School of Nursing

Julie Bohannon, MSN, RN, an adjunct faculty member for the IU School of Nursing (IUSON) at IUPUI, received the 2011 Governor’s Award in the service-learning category for her volunteer work done with IUSON and Girls Incorporated of Greater Indianapolis.

The IU School of Nursing developed a partnership with Girls Inc. in the summer of 2009 when Bohannon sought an organization where her undergraduate nursing students would have an opportunity to gain service-learning experience for their community health course. As a result, from fall 2009 to fall 2010, 39 nursing students volunteered 550 hours and co-facilitated 21 prLograms, serving over 300 girls.

“We have gotten great volunteers from IUSON,” said LaTasha Hudson, Director of Programs at Girls Inc, of Greater Indianapolis, who nominated Bohannon for the award. “They [the student volunteers] can know they have made an impact on these girls and the community.”

According to Bohannon, she has always made volunteerism a part of her life. She volunteered in high school and college, and sought ways to volunteer even as she practiced nursing. Girls Inc. has been a main focus for Bohannon since her time spent as a nurse near Fountain Square, where the local chapter was founded.

“I have always had a fondness in Girls Incorporated,” said Bohannon. “I saw how it helped girls and built their self-esteem.”

Bohannon and Hudson both believe students facilitating Girls Inc. programs earn more than just practicum hours. The students learn skills about working with large groups of children of diverse backgrounds and cultures, which often involves their project management skills, time management and problem solving.

“With Julie Bohannon's guidance, student nurses working with participants in Girls Inc. have designedactivities to improve the girls’ self esteem and promote healthy lifestyles,” said Anne Belcher, PhD, IUSON Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Environments for Health. “These experiences provide opportunities for student nurses to experience the world of their clients in the context of community settings.”

In addition to the inner beauty and self esteem programs, student volunteers get the opportunity to teach the girls conflict resolution skills, often also giving the girls free time to openly talk and seek advice. The goal of the program is to encourage the girls to seek mentorship, which can encourage discussion and self-growth.

“I like when the girls get to “check in” and share whatever they want about their lives,” said Beth Bonham, who volunteered as part of her clinical experience last fall. “Girls Inc. programs allow the girls to feel valued and important, while encouraging them to treat others in the same way. They learn about making others feel good.”

Bohannon received the award at the Governor’s banquet on Thursday, October 13.

The Indiana University School of Nursing is one of the largest nursing schools in the nation with programs ranging from the Bachelors in Nursing and eight tracks in the Master’s program to the PhD and DNP. The school was recently ranked #9 for National Institutes of Health funding and U.S. News & World Report ranked the graduate programs 15th in the nation. For more information on the IU School of Nursing, please visit http://nursing.iupui.edu.

Girls Incorporated has been making a difference in girl’s lives since 1864. Locally, three mothers from Fountain Square founded Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis in 1969 as an afterschool alternative. Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis now partners with local schools in the Greater Indianapolis community in order to bring the program to the girls.