Presentation Title
P-01 Effect of Empathy Development on Service-Learning - Andrews University Nursing School/Community Partnership – Benton Harbor Program.
Presenter Status
Chair, School of Nursing, Andrews university
Second Presenter Status
Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Andrews university
Third Presenter Status
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Andrews university
Fourth Presenter Status
Director of Community Engagement, Integration & Service at Andrews University
Preferred Session
Poster Session
Start Date
25-10-2019 2:00 PM
Presentation Abstract
Background: Andrews University’s administration acknowledges the university’s obligation to seek higher levels of community engagement. Consequently, educators are encouraged to understand and support community engagement efforts to mold students into World Changers. It is with this backdrop that Andrews University embarked on a pilot project with the School of Nursing to see the effect of empathy development on a service-learning program at Benton Harbor High School.
Aim of Project: To determine the level of empathy among selected nursing students; evaluate the effectiveness of community engagement activities on nursing students’ level of empathy, and to evaluate the effect of Andrews University’s nursing students’ community engagement activities on the community’s perception of empathy.
Method: Andrews University School of Nursing sought a partnership with Benton Harbor High School (BHHS) through the Andrews University Community Engagement Office. With the approval of the BHHS and parents of BHHS students, School of Nursing Students (NS) completed 5 visits to BHHS for the service-learning project. The project consisted of ice-breaker sessions; hands-only CPR training; one to one bonding experiences; First Aid training; and a project completion celebration event. NS completed cultural competency, mentoring, and applicable health training before the start of the project. They also completed the Empathy Quotient (EQ) questionnaire pre and post-project implementation. BHHS student volunteers completed pre and post knowledge questions related to first aid and hands-only CPR. Both groups had focus group interviews pre and post-project. Pre and post-test scores for EQ and knowledge questions were compared using t-tests. Focus group interviews were manually analyzed by themes. The project was completed during 1-hour sessions on 5 Fridays in the Fall 2018 semester.
Results: 15 NS participated in the project and 13 successfully complete the project. Though 23 BHHS students volunteered for the project, only three completed the project. Initial analysis revealed no significant difference in the NS EQ scores for empathy. The number of BHHS students who completed the project made knowledge scores comparison difficult. There was an observed increase in scores from the three students that completed the project. NS and BHHS students made positive and encouraging comments about the service-learning project via the focus interviews.
Limitations and plans: Empathy is part of the nursing profession, so this may account for the lack of increase in NS EQ scores observed in the project. There were competing activities during the project implementation at BHHS, and this may account for decreased participation. The number of interactions may not be sufficient to see tangible results. We plan to conduct a needs assessment at BHHS, increase the number of NS-BHHS students’ interactions, and utilize a more sensitive indicator to measure the effect in future projects.
Conclusion: The service-learning project is a worthwhile project that positively affected the lives of NS and BHHS students though there were no statistically significant results as assessed by these variables. We believe the investment in one life is worth more than any figure, and that is what Christ would do.
P-01 Effect of Empathy Development on Service-Learning - Andrews University Nursing School/Community Partnership – Benton Harbor Program.
Background: Andrews University’s administration acknowledges the university’s obligation to seek higher levels of community engagement. Consequently, educators are encouraged to understand and support community engagement efforts to mold students into World Changers. It is with this backdrop that Andrews University embarked on a pilot project with the School of Nursing to see the effect of empathy development on a service-learning program at Benton Harbor High School.
Aim of Project: To determine the level of empathy among selected nursing students; evaluate the effectiveness of community engagement activities on nursing students’ level of empathy, and to evaluate the effect of Andrews University’s nursing students’ community engagement activities on the community’s perception of empathy.
Method: Andrews University School of Nursing sought a partnership with Benton Harbor High School (BHHS) through the Andrews University Community Engagement Office. With the approval of the BHHS and parents of BHHS students, School of Nursing Students (NS) completed 5 visits to BHHS for the service-learning project. The project consisted of ice-breaker sessions; hands-only CPR training; one to one bonding experiences; First Aid training; and a project completion celebration event. NS completed cultural competency, mentoring, and applicable health training before the start of the project. They also completed the Empathy Quotient (EQ) questionnaire pre and post-project implementation. BHHS student volunteers completed pre and post knowledge questions related to first aid and hands-only CPR. Both groups had focus group interviews pre and post-project. Pre and post-test scores for EQ and knowledge questions were compared using t-tests. Focus group interviews were manually analyzed by themes. The project was completed during 1-hour sessions on 5 Fridays in the Fall 2018 semester.
Results: 15 NS participated in the project and 13 successfully complete the project. Though 23 BHHS students volunteered for the project, only three completed the project. Initial analysis revealed no significant difference in the NS EQ scores for empathy. The number of BHHS students who completed the project made knowledge scores comparison difficult. There was an observed increase in scores from the three students that completed the project. NS and BHHS students made positive and encouraging comments about the service-learning project via the focus interviews.
Limitations and plans: Empathy is part of the nursing profession, so this may account for the lack of increase in NS EQ scores observed in the project. There were competing activities during the project implementation at BHHS, and this may account for decreased participation. The number of interactions may not be sufficient to see tangible results. We plan to conduct a needs assessment at BHHS, increase the number of NS-BHHS students’ interactions, and utilize a more sensitive indicator to measure the effect in future projects.
Conclusion: The service-learning project is a worthwhile project that positively affected the lives of NS and BHHS students though there were no statistically significant results as assessed by these variables. We believe the investment in one life is worth more than any figure, and that is what Christ would do.
Acknowledgments
Andrews University Community Engagement Office
Andrews University School of Nursing