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Learning Objective #1: • Understand how service learning can be used as pedagogy to develop undergraduate nursing students’ awareness of global health and cultural diversity

Learning Objective #2: • Appreciate the impact a service learning placement can have on the professional and personal development of students

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Service learning allows the provision of a needed service to the community while simultaneously students learn and apply concepts learnt in the classroom in the real world (Eyler & Giles 1999). It was therefore decided to develop a module which would incorporate a service learning component to develop undergraduate nursing students’ awareness of cultural diversity and how this can affect health and also to foster social awareness, and social responsibility. This module titled ‘International Nursing’ requires students to undertake a service-learning placement in a culture different to their own. The module was first delivered in 2003 and since then students have undertaken their service learning placement in Nepal, Zambia, Belieze, Ghana, and Sri Lanka. The research findings presented here are part of an ongoing longitudinal study examining nurses’ experiences of undertaking the service learning placement over a three year period. Focus group interviews are being used to collect the data and the data is being recorded and transcribed verbatim. Confidentiality and anonymity are guaranteed and the qualitative analysis techniques outlined by Miles and Huberman (1994) are being used to analyse the data. The themes emerging from the data to date include becoming aware and making a difference. All students report that the experience has been a significant event in their lives and has led to personal, social and professional development. The indications are that these students are well on their way to becoming more responsible citizens of the world.