title: Undergraduate Nursing Students' Experience of Service-Learning: A Phenomenological Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Service-learning programs are becoming more evident in baccalaureate nursing curriculums. Anecdotal evidence describing student perceptions has been written; however, research has not been conducted regarding the in-depth student experience of service-learning with vulnerable populations in inner cities.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted using Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenological method of inquiry. Through purposeful sampling, 10 students were interviewed who have participated in service-learning throughout their sophomore, junior, and senior years of nursing education.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five themes were identified-Shattering Stereotypes, Overwhelmed With Their Need, Transitioning to Community Caregiver, Advocating, and Reciprocal Benefits-and a fundamental structure emerged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Listening to the voices of students participating in service-learning enables educators to gain an in-depth perspective of their experience and, ultimately, to maximize the service-learning program and improve care delivered to this vulnerable inner city population.
authors.forename: Janet Gavin
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Knecht
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D015402:Nursing Education Research / Q000379:methods*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D012938:Social Perception; D012941:Social Responsibility; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult