Buddy Up Coastal
Authors: Nina Pelletier, Hayley Moore, Wendy Vannerson, Cheyenne McGowan
Faculty Supervisor: Nicole Masano DNP, RN, CNM, CNE
Community Partner: CGANS BSN representatives: Madison Sowinski, Madison Merritt, Morgan Dunn.
Abstract:
Buddy Up Coastal was created by students, for students. Our goal is to provide peer support to our nursing students to help them while they’re on their nursing school journey. The value of a good support system is immeasurable, and we want to help add to it. Studies have shown that peer support can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and promote coping abilities in students. This positive result of peer support is exactly what we’re striving to achieve by having our nursing students buddy up. Think of your buddy as a person to turn to when you need advice, words of encouragement, or just someone to talk to. Not sure how to manage your time? Ask your buddy! Didn’t do as well as you hoped on a care plan? Talk to your buddy about it, they may be able to give you some suggestions! Nursing is a profession that thrives with team support, so let’s buddy up! We have partnered with CGANS so allow the Buddy Up Program to continue on with each incoming junior class to the ASN and BSN programs. This project was designed to have a positive impact on all of the students who participate by providing peer support. Our project has a strong relationship to the expected Service-Learning Outcomes because we are demonstrating how our chosen community, the students of CCGA nursing program, function, we are demonstrative effective problem solving skills for the common issues of stress and burn out experienced in nursing school, and we are demonstrating higher levels of critical thinking with our approach to the issues identified in our chosen community.
