title: Teaching students to work with vulnerable populations through a patient advocacy course.
abstract: Nursing students need an in-depth understanding of how social determinants, such as poverty, unsafe housing, and illiteracy, impact the health of patients. The authors describe how a patient advocacy service-learning course increased students' awareness and proficiency in working with the challenges low-income, vulnerable individuals face as they attempt to improve their lives and health. Course learning objectives, essential requirements, and student reflections are presented.
authors: Author Affiliation: Adjunct Faculty (Ms Bell) and Professor (Dr Buelow), Department of Health Sciences, Armstrong State University, Savannah, Georgia.
authors: Meghan L
authors: ML
authors: Bell
authors: Janet R
authors: JR
authors: Buelow
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D016294:Models, Nursing; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000193:education*; D011203:Poverty; D064890:Social Determinants of Health; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations