The Impact of Service Learning
Experiences on RN-to-BSN
Students' Professional Practice
Kari E. Cellini, PhD, MS, MS, RN
Kari E. Cellini, PhD, MS, MS, RN
RN to BSN Program Psi Pi Chapter of STTI
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, Lancaster, PA, USA
By the end of the presentation, the learner will…
• Identify the benefits of service learning as a teaching-learning strategy for Nurse Educators • Understand how undergraduate service learning
experiences impact the professional practice of RNs
-No COI
Introduction to Problem
• The purpose of undergraduate nursing education
• Need to meet expectations
Accreditation Professional Stakeholders
Bridge needed for between theory-practice gap
• Nursing educators challenged to identify effective
Service Learning
• Service learning- “An opportunity for students to meet
academic objectives while engaging in service opportunities in the community” (Ross, 2012)
• Evolving in nursing education as a teaching-learning strategy
• Has been demonstrated to develop requisite professional skills, e.g.
• Critical thinking
• Cultural competency • Leadership
Research Question
How do graduates of an RN to BSN program
describe the impact of undergraduate
service learning experiences on their
professional practice?
Methodology
•
Basic qualitative study; sample = 8 RNs
•
Interviews- semi-structured questionnaire
•
Inclusion criteria
- graduated from a RN to BSN program within the last four years
participated in a service learning experience during their RN to BSN program
had at least one year of part-time or full-time employment as an RN prior to starting their undergraduate service learning experience.
Results
Five themes emerged describing how participant’s
professional practices were impacted.
• A Practice Innovator
• A Leader
• A Nonjudgmental Practitioner
• A Mindful Practitioner
A Practice Innovator
• Participants shared that because of their service learning experiences they became creative, “Thinking outside the
box.”
• After being exposed to substance abuse during a service learning project, one participant now considers pain
control alternatives, “Can you change their position? Can
you try the guided imagery thing? Put headphones on people and just let them listen to soothing music.”
• Another recognized that traditional methods of care delivery may not meet patient’s needs, “In my nursing
practice now, I learn what I need to about that patient and I develop my communication around their [patient’s] needs.”
A Leader
• Leadership based on participant's service learning experiences took several forms including both role modeling and taking on leadership roles.
• One participant described directing staff in caring for ‘frustrating’ patients. “I tried to impact my peers. When I
hear them [expressing frustration], I say, ‘Let's think about this a minute. If you were in this situation or if you had to go
through this, how would you be?”
• Because of a service learning experience, one
participant is now “Professionally out there leading nursing
A Nonjudgmental Practitioner
• Participants recognized that they had been judgmental prior to their service learning projects, “For me, that was a
big impact…I'm better at [not being judgmental]...I don't really do that anymore."
• Several learned to look beyond prejudices based on the patient’s circumstances,
– “Just be careful of how you judge people because you
don't know what they've gone through, what they're going through.”
– “Everybody has a story, so we need to be careful on how we evaluate people and judge people.”
A Mindful Practitioner
• Participants described changes in their professional practice based on their service learning experiences,
– “I try to work very closely with the patients and come up with an acceptable solution that is workable with what they've got.”
– “It just pushes me a little bit more to be more strong with trying to help people with services they may need.”
• Another participant, after learning about the challenges of poverty now routinely asks, “Do you have enough food in
your house? Do you have transportation to get to the doctor? Are you able to pay for your medical care? Are you able to
Civically Engaged
• Participants gained a sense of community commitment as they worked with and recognized community needs,
– “I just think that the service learning reinforced ... to be an active member of your community, to be involved within issues.”
– “As professionals…we have to go beyond our nice,
comfortable box. It's important for us to be involved in our community and have our practice carry over into that and just be involved.”
– “I joined the community outreach program just because I got a really good piece of it [community involvement]
Discussion
Service learning completed during as RN to BSN program does impact graduates’ professional nursing practice.
– Develops essential skills/values which impact professional practice
– Develops requisite practice skills which may have limited opportunity to practice (e.g., leadership, civic engagement) – Helps to bridge the theory-practice gap
– Supports nursing educators in meeting accreditor’s,
professional organization’s, & stakeholder's expectations
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) (2008). The essentials for baccalaureate education
for professional nursing practice; American Association of College of Nursing. Retrieved from
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/BaccEssentials08.pdf
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