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Service learning synthesizes the goals of academic learning with a community experience to produce a service-focused, community-campus partnership.  This teaching methodology is in keeping with the Louisiana Tech University’s mission that addresses “public service…opportunities for interaction between students and the larger business and civic community…and community and civic obligations.”  Nursing 210, Maternal/Newborn Health Maintenance students are required to implement an interactive service learning project.

Funding obtained through the College of Applied and Natural Sciences innovative instruction in undergraduate courses mini-grants were used to purchase teaching tools to enhance instruction in Nursing 210. Carl Perkins grant funds were used to purchase empathy bellies.  These teaching tools not only enhanced nursing students learning in the classroom and laboratory setting, but also enhanced interactive learning opportunities in the clinical and community settings.

During the Fall terms of 2003-2008, Spring 2007-2009 and Summer 2007-2009, 270 Nursing 210 students implemented 199 service learning projects in north Louisiana and south Arkansas involving 11,424 community participants. These projects included classes concerning sexually transmitted infection prevention, contraception, breast feeding, infant care and safety, prenatal education, teenage pregnancy, fetal development, prematurity prevention, and emergency maternal services. 

Teenage pregnancy continues to be a problem for the nation and for Louisiana in particular. Teen mothers are less likely to receive adequate prenatal care and are more likely to give birth to low birth weight infants. These infants often face many health problems and are more inclined to be hopitalized during infancy and childhood. Sexually transmitted infections are the most commonly reported diseases in the United States. By age 21, one in five young adults will have received medical treatment for an STI.

Service learning projects focusing on the topics of prenatal care, family planning, and STI prevention may help to decrease the teenage pregnancy rate in our community and improve pregnancy outcomes for others. Service learning projects also serve as a recruitment tool for Louisiana Tech and the Division of Nursing due to increased visibility of students serving in the community.  It is gratifying to be able to respond positively to requests from community agencies for service learning projects which help them carry out their mission.