SERVICE LEARNING

Service Learning in Nursing



Service Learning in Nursing

Introduction

Currently nursing education requires innovative strategies for teaching and learning that incorporate experiential learning and promote their own social responsibility of the profession. The methodology of service learning responds to this by elements such as service quality, meaningful learning and education values, closely linking these three elements in a coordinated and coherent educational activity, where students, faculty and community partners work together to achieve student learning, fulfillment of educational goals and quality service.

Description of Service learning methodology

It is defined as "the integration of service activities to the community in the academic curriculum, where students use academic content and tools in response to real needs of the community". It relates to specific course content, according to specific community needs, provides structured time for reflection, establishing relationships between knowledge and service, among others (Audrey, 2006).

Some of researchers have emphasized that pedagogical framework is based on the experience of students, teachers and members of a community or public institution. Together, they meet the requirements of the community, integrating and applying academic knowledge to achieve the instructional objectives of the course. Using action, critical reflection and research, it guides students to become contributing members of a more just and democratic society.

Service learning corresponds to a methodology of teaching and learning through which young people develop skills through service to their communities and schools. It allows them to engage in important tasks and take on significant and challenging roles in various locations. Thus, it safeguards the personal development of each student. The success of this goal is dynamic and involves the incorporation of the historical experiences of individual and group of students (White, 2005).

The combination of service and learning objectives promotes mutual enrichment between students and community. The university training programs with this intention have a positive motivation toward self-reflection, self-discovery and acquisition and comprehension of values ??and skills along with the attainment of knowledge. In this sense, the Service learning must procure and maintain the highest standards of excellence through working together and committed teachers.

The service learning methodology gives young people an opportunity for deeper involvement in the community and helps them develop a sense of responsibility and personal credit. It encourages self-esteem and leadership and, above all, allows flourishing and strengthening the sense of creativity, initiative and communication skills (Holland, 2004).

Students have the opportunity to discuss the planned activities of service learning, determine community needs, assess available resources, learn methods of problem identification and data collection implement and evaluate activities of service, design research methods to solve problems and propose ways to deliver the results of community interventions (Cohen, 2001).

Implementing the Service learning methodology in the teaching of Nursing

Teaching in the field of Nursing is built on critical thinking and reflective of an adequate language to reality, a recognition and acceptance of different realities, a knowledge of the sense of care and its relationship to life in all its dimensions, among others.

It is therefore, important to implement processes that encourage higher education and give ...