Facilitating Volunteer Community Engagement Service.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Community Engagement Pedagogy

Background:

• Community engagement is an evolving pedagogical approach in nursing education.
• Service-learning and volunteering are common strategies for community service in nursing.
• There is a need for clearer faculty guidance in facilitating community-engaged volunteer service.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a collaborative model for faculty facilitating community-engaged volunteer service in undergraduate nursing education.
• To explore the development of volunteer service trips based on community engagement principles.

Main Methods:

• A case study approach was used.
• Collaboration between two nursing faculty members and a community registered nurse (RN).
• Development of weekend volunteer service trips based on student requests and community engagement principles, utilizing a co-facilitator role.

Main Results:

• The collaborative effort led to a positive and productive community volunteer service experience for undergraduate nursing students.
• The co-facilitator role facilitated shared responsibilities in planning and offering service trips.

Conclusions:

• Community-engaged pedagogy offers a valuable framework for building capacity between academic institutions and community organizations.
• This model supports meaningful community-based experiences for nursing students through volunteer service.