title: Making a difference with combined community assessment and change projects.
abstract: Nursing students value projects that enable them to make a difference in the lives of others. Two major group projects, assessment of an identified community and completion of a leadership change project, required during their last semester were combined to provide a meaningful experience for students. In addition to discussing ways to combine these projects, this article shares methods to build team cohesiveness.
authors.affiliation: Baker University School of Nursing, Stormont-Vail Healthcare, Pozez Education Center, 1500 SW 10th Street, Topeka, KS 66604, USA. roberta.mansfield@bakeru.edu
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mansfield
authors.forename: Cleda L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006126:Group Processes; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007615:Kansas; D007857:Leadership; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*