Nursing Faculty Full Professor Bellevue College renton
Global service learning can provide students an opportunity to step into a new space and practice cultural humility through examining a framework of Transcultural Holism (Rosa,2018). Examining Social Determinants of Health can provide a lens for students to begin to assess the context in which in their nursing care is implemented. Barriers for global service-learning trips can include equity issues regarding cost and time to participate. Exploring creative opportunities to reciprocate service-learning opportunities can help address these barriers. The process of reciprocating service learning can provide opportunities in the workforce and community for discussions on diversity, building an inclusive community, and internationalization of curriculum. (Leask, 2015).
From 2015 to present, the Bellevue College Nursing Program has collaborated with a non-governmental organization in Ghana to impact access to healthcare. A total of $34,000 has been raised to purchase medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, drill a well for clean drinking water, and build a school.While in Ghana, students participate in community health assessments; examine healthcare similarities and differences in teaching hospital and rural village; coordinate pharmaceuticals; learn about tropical disease and healthcare challenges. Cultural learning activities include dance/drumming; cooking lessons; agriculture; community resources; and exploring influence of Ashante Kingdom. Instructor lead debriefs occurr twice a day with questions integrating experiences reflecting on Leininger’s Sunrise Enabler to Discover Culture Care (Leininger, 2004). In 2020, Bellevue College received notification of acceptance for a Fulbright Scholar in Residence (S-I-R) from the Council of International Exchange of Scholars to reciprocate service learning with a Ghanaian Scholar. This cultural exchange provides interdisciplinary opportunity to discuss innovative concepts such as social determinates of health, climate justice, internalization of curriculum and diversity.
Learning Objectives:
Evaluate how service learning can be utilized as a non-traditional clinical education site.
Examine similarities and differences of Social Determinants of Health in global service-learning site.
Create opportunities for discussions on diversity in the workforce.
Utilize theories when planning service learning pre and post debriefs.
