School
positive effects of high quality childcare persist into later life, especially in lowerincome children. (Friendly, 2004). Students in these classes are seen to lack
social norms and act in an insecure manner when attempting to learn. These
children were not well adapted to the academic system when they were younger
and not offered as many resources as they potentially could have accessed if
they had a substantial income. The Canadian Nurses Association also addresses
that, There is a graded relationship between household income and emotional
and behavioral problems in children-the lower the household income, the higher
the incidence of these problems. (Canadian Institute of Child Health, 2004). The
observed children with learning disabilities have been noted to have behavioral
problems and aggression which could have been controlled at a younger age if
the household income was higher, making it easier to seek additional help.
Students with disabilities have a correlation between a lack in household income
and poor education. The combination of the two restricted them from being able
to access resources such as medication, therapists, social support networks and
private schools. Poverty can have a large impact on the students health by not
allowing enough resources for proper health care and nutrition, which can lead to
a decline in health. The World Health Organization states, low education levels

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RUNNING HEAD: Reflective Practice: Turner Fenton Secondary School
are linked with poor health, more stress and lower self-confidence (WHO, 2014).
Because students do not receive one on one attention at a young age they
become withdrawn from social settings which hinder their learning experience
causing them to later on stress over tests and assignments. At such a young age
the combination of stress, poor nutrition and lack of medical attention can
decrease someones health status greatly.

In addition to the resources Turner Fenton S.S offers, there are also
community resources that also target poverty and education and care in early
childhood. Food Banks Canada says, In order to assist Canadians living on low
incomes obtain access to good quality, nutritious food, we offer a number of
resources that help people prepare healthy meals while working with a restricted
budget. (Food Banks Canada, 2013). Local food banks offer resources both
online and in facilities. Additional program goals are Feeding Families provides
Food Banks Canadas Affiliate Member food banks with resources and funding to
help them work more effectively with families with school-aged children. (Food
Banks Canada, 2013). Having a program like this locally available can assist
families going through poverty as well as aid children in the early years with

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RUNNING HEAD: Reflective Practice: Turner Fenton Secondary School
proper nutrition and social support promoting a better up bringing and health
status. The Canadian food banks are a free service that caters to low-income
families and provides them with hot meals and food to take with them. Another
community resource in Ontario that is available is the Learning Disabilities
Association of Ontario their mission statement is LDAOs mission is to provide
leadership in learning disabilities advocacy, research, education and services
and to advance the full participation of children, youth and adults with learning
disabilities in todays society. (LDAO, 2011). This organization targets getting
children at a young age involved in a social and academic way, providing proper
support and positive reinforcement to increase the child's confidence and overall
health by reducing stress. LDAO provides online course that range from $200.00$450.00 which is directed to parents to teach them techniques and skills on how
to handle and cope with a child with a learning disability. LDAO also offers a Roy
Cooper Memorial Scholarship of $1,000.00 to aid low-income parents in program
fees. Both community facilities help families that struggle with poverty and
education and care in childhood and aid them to a brighter future and a better life
both physically and mentally.

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RUNNING HEAD: Reflective Practice: Turner Fenton Secondary School
Throughout my placement at Turner Fenton S.S I have been exposed to
various resources that are available to special needs students in schools. These
resources don't just stay in schools but also travel into the community to help
families going through specific health determinants. Each community resource
focuses on different health determinants and focuses on ways to better
someones state of life in a social, physical and mental way.

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RUNNING HEAD: Reflective Practice: Turner Fenton Secondary School

References List
Canadian Nurses Association (2014). Social Determinants of Health and Nursing: A
Summary of
Issues. Retrieved May 10, 2014, from http://www.cnaaiic.ca/~/media/cna/page
%20content/pdf
%20en/2013/07/26/10/38/bg8_social_determinants_e.pdf
World Health Organization (2014). Health Impact Assessment: The Determinants of
Health.
Retrieved May 10, 2014, from http://www.who.int/hia/evidence/doh/en/
Learning Disability Association of Ontario (2011). Retrieved May 10, 2014, from http://
www.ldao.ca/
Food Banks Canada (2013). Retrieved May 10, 2014, from
http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/
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