Paper
Sunday, November 4, 2007
195
Lessons Learned Meeting the Health Needs of Vulnerable Populations
Christine M. Riebe, MSN, ARNP, Nursing, Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing, Spokane, WA, USA
| Learning Objective #1: describe two opportunities for collaborating transdiciplinary partnerships for nursing practice, education and administration in an evidence-based, academic health clinic environment.
|
| Learning Objective #2: provide solutions using nursing knowledge and leadership skills to threats encountered in an academic health clinic.
|
Washington State University/ Intercollegiate College of Nursing provides mental and primary care services to any resident of Spokane County and especially low-income, homeless, uninsured or underinsured children and families. This innovative Academic Health Service, in the main and satellite clinics has provided health care to over 27,500 patients since it’s opening in l998. The clinic is staffed 5 days a week by 2 faculty family nurse practitioners and a psych-mental health nurse practitioner 4 days a week. Baccalaureate community health and master’s nursing students provide evidence based care to patients and families in the clinic and on home visit follow-ups, under the direct supervision of skilled faculty preceptors in this site. Each year approximately 25 students are provided opportunity to serve vulnerable patients in a variety of settings including the satellite clinics in a mobile care unit, college student health and alternative high school settings. The Academic Health Services have collaborated with other local universities health science students and community colleges to provide interdisciplinary opportunities. Student in record management, medical assisting, pre-nursing, pre-med and health care management, as well as nursing students have shared this learning environment. Research projects on “Older adults active lifestyles”, “Cardiovascular findings on sports physicals” “Childhood obesity reduction” and “Tobacco usage in young adults” are research projects that have been conducted in the clinics. Strengths and opportunities for leadership, collaboration, research and education will be presented. Threats and weaknesses of the programs will be addressed. Successful solutions and new innovations will be introduced.