A service-learning experience to teach baccalaureate nursing students about health policy

Incorporating health promotion strategies in practice, and in particular within healthy public policy based on the Ottawa Charter, is widely recognized as within the mandate of nursing, although evidence suggests that nurses are reluctant to take on this role. An innovative strategy was developed to facilitate baccalaureate nursing students' learning about healthy public policy by immersing them in a real-world service-learning experience. Students partnered with a population, assessed the determinants of health, and implemented a population health promotion strategy that included attention to a health policy issue. Students identified strengths and weaknesses of the existing policy and were required to propose recommendations for change that addressed the social justice issues. Students presented their work to faculty, students, and community partners and developed a written position paper on the topic. Students evaluated the service-learning experience as an excellent experiential learning opportunity.