Peter Averkiou

Florida Atlantic University, USA

Abstract Title:Nursing Students Engaging with the Community Through Service-Learning Programs

Biography:

Dr. Peter Averkiou is a pediatrician and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University. He is the Co-Director of the four Foundations of Medicine Courses, the Director of the Service Learning Projects, the Director of the Newborn Nursery Clinical Rotation and the Director of the Synthesis and Transition Course at the medical school.

Research Interest:

INTRODUCTION: Service-learning (SL) programs in nursing schools illustrate one of the adult learning principles and practices now used in today’s accredited curriculum that better prepares nursing students for working with a variety of patients. AIM: The research aim was to assess nursing students’ learning experiences while participating with nonprofit organizations during an SL curricula-designed program. METHOD: Analysis of 90 reflective essays over a four-year period from 248 nursing students placed in teams of 2-4. A case study research design was employed. This iterative approach allowed the identification of themes and interpret meaning. RESULTS: Four major themes and one overarching theme emerged that illuminated adult learning theories including: (1) transferring learning of one’s skills and knowledge to community and practice; (2) articulating a variety of ways to communicate with multiple, diverse community audiences; (3) employing creative process for quality improvement strategies; (4) creating positive, trusting, and rewarding relationships; and an overarching theme: collaboration emerging almost without forethought. This is a multi-prong process that brings reward to students and the community. Reflection provides for meaningfulness from SL programs and helps students identify how experiential learning affects their professional development. CONCLUSION: Implementing an SL program into any nursing school curriculum strengthens the adult learning theoretical delivery approach. Disseminating projects and lessons learned from the community also showcases experiential learning opportunities for nursing students. Many aspects of awareness from the nursing students during the SL program emerged. They learned about specific aspects of community engagement. They gained many lessons from the experiences and opportunities.