Civic Engagement Experiences of Students Preparing for Roles as Clinical Nurse Specialists

Nurs Forum. 2017 Apr;52(2):88-96. doi: 10.1111/nuf.12170. Epub 2016 Jul 15.

Abstract

Aim: Clinical nurse specialist (CNS) students at an urban Midwestern university participated in a study to describe their satisfaction with civic engagement (CE) learning activities.

Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study design housed a faculty-developed CE learning module with four learning activities: (a) gaining interprofessional collaborative practice leadership experience in a mock incident command experience; (b) identifying, researching, and writing a legislative letter about an area of public and/or health policy concern; and (c) developing a professional online network LinkedIn account with experienced CNSs; (d) identifying potential mechanisms for achieving board membership on a civic or professional nursing organization. Faculty developed an online survey to determine student satisfaction through quantitative and qualitative data. Participants completed the survey at the end of the course.

Results: Satisfaction with CE learning activities ranged from a mean of 6.07 to 6.75 on a 7-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating more satisfaction. The overall mean score for CE activities was 6.27 (SD = 0.61) and mean score for course objectives' satisfaction was 6.55 (SE = 0.70). Students reported high satisfaction with their learning as a result of the CE activities.

Conclusions: CNS students perceived high satisfaction with learning from the CE activities in this study.

Keywords: Civic engagement; clinical nurse specialist; graduate nursing education; learning activities; service learning.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Community Participation / methods*
  • Community Participation / psychology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / methods
  • Education, Nursing, Continuing / methods
  • Education, Nursing, Continuing / standards*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Casualty Incidents
  • Nurse Clinicians / education*
  • Nurse Clinicians / trends
  • Nurse's Role / psychology
  • Students, Nursing / psychology*