Exploring home visits in a faith community as a service-learning opportunity
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Elsevier
Abstract
Background: 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.
Purpose: To explore and describe nursing students' and family members' experiences of home visits within a
faith community.
Design: A qualitative approach was used that was phenomenological, explorative and descriptive and contextual
in nature.
Setting: 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.
Participants: Eighteen (n=18) final year nursing students from different cultural representations, grouped
into seven groups conducted home visits at seven (n=7) families.
Methods: 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.
Results: 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.
Conclusions: 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.
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Citation
Du Plessis, E. et al. 2013. Exploring home visits in a faith community as a service-learning opportunity. Nurse education today, 33:766-771. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2012.06.006]