Benefits and challenges of a nursing service-learning partnership with a community of internally-displaced persons in Colombia

Service-learning partnerships between nursing programs and health care settings in vulnerable communities may be challenging to initiate, but can offer multiple benefits for students, faculty, and the community served. The aim of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the benefits and challenges of establishing a service-learning partnership between a university nursing program and an isolated community of internally-displaced persons in Medellin, Colombia. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 nursing professors and nine students who participated in the service-learning partnership. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Main benefits identified were: learning about the social determinants of health, development of compassion, appreciation for the community nursing role, professional growth and development, community engagement and increased access to care for community members. Challenges related to the service-learning experience included feelings of moral distress, lack of value for community nursing, and conflict with traditional biomedical approaches to care. Several threats to program sustainability were also identified. Professors and students offered several recommendations for program improvement, including interdisciplinary collaboration, documentation and dissemination of the service-learning experience, increased community autonomy and capacity for self-care, and curricular changes to enhance recognition of the importance of community nursing. •Service-learning is perceived to be beneficial for academic and community partners.•Service-learning may enhance student perceptions of the role of community nurses.•Service-learning may be more beneficial yet challenging to implement in LMICs.•Service-learning programs need to consider threats to program sustainability.