title: Developmental evaluation of preschool children: a service-learning experience for nursing students.
abstract: Service-learning is a practice that is beneficial for both students and community participants. This article presents the service-learning experience of senior-level undergraduate nursing students at a southeastern U.S. university. Nursing students were taught how to administer the Denver II Developmental Screening Test (DDST-II), and they then evaluated high-risk preschool children during a clinical nursing experience. A total of 1,030 children were screened between 2008 and 2012. Early detection of developmental delays promotes earlier intervention for concerns, and the implementation of this service-learning project using a valid and sensitive screening tool aids in the cost-effective identification of preschool children who are at risk for developmental delays. Student evaluations of the experience were positive, and examples of the knowledge acquired are provided.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Tennessee, 1200 Volunteer Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37996-4180, USA. ngaylord@utk.edu
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gaylord
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Chyka
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lawley
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000592:standards*