Development of leadership behaviors in undergraduate nursing students: a service-learning approach.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine leadership behaviors developed by nursing students and peers before and after a service-learning experience.


BACKGROUND
Nurses have been called to fill growing needs in the health care setting, rendering care to vulnerable and diverse populations in a wide range of organizations. Leadership behaviors are therefore essential.


METHODS
Baccalaureate students (N = 65) completed the Student Leadership Practices Inventory-Self at the beginning and end of the semester. The students also rated peers using the Leadership Practices Inventory-Observer and answered six questions about service-learning.


RESULTS
Repeated measures of analysis of variance for pre- and posttests revealed that leadership behaviors improved (p < .0001). A significant correlation was found (p = .02) between the overall posttest scores for both instruments. CONCLUSION Integrating service-learning into a leadership course is an effective approach to the development of leadership behaviors.
Karen J
KJ
Foli
Melanie
M
Braswell
Jane
J
Kirkpatrick
Eunjung
E
Lim
D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007397:Internship, Nonmedical / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D013338:Students, Nursing; D055815:Young Adult