Abstract: Objective: To analyze the effects of service-learning on the practical teaching in geriatric nursing. Methods: Qualitative study and quantitative study were combined to compare the effects of service-learning method. Totally 103 nursing students were randomly divided into two groups. The traditional practice teaching was adopted by the control group, while the experimental group were with service-learning on the basis of traditional teaching. The attitudes toward the aged, the ability of critical thinking and the final test score of the two groups were compared. The nursing students and the staff of institutions, evaluation about the teaching program were collected by interview. Results : There were significant difference in the attitudes to the aged before and after teaching in the test group, and the attitudes to the aged and test score after teaching between the two groups (P<0.05). The total scores of critical thinking ability, the seeking truth ability, systematization ability and self-confidence in the experimental group were improved after the teaching (P<0.05). The students and staff of institutions evaluated the service-learning teaching method in a positive way. Conclusion: The service-learning is benefit to improve the students' attitudes toward the aged and the critical thinking ability, and it is beneficial for the development of nursing care for the aged and nursing education.

Key words: service-learning; geriatric nursing; practice teaching