title: Effects of Service-Learning on Graduate Nursing Students: Care and Advocacy for the Impoverished.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Service-learning is a widely used teaching method that appears to be a good fit for graduate nurses, with essential outcomes of advocacy and culturally responsive health care in special populations. However, quantitative evidence to support its effectiveness is minimal. This study evaluated the impact of service-learning on graduate nursing students' cultural competence, civic engagement, and knowledge and understanding of the effects of poverty on health care. Students are required to serve 16 to 20 hours in a nurse-run free clinic as part of their clinical experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students (N = 152) completed pre- and postservice surveys.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant increases were noted in graduate students' civic engagement (p = .0001 to .0495), knowledge and understanding of health care issues (p < .0001), and in three of six statements related to cultural competence (p = .0001 to 9.662). Patient-reported outcomes and community impact is also positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Service-learning appears to be an effective tool with graduate nurses.
authors.forename: Ruselle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DeBonis
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D054521:Cultural Competency; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011203:Poverty; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires