Experiential Learning for Prelicensure Nursing Students: A Pediatric Special Needs Respite Program.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Pediatric Respite Care
• Special Needs Support

Background:

• A university-based respite program was established to support families with children requiring special needs.
• The program aimed to offer practical clinical experience for nursing students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate nursing students' perceptions of their involvement in a respite care program.
• To assess the program's effectiveness as a clinical learning experience for prelicensure nursing students.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to prelicensure nursing students participating in the respite program.
• Student perceptions regarding the respite experience were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• All participating nursing students expressed satisfaction with the respite program.
• Students believed they could apply acquired knowledge and recognized improvements in soft skills.

Conclusions:

• The respite program provides valuable experiential learning for undergraduate nursing students.
• This initiative effectively addresses a community need for special needs support while offering diverse clinical exposure.