Undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of service-learning through a school-based community project. 2011

Sherry Bassi
University of Connecticut School of Nursing, Avery Point, USA. sherry.bassi@uconn.edu

Service-learning (SL) is an experiential teaching method that combines instruction with community service, with the aim of enriching students' academic learning, interpersonal skills and sense of responsibility while making meaningful contributions to the community. However, measuring outcomes of service-learning projects is difficult. This article reports on the perceptions of 18 third-year undergraduate nursing students who took part in a pilot service-learning project targeting tobacco use in a local elementary school. Faculty members evaluated the program's outcomes by engaging students in structured reflection on the program about its relevance to their future careers as practicing professionals, especially in community-based settings. The students' perceptions were elicited through three sets of reflective assignments following the project. Findings from the reflective assignments suggest that the pilot program was successful in enhancing the students' academic, social, and personal development while building a partnership between the school of nursing and key players in the community, including school-based nurses, teachers, administrators, families, and community leaders. The author suggests that service-learning projects can help nursing students accomplish key developmental tasks of the college years (such as building their competence, autonomy, and integrity), while helping impart the skills and values they will need as they graduate and seek professional nursing roles.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D003159 Community-Institutional Relations The interactions between members of a community and representatives of the institutions within that community. Community Outreach,Community Relations,Community Institutional Relations,Community Relation,Community-Institutional Relation,Outreach, Community,Relation, Community,Relation, Community-Institutional,Relations, Community,Relations, Community-Institutional
D003237 Connecticut State bounded on the north by Massachusetts, on the east by Rhode Island, on the south by Long Island Sound, and on the west by New York.
D004508 Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate A four-year program in nursing education in a college or university leading to a B.S.N. (Bachelor of Science in Nursing). Graduates are eligible for state examination for licensure as RN (Registered Nurse). External Degree Programs, Nursing,Nursing Education, Baccalaureate,Baccalaureate Nursing Education,Baccalaureate Nursing Educations,Education, Baccalaureate Nursing,Educations, Baccalaureate Nursing,Nursing Educations, Baccalaureate
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000074606 Smoking Prevention Efforts directed at preventing SMOKING of TOBACCO and non-tobacco products. Anti-Smoking Campaign,Anti-Smoking Education,Anti Smoking Campaign,Anti Smoking Education,Anti-Smoking Campaigns,Anti-Smoking Educations,Campaign, Anti-Smoking,Campaigns, Anti-Smoking,Education, Anti-Smoking,Prevention, Smoking,Preventions, Smoking,Smoking Preventions
D013663 Teaching A formal and organized process of transmitting knowledge to a person or group. Teaching Method,Training Activity,Training Technique,Academic Training,Educational Technics,Educational Techniques,Pedagogy,Teaching Methods,Technics, Educational,Techniques, Educational,Training Activities,Training Technics,Training Techniques,Activities, Training,Activity, Training,Educational Technic,Educational Technique,Method, Teaching,Methods, Teaching,Pedagogies,Technic, Educational,Technic, Training,Technics, Training,Technique, Educational,Technique, Training,Techniques, Training,Training Technic,Training, Academic
D014838 Volunteers Persons who donate their services. Voluntary Workers,Volunteer Personnel,Untrained Personnel,Volunteer Workers,Volunteerism,Personnel, Untrained,Personnel, Volunteer,Voluntary Worker,Volunteer,Volunteer Worker,Worker, Voluntary,Worker, Volunteer
D015397 Program Evaluation Studies designed to assess the efficacy of programs. They may include the evaluation of cost-effectiveness, the extent to which objectives are met, or impact. Evaluation, Program,Family Planning Program Evaluation,Program Appropriateness,Program Effectiveness,Program Sustainability,Appropriateness, Program,Effectiveness, Program,Evaluations, Program,Program Evaluations,Program Sustainabilities,Sustainabilities, Program,Sustainability, Program
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