Establishing partnerships with social services agencies for community health education.
Nursing education is currently faced with many changes in both the academic and clinical environments. A significant challenge is to provide students with meaningful clinical placements. Experiences in clinical placements allow students to test assessment, critical thinking, communication, and decision-making skills in real and culturally diverse world situations. Nursing faculties need to develop new and innovative approaches for students to gain the necessary clinical experience. This article describes a community health clinical placement designed and implemented through a partnership of academic and social service organizations. It details the conception, growth, and development of student nursing clinics based in elderly and disabled housing sites.
Ellenbecker
Carol Hall
CH
College of Nursing, University of Massachusetts, USA. carol.ellenbecker@umb.edu
O'Brien
Eileen
E
Byrne
Kathleen
K
D000368:Aged; D001900:Boston; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D016852:Housing for the Elderly / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*