Undergraduate Nursing Student Reflections on Academic Service Learning Experiences - A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Primary Health Care
• Interprofessional Collaboration

Background:

• The shift towards integrated primary care necessitates nurses with strong leadership and interprofessional skills.
• Nurse educators must provide opportunities for students to develop these essential competencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the experiences of undergraduate nursing students in the Transforming RN Roles in Community Based Integrated Primary Care (TRIP) program.
• To identify themes related to skill development and professional identity formation through academic service learning.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive qualitative design was employed.
• Data were collected from the academic service learning reflections of eight nursing students in the inaugural TRIP cohort.
• Analysis focused on identifying recurring themes.

Main Results:

• Three key themes emerged: "Embracing the Nursing Profession," "Utilizing the Professional Skills of Nursing," and "I Am A Nurse."
• Students demonstrated enhanced confidence and skill acquisition in leadership and interprofessional collaboration.
• Academic service learning provided practical experience in community-based integrated primary care settings.

Conclusions:

• Academic service learning is a valuable pedagogical approach for developing essential nursing skills in undergraduate education.
• The TRIP program effectively prepares nursing students for roles in integrated primary care.
• Incorporating similar experiences can significantly enhance nursing students' professional development and confidence.