Exploring home visits in a faith community as a service-learning opportunity

• Published in: Nurse education today 2013-08, Vol.33 (8), p.766-771
• Main Authors: du Plessis, Emmerentia, Koen, Magdalene P., Bester, Petra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Awareness; College students; Faith community; Families; Families & family life; Home Visits; House Calls; Humans; Learning; Nursing; Nursing education; Nursing Students; Parish nursing; Psychiatric-mental health nursing; Religion; Science Curriculum; Service learning; Students, Nursing - psychology; Urban areas
• ISSN: 0260-6917; 1532-2793
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2012.06.006

Within South Africa the Psychiatric Nursing Science curriculum in undergraduate Baccalaureate nursing education utilizes home visits as a service-learning opportunity. In this context faith communities are currently unexplored with regards to service-learning opportunities. With limited literature available on this topic, the question was raised as to what are these students' and family members' experience of home visits within a faith community. To explore and describe nursing students' and family members' experiences of home visits within a faith community. A qualitative approach was used that was phenomenological, explorative and descriptive and contextual in nature. The research was conducted within a faith community as service learning opportunity for Baccalaureate degree nursing students. This community was situated in a semi-urban area in the North-West Province, South Africa. Eighteen (n=18) final year nursing students from different cultural representations, grouped into seven groups conducted home visits at seven (n=7) families. Comprehensive reflective reporting after the visits, namely that the students participated in a World Café data collection technique and interviews were conducted with family members. Three main themes emerged: students' initial experiences of feeling overwhelmed but later felt more competent; students' awareness of religious and cultural factors; and students' perception of their role. Two main themes from the family members emerged: experiencing caring and growth. There is mutual benefit for nursing students and family members. Students' experiences progress during home visits from feeling overwhelmed and incompetent towards a trusting relationship. Home visits in a faith community seems to be a valuable service learning opportunity, and the emotional competence, as well as spiritual and cultural awareness of nursing students should be facilitated in preparation for such home visits.