 |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
||
 |
|
|||
 |
|
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Susan Lehmann, assistant professor in the College of Nursing, talks about service learning experiences
Academic education of nursing students in the Public Health Nursing practicum enjoys a longstanding legacy of engagement with community partners. Students work in free medical clinics, schools, public health departments and other venues. In this Year of Public Engagement, students are providing needed service for their community partners as they learn about the health of the public. Examples of service learning projects include:
- organizing and coordinating a flu clinic for homeless and uninsured persons;
- health education and outreach at the Crisis Center Food Bank for persons who have minimal access to health care;
- Nursing outreach services and education for persons with diabetes and chronic health conditions;
- development of a tuberculosis in-service for a rural public health nursing staff; a health fair at a rural school;
- a seat belt safety program in a bilingual community;
- health promotion presentations for children and families who are at risk for childhood obesity.
By engaging with their community, students enjoy educational opportunities they would otherwise be unable to have if limited to conventional learning environments. These experiences inevitably bring students in contact with people and cultures different from their own. As their world opens up, students begin to understand the complexities of community health needs here in Iowa and beyond. It is also gratifying to them that they, through their service learning projects, are able provide needed service to their community partner.
