Service-Learning Clinical Experience

South Dakota State University College of Nursing

Department of Undergraduate Nursing -West River and

South Texas College Nursing and Allied Health Campus

Introduction:
The 16 SDSU nursing students involved in this experience will be directly supervised by three faculty members from the College of Nursing at South Dakota State University.  The faculty members are all experienced as clinical faculty in community health nursing. 
The 16 nursing students from South Texas College joining the experience will be directly supervised by STC nursing clinical instructors. 

Purpose: 
To provide an opportunity for senior nursing students to participate in a transcultural population based clinical nursing experience for persons living in the Rio Grande Valley area on the Texas – Mexico boarder of the United States who are economically disadvantaged, uninsured and underserved and lacking in health care services.

Learning Outcomes: 
As a result of the experience, Students will have the opportunity to:

1. Develop a population based community assessment of health needs and services related to the following areas:  maternal child health (shaken baby syndrome, back to sleep, crib safety evaluation); first aid (wound care, blood barrier protection, first aid kit supplies); lead safety education and poison prevention; sun exposure damage problems and skin cancer prevention education; diabetes incidence and prevention; elevated cholesterol level incidence and prevention; or  general availability of health education and screening opportunities for and persons in the Rio Grande Valley area of South Texas.        
2. Collaborate with bilingual nursing students of Hispanic and Mexican heritage to provide health screening and health education to economically disadvantaged persons living in the Rio Grande Valley area on the Texas – Mexico boarder in communities underserved and lacking in care services.
3. Collaborate with persons from: South Texas College, Division of Nursing and Allied Health; The National Presbyterian Church; The University of Texas Health Science Center STEER Project; ARISE program; Texas A&M Colonias Program; Texas A&M University School of Rural Public Health; South Texas College and the Mexican Consulate, McAllen office in community assessment, health screening, health education, and exchange of ideas and information related to health services and care.
4. Explore the health care delivery system in Reynosa Mexico through a bi-national nurse to nurse encounter with nurses from the United States and Mexico in a tour of health facilities in Mexico. The site changed from Reynosa to McAllen.
5. Reflect on experiences based on journaling activity.

Rationale, Overview and Partners in the Project:

During the fifth semester of the nursing curriculum at South Dakota State University, nursing major students are required to complete a population based community (public) health nursing course.  The two components of this course are theory and clinical.  The theory component includes information about community assessment; population based health planning, local, state, national, and world health issues and objectives; culturally based health intervention; social justice; and evidence based practice.  The clinical portion of the course involves the students working in small groups to assess a giving population using the Dimensions Model to gain information about the biophysical, psychological, physical, social, behavioral, and health systems.
Based on the information students prioritize needs and develop an intervention plan.

Nurses recognize the importance of understanding the whole person as care is planned and delivered.  Integral to understanding is working with persons from within the population.  Therefore, the current project has been planned to provide students with the opportunity to assess the population of South Texas from a literature and web based perspective as well as an emersion experience within the Rio Grande Valley.

Specifically, the clinical will be comprised of the following components:

STC nursing students share experiences with students from South Dakota and Mexico

Some students came to the Rio Grande Valley from South Dakota, where the temperature is currently below 10 degrees and snow is on the ground. Others came from Tamaulipas, Mexico, where the roads are not always paved and army sentries stand guard. What do they have in common with South Texas College students? A passion for nursing and learning.

Thirty-six South Texas College nursing students played host to 16 nursing students from South Dakota State University and 12 nursing students from The Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas in early February at the college’s first Nursing the Border Conference.

“This event is an example of integrating teaching and learning with community service. The project evolved from a need to help our students link the tasks they learn in class to self-reflection, self discovery and comprehension of the needs of the patients they serve. It also helps our students understand that despite where they are from, what conditions they work in or what their education is like, they share a common sense of caring for others,” said Dores Jay-Pang, director of STC’s Center of Excellence for Health Professions Development. “The event allowed these students a unique perspective, and in many cases, a real appreciation for their colleagues.”

During the course of eight days, the students from SDSU and STC participated in a variety of trainings in geo-cultural aspects of the Valley; and healthcare system and health issues of special populations like migrants, immigrants and border populations.

Accompanied by a Mobil Medical RV from the Presbyterian National Health Ministries, the project provided students an opportunity to use skills and knowledge, problem-solving and critical thinking in real-life situations by working in the field, providing free clinical services to more than 250 residents of the Monte Alto, El Gato,  Muñiz and Cameron Park Colonias. Services included diabetes, glucose and cholesterol screenings, measuring blood pressure and body mass index, providing nutrition education, infant care information, as well as lead toxicity demonstrations and information

“I saw a real difference in how things are done in Texas and how they are done in Mexico,” said Alejandra Hernandez, Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas student. “As nurses in training, our responsibilities seem to go beyond what is typical in the United States.”
Another component of the project was the cultural experience they gained in the communities, sharing with each other and with the community residents, attending a cultural event at The University of Texas-Pan American, and taking dancing classes from a promotora from Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s School of Rural Public Health. Nursing the Border provided the opportunity to bring students from three educational institutions, including neighboring Mexico to participate in roundtable discussions to share nursing education and experiences, and to plan the future of nursing in the region.

“We have a real appreciation and feel very lucky to have access to the resources and opportunities that are provided to U.S. nursing students, particularly those at STC,” said Dahlia Sanchez, STC nursing students. “I grew up in Mexico and I have seen the condition that our colleagues must work with. The lack of resources and the poor conditions would be frustrating to me.”

“We would really like to thank our hosts from STC for the hospitability and the great experience,” said SDSU student William Davis. “We learned so much from this opportunity and we hope that it will be an annual event. We also hope that our new friends will take the opportunity to come to South Dakota and learn about our area and patients.”

The conference was the start of efforts to build a true bi-national nursing coalition through South Texas College.

“This is the jumping off point for many more bi-national nursing activities and we hope to visit South Dakota and our friends in Mexico to continue our discussions to reduce health disparities through enhancing and expanding nursing education in the region,” said Jay-Pang. “We know that our students are dedicated young professionals who want to change the world and so we want to bring our message of collaboration to each state across the U.S., as well as all of Mexico. Together we can set the standard for the future of nursing and ensure that we are working together to make a difference by meeting the needs of a changing global society.”

For more information about South Texas College’s Nursing and Allied Health Programs visit www.southtexascollege.edu.