MSN Nursing Admin Students: Generation Z - Leading Community Projects in a COVID World

By Cynthia Plonien DNP, RN, CENP, Associate Professor, the University of Texas at Arlington
 
Managing patient populations in the community, amid the worldwide COVID pandemic, has had a significant effect on community organizations and the populations they serve. The impact has a ripple effect in multiple directions, one of which is related to nursing education. An example of the impact can be seen with the Capstone project required as a clinical assignment for MSN nursing administration students at the University of Texas in Arlington. 

As a Capstone project, students are required to initiate and negotiate a Community Partnering Project to address the wellness needs of a patient population, in alignment with an organization’s mission. Students are expected to work with an interdisciplinary team, leading and managing a project. Prior to COVID restrictions, students worked directly with leaders of the organization planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating projects in face-to-face meetings. Community events were often outdoor fundraisers, such as fun runs, indoor health fairs, or organization projects to meet the needs of food and shelter for populations at risk.

In 2020, the worldwide pandemic with consequential closures of businesses, schools, and organizations, resulted in the elimination of public gatherings and halted community services. In addition, clinical opportunities and practicum assignments were canceled for a significant period across many nursing programs at all levels of education.

For MSN nursing administration students, COVID restrictions abruptly ended projects in progress. Interpersonal interactions ceased as community events were canceled. In an attempt to shift gears and adapt, students were offered the opportunity to alter projects and design simulated experiences.

However, unrealized at the time, students had the skills, talent, and experience from generational upbringing, needed by organizations for a new perspective in meeting their organizational goals.

A high number of students in the MSN Nursing Administration Program are, by birthright, Generation Z. Generation Z is characterized as “the first generation born into a world where every physical aspect (people and places) has a digital equivalent. For Generation Z, the real world and the virtual world naturally overlap. Virtual is a simple part of their reality” (Stillman and Stillman, 2017). In contrast, community organizations have a high percentage of leaders and volunteers from earlier generations, many of whom are of the baby-boom generation. The baby boomers are characterized as well-educated (Gravette and Throckmorton, 2007), an education primarily based on information from the previous century.

Students have responded to the new needs of community organizations driven by a response to COVID regulations with their technological skills, using expertise not available in many local organizations to coordinate, lead and manage programs in an online environment.

In support of projects for community organizations, students have set up development and planning meetings in Zoom and Teams format. Students have organized fundraisers, silent auctions, contactless food drives, support groups, etc. using apps, QR codes, and social media.

Students of Generation Z are “bridging the generation gap,” with earlier generations using their skills technological skills, and social media expertise. Partnering Generation Z students with community organizations have brought positive change and resilience in meeting and managing the wellness needs of populations at risk.

Exemplars: Generation Z - Partnering with IT Skills and Social Expertise

Chimdinma Chukwu’s Community Project in Nursing Administration stemmed from a need she realized that COVID-19 affected the world. The population of focus was those who live in townships of Nigeria and raising supportive funds. Zoom and international apps were used to establish partners to distribute and market the project and accomplish on-line collection.

 

Other Examples:

COVID blood drives through a social media campaign.

Contactless food drive for children and seniors using social media apps for donation, pick up, and delivery.

Online support group for foster children.

Silent auction creating QR Codes to allow ease of online donation and contribution.

Drive-by diaper drives through social media to support the needs of homeless moms with small children.

 

Resources:

Stillman, D and Stillman J. Gen Z @ Work, Harper Collins, 2017. P. 10.

Gravett, L, and Throckmorton, R. Bridging the Generation Gap. Career Press, 2007.