Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
Each year, Allen College of Nursing graduates nursing students to go into the Cedar Valley and beyond and care for ailing patients many of whom are low income. Many of the nursing students have lived very comfortable and privileged lives and although they are required to complete a practicum to graduate, many have never experienced what it means to be poor. ISU Extension field specialists, Madelyn Ridgeway and Jill Weber were approached by faculty at the Allen College of Nursing about giving their junior and senior nursing students the opportunity to walk a mile in the shoes of many of the patients they would be servicing as nurses in the community.

Response:
ISU Extension partnered with Allen College faculty and administration to offer a poverty simulation and bring the daily struggles of the poor to the future nurses of the college. Local community leaders and human service workers volunteered as staffers in the simulation and brought with them the experiences of the low income people they serve everyday. A hunger banquet was also held after the simulation which served to show the disproportionate distribution of resources in our world.

Impact:
47 nursing students, faculty, and community leaders participated in the poverty simulation, along with 15 staffers from various community agencies. Evaluations of the simulation showed 100% of the participants felt they had a better understanding of poverty after attending the simulation. Comments from the participants include:

• “It (the poverty simulation) was a wonderful idea and should be required training for all political leaders, educators, and those in powerful positions.”
• “It was an eye opener.”
• “This was very helpful. It allowed me to see how frustrating poverty can be.”

 

ISUE Extension Staff Involved:
Jill Weber, Extension Food and Nutrition Field Specialist, jrweber@iastate.edu

Contact:
Madelyn Ridgeway
Families Field Specialist
3420 University Ave., Suite B, Waterloo, Iowa 50701
(office) 319-234-6811
e-mail: ridgeway@iastate.edu