title: Constructing the foundations for compassionate care: how service-learning affects nursing students' attitudes towards the poor.
abstract: When nurses possess negative attitudes toward people with low socio-economic status it can negatively influence patient care. This study examines whether providing care in a service-learning environment positively affects nursing students' world views and empathy toward the poor. Using a pre-post design, the Attitudes about Poverty and Poor People Scale and the Just World Scale were administered to both a control group and nursing students engaged in a clinical rotation at a low-income housing facility or homeless shelter in spring and fall 2010. Findings show the service learning treatment modestly enhanced empathy and students' views on justice, while not improving superficial perceptions of the poor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, 500 N. 3rd st., Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA. Electronic address: Kay.Jarrell@asu.edu.
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jarrell
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA. Electronic address: Joshua.ozymy@tamucc.edu.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ozymy
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, Arizona State University, 411 N. Central Ave #800, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA. Electronic address: John.gallagher@asu.edu.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, 500 N. 3rd st., Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA. Electronic address: Debra.hagler@asu.edu.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hagler
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, 500 N. 3rd st., Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA. Electronic address: Camille.corral@asu.edu.
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corral
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, 500 N. 3rd st., Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA. Electronic address: Andrew.hagler@asu.edu.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hagler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Empathy; Marginalized populations; Nursing education; Service learning