A teaching strategy for identifying values: a clinical experience with the homeless

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Social Determinants of Health
• Medical Ethics

Background:

• Baccalaureate nursing students require practical clinical experiences to develop professional values.
• Understanding the impact of social determinants, such as homelessness, on patient care is crucial for nurses.
• Ethical principles like altruism, equality, and human dignity are foundational to nursing practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of a clinical experience with homeless populations on baccalaureate nursing students' perceptions.
• To identify how such experiences influence the development of professional nursing values.

Main Methods:

• Students recorded their thoughts, feelings, and observations following the clinical encounter.
• A qualitative content analysis protocol was employed to analyze student reflections.
• The study focused on uncovering the meaning and impact of the homeless clinic experience.

Main Results:

• The clinical experience facilitated students' identification of core professional values.
• Key values identified included altruism, equality, and respect for human dignity.
• Students' reflections revealed a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the homeless population.

Conclusions:

• Assigning baccalaureate nursing students to homeless clinics is an effective pedagogical strategy.
• This approach enhances the development of essential professional values and ethical awareness in future nurses.
• Clinical experiences with vulnerable populations are vital for holistic nursing education.