International Service-Learning for Nurse Practitioner Students: Enhancing Clinical Practice Skills and Cultural...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Global Health
• Advanced Practice Nursing

Background:

• International service-learning provides unique clinical experiences.
• Nurse practitioner (NP) students require diverse training for comprehensive patient care.
• Cultural competence is crucial for effective healthcare delivery in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of an international service-learning nurse-led clinic on NP students.
• To assess improvements in diagnostic confidence, skills acquisition, and cultural competence.
• To determine the benefits of such experiences for clinical practicum enhancement.

Main Methods:

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students (n=10) participated in an international service-learning experience in Guatemala.
• Student evaluations utilized a Likert survey.
• An analytic grading rubric assessed clinical and cultural performance.

Main Results:

• Overall practice competency scores were high (M = 3.36; SD = 0.664).
• All students reported increased confidence in diagnostic abilities (M = 4.89; SD = 0.422).
• Students demonstrated enhanced confidence in caring for culturally diverse populations (M = 4.89; SD = 0.333).

Conclusions:

• International service-learning nurse-led clinics are beneficial for NP students.
• These experiences effectively foster diagnostic and cultural confidence.
• The program complements clinical practice hours, enhancing student preparedness.