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Learning Objective #1: envision collaboration opportunities in their own communities

Learning Objective #2: develop intervention strategies to reach global populations

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This paper describes a partnership between a school of nursing, a social services agency, and a community hospital in an inner city neighborhood.  The target population is first generation immigrants who have aged in poverty and now suffer from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, emphysema, depression, and substance abuse.

The clients are disabled and/or homebound, but do not qualify for home health nursing services under Medicare.  Less than 2 per cent are fluent in English and sensory impairments are common.  Through this partnership, nursing students work with faculty to provide community outreach programs, case management services, and home health nursing care across gaps in service settings and funding streams.  Outcomes of care, such as incidence of complications, rates of relapse, and recidivism are tracked, and student performance in autonomy and critical thinking are measured.  Qualitative data offer insights of students' and clients' mutual struggles to communicate and the unique strategies they develop during long-term relationships.

While providing care to an exceptionally vulnerable population, this project generates opportunities in multicultural nursing for students and faculty.  Cost-effectiveness data are being collected for analysis in the next phase of the study.