| Learning Objective #1: Define service learning as applied to nursing | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Describe a service learning nursing project that created a diverse partnership through collaboration among a college, a community, and a Sigma Theta Tau chapter |
Service learning is embedded in clinical nursing courses, yet they often do not specifically address service learning concepts and the diverse partnerships that result when colleges and communities collaborate. This paper describes service learning and an ongoing successful partnership among a suburban college of nursing, a Sigma Theta Tau chapter and an urban school. Each Spring semester, through a 6 week clinical practicum in Health Promotion and Community Health, 12 senior undergraduate nursing students and their nursing professor teach health twice weekly to over 400 low income kindergarten, first and second grade African-American school children at an urban public school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Graduate nursing students have also received independent study course credit for school-wide projects with the school nurse. All the nursing students mentor eighth graders who choose health topics for service learning projects, required for promotion to ninth grade. The nursing students conclude their service learning experience with a health festival, featuring health projects completed by the children under their supervision. The course professor has also helped establish an "e-mentoring" community service program through the college's affiliated Sigma Theta Tau chapter to provide on-line project consultation to the eighth graders. Over the past 4 years, a strong, trusting relationship has developed between the college of nursing and the school. The nursing students learn about challenges of health promotion in an impoverished urban area, empowering children toward choosing healthy behaviors, diversity, community assessment, and school nursing. In return, the children and the school learn more about nursing and benefit from such nursing contributions as health teaching, special programs and mentoring. The projects have linked undergraduate and graduate nursing students, members of the nursing honor society, and a community public school. This diverse partnership has opened doors to myriad opportunities for service learning and friendship.
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