Use of Service Learning to Increase Master's-Level Nursing Students' Understanding of Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities

J Transcult Nurs. 2018 Sep;29(5):473-479. doi: 10.1177/1043659617753043. Epub 2018 Jan 17.

Abstract

Introduction: It is important for graduate-level nursing students to be competent in the issues involved in the social determinants of health and health disparities and have the tools to address them as graduates.

Method: As part of a nursing workforce diversity program, master's-level nursing students were required to participate in a service learning project exposing them to an issue not directly linked to health-long bus rides for students as a result of school consolidations-to achieve educational goals and objectives while providing a service to an advocacy agency.

Results: Eighteen students completed the project, providing the advocacy agency with firsthand accounts about the impact of long bus rides and in-depth reviews of literature on the topic and laws and regulations of other states.

Conclusion: These results further support providing nursing students opportunities to fully engage with multicultural communities to gain a broader understanding of health disparities and social determinants of health.

Keywords: clinical areas; community health; education; graduate studies; other methods/designs; research methods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Curriculum / trends
  • Education, Nursing, Graduate / methods
  • Focus Groups / methods
  • Healthcare Disparities*
  • Humans
  • Qualitative Research
  • Social Determinants of Health*
  • Students, Nursing / psychology*