The San Francisco collaborative: an evaluation of a partnership between three schools of nursing and a public health department.
Many factors are contributing to a decline in the number of nurses who opt to choose public health nursing as a career option. One factor is the lack of preceptors in public health, which has led to the placement of nursing students in nontraditional clinical settings. Thus, many nursing students are not exposed to public health nursing while still in school. Graduating students may not have a clear idea of what a public health nurse is or does. The purpose of the study was to describe a collaborative project between three schools of nursing aimed at increasing interest in public health nursing among undergraduate nursing students. The study method involved analysis of student, faculty, and staff feedback received after an orientation to public health nursing. Nursing students found the experience valuable. Participation in the collaborative project has increased clinical experiences for nursing students in public health, increased exposure of nursing students to public health nursing, and has led to opportunities for both students and faculty within an urban public health department.
Landry
Lynette
L
San Francisco State University, School of Nursing, 1600 Holloway Ave., Burk Hall 356, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA. llandry@sfsu.edu
Lee
Rosemary
R
Greenwald
Judy
J
D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D011635:Public Health Administration; D012495:San Francisco; D012579:Schools, Nursing