Examining the Use of Service Learning in Nursing Education
Disciplines
Nursing | Other Nursing
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Service Learning is an experiential learning method that implements servitude or volunteerism to enhance academic knowledge and critical thinking skills. This instructional method can be useful in nursing education as a modality to expose students to many types of nursing practice. Activities completed outside the classroom can stimulate interest in specialty areas of nursing. The purpose of this narrative review is to examine how volunteerism/service learning is utilized within nursing education, specifically examining its effect on the attitudes of nursing students toward specialty nursing education. A review of the literature was conducted that included published peer-reviewed studies that included qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods design. The search strategy included utilizing two databases: Google Scholar and the Kennesaw State University Library System which included databases such as Scopus, Supplement Index, and EBSCOhost. A search was conducted on published articles using search terms such as, “service learning” AND “volunteerism” AND “nursing students” OR “nursing education” OR “nursing curriculum” AND/OR “health science students.” The initial search yielded twenty-one articles using the search terms and briefly scanning the title and abstract. Four articles were selected to be the final review sample. This review demonstrated that service learning can potentially complement traditional nursing education. Volunteerism can potentially improve nursing students’ understanding of curriculum concepts, confidence, and awareness of needs within diverse patient populations. Improving upon the education methods of nursing and health science students can prepare them for their roles as empathetic, capable clinicians ready to serve a community. Implementing service learning as a teaching method allows students to directly interact with their community while actively learning. A limitation of this review is that only four studies were found to provide tangible educational recommendations. More research needs to be conducted on the impact of service learning/volunteerism to further evaluate its effectiveness within future nurses’ education.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
WCHHS - Nursing
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Tracy Ruegg
Examining the Use of Service Learning in Nursing Education
Service Learning is an experiential learning method that implements servitude or volunteerism to enhance academic knowledge and critical thinking skills. This instructional method can be useful in nursing education as a modality to expose students to many types of nursing practice. Activities completed outside the classroom can stimulate interest in specialty areas of nursing. The purpose of this narrative review is to examine how volunteerism/service learning is utilized within nursing education, specifically examining its effect on the attitudes of nursing students toward specialty nursing education. A review of the literature was conducted that included published peer-reviewed studies that included qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods design. The search strategy included utilizing two databases: Google Scholar and the Kennesaw State University Library System which included databases such as Scopus, Supplement Index, and EBSCOhost. A search was conducted on published articles using search terms such as, “service learning” AND “volunteerism” AND “nursing students” OR “nursing education” OR “nursing curriculum” AND/OR “health science students.” The initial search yielded twenty-one articles using the search terms and briefly scanning the title and abstract. Four articles were selected to be the final review sample. This review demonstrated that service learning can potentially complement traditional nursing education. Volunteerism can potentially improve nursing students’ understanding of curriculum concepts, confidence, and awareness of needs within diverse patient populations. Improving upon the education methods of nursing and health science students can prepare them for their roles as empathetic, capable clinicians ready to serve a community. Implementing service learning as a teaching method allows students to directly interact with their community while actively learning. A limitation of this review is that only four studies were found to provide tangible educational recommendations. More research needs to be conducted on the impact of service learning/volunteerism to further evaluate its effectiveness within future nurses’ education.