title: Academic-Hospital Partnership: Conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment as a Service Learning Project.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this service learning project were to trial nursing student application of the Community-Based Collaborative Action Research (CBCAR) framework while conducting a community health needs assessment and to assess the effectiveness of the CBCAR framework in providing real-world learning opportunities for enhancing baccalaureate nursing students' public health knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case study analysis, the CBCAR framework linked service learning and community health needs assessment with public health nursing core competencies. Fifteen nursing students partnered with collaborative members.
  
  
  METHODS
  Student observational field notes and narrative reflections were analyzed qualitatively for fidelity to the CBCAR framework and to evaluate student public health knowledge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students successfully employed the CBCAR framework in collaboration with the critical access hospital and community stakeholders to design and conduct the community health needs assessment. Service learning themes were real-world solutions, professional development, community collaboration, and making a difference. Students developed skills in six of the eight domains of the Quad Council's core competencies for public health nurses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Community-Based Collaborative Action Research facilitates collaborative partnerships and relationships throughout the research process. Students benefited by applying what they have learned from their education to a real community who lacks resources.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato, MN.
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Krumwiede
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato, MN.
authors.forename: Stacey A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Van Gelderen
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato, MN.
authors.forename: Norma K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Krumwiede
mesh_terms: D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000193:education*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: collaboration; community assessment; public health nursing core competencies; service learning; undergraduate nursing education