Service-Learning Across an Accelerated Curriculum

Nursing faculty at a small health careers college in the midwestern United States incorporated a service-learning experience involving Sudanese refugee families and Latino community members into its accelerated community-based nursing program (ACE) curriculum.

Abstract

In support of the community-based education philosophy, nursing faculty at a small health careers college in the midwestern United States incorporated a service-learning experience involving Sudanese refugee families and Latino community members into its accelerated community-based nursing program (ACE) curriculum. The purpose of the service-learning experience is to allow students the opportunity develop relationships through which they may gain an understanding of unique needs within a community. This article describes the development and benefits of the service-learning experience across the ACE curriculum. Through reflection, students broaden and deepen their understanding about the health of individuals in the community and acquire a more sophisticated understanding of risk factors associated with the social determinants of health. ACE program faculty believe that having students involved in a continuous service-learning experience spanning the 15-month program allows students to develop strong relationships within the community and gain a greater understanding of the unique needs within that community. Overall, the experience has been successful and challenging.