“Take a Walk in My Shoes”: Nursing Students Take a Walk in Older Adults' Shoes to Increase Knowledge and Empathy

Abstract

“Take a Walk in My Shoes” is an interactive, educational, service-learning program designed to incorporate nursing students into teaching roles to educate and encourage empathy among health care employees when interacting with older adults. Through this project, the students also experienced increased knowledge and empathy while serving in teaching roles. Nursing faculty and senior-level baccalaureate nursing students conducted interactive in-services at health care facilities. After attending a short lecture given by the faculty, health care employee participants visited 4 simulation stations conducted by the students. Each station allowed participants to “take a walk” and experience physical ailments sometimes associated with older adults. Evaluation of the project involved informal conversations with students and examination of their journals. Four major themes were identified: “nervous/anxious,” “fun,” “teacher/educating,” and “empathy.” Student participants expressed an increase in empathy and knowledge with regard to older adults.