PROJECT RAP
(RESIDENT ASSISTANT PROGRAM)
 

PROJECT RAP
Binge drinking is a problem on all college campuses. In late August of this year, members of the Medicine & Public Health Initiative, along with Dr. Elizabeth McCrank from the B.U. History Faculty, were invited by the Student Life Committee, with the permission of Dean Ross, to participate in the orientation of the 150 dormitory Resident Assistants (RA's).  These Resident Assistants are specially chosen students who live in the dorms and function as part of the support system for the 10,000 B.U. students who live on campus.

In these meetings, we presented some facts about the problems associated with alcohol abuse among young adults, described some of the techniques of the Brief Negotiated Interview that might be helpful to the Resident Assistants, and offered the opportunity to observe in the ED as part of a structured educational experience. Forty RA's expressed interest, and the workshops will run from mid September through October, one night a week.

INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING AS A PRECEPTOR?
  EMAIL ED BERNSTEIN (CLICK ON THE FORM ON THE HOME PAGE).

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WORKSHOP CURRICULUM
Purpose: to provide Resident Assistants with training in communication skills in order to facilitate their ability to raise issues related to alcohol use and abuse with dorm residents and increase the effectiveness of such conversations.

Dress code: all students must wear professional dress, ie skirts or slacks, no sandals. As a mark of respect to our patients, a neat, clean appearance is required to enter the Emergency Department.

Confidentiality: All students will sign a confidentiality pledge.

Curriculum: a 4 hour session in the Emergency Department at Boston Medical Center’s Harrison Avenue Campus, consisting of observation, focused discussion, and role playing. The session will include the following elements:

1. setting the context:

    1. What are some situations that might arise where you might need to intervene?<>
    2. What would be your barriers to good communication in those situations?
    3. What would you like to learn how to do to function better in those situations?

2. the theory behind the technique of the brief negotiated interview

    1. protection motivation theory
    2. Prochaska & DiClemente (substance abuse theory)
    3. . Rogers (reflective listening)

3. The basic principles of the brief negotiated interview (BNI)

    1. empowerment strategies
    2. avoiding resistance
    3. the readiness scale

4. observation of the Health Promotion Advocates: the BNI

5. critical analysis of observation, using the ‘SHOWED’ method

6. application of these techniques to the dorm setting

7. plan for f/u (e-mail communication, and group meeting late November)

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