Catalyst for Growth: The Implications of Co-Curricular Experiences for Nursing Education.

Abstract

Co-curricular experiences provide an opportunity for learning outside of a university classroom. A co-curricular retreat was developed to engage students, faculty, and staff in learning about social justice. Through guided activities and deep discussions, participants explored privileged and oppressed identities in a safe environment. Pre- and postsurveys were collected. Quantitative and qualitative data, including personal narratives from two nurse educators, were described. Participants reported feeling less confident about their knowledge about socially constructed identities after the retreat, with deepened awareness of a need to learn. Co-curricular retreat exercises led to new insights among student and nurse educator participants, which stimulated ongoing education. Exploration of personal identities is a beginning step toward cultural competence-an essential quality in the nursing profession. Co-curricular experiences focused on social justice having implications for promoting social justice-a core nursing value-as well as developing cultural competence among nursing students and nurse educators. [J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(2):110-114.].