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Monday, 18 November 2013
Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to understand the importance of including quality service learning components within nursing curricula.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to identify opportunities for improved service learning curriculum design.
Nursing education recognizes the importance of service learning in prelicensure nursing curricula. However, the impact these activities have on future perspectives of volunteerism, community engagement and social responsibility are minimally discussed in the literature. Based on the reports from a mixed methods survey of 38 first year nursing students, the findings acknowledge far-reaching value to the student’s personal and professional nursing practice. The results identify quality service learning activities increase the future integration of community service in careers and professional development. Additionally, students reported perceptions of increased ability to work with diverse cultures in multiple settings and strengthened beliefs of promoting community-based health through continued engagement efforts. These insights offer nurse educators’ useful ideas and resources to incorporate quality SL components into prelicensure nursing curriculum. Lessons learned and implications for nursing education are offered.