| Learning Objective #1: Describe two ways that a collaborative partnership between a high school and nursing program can benefit adolescent health education as well as junior nursing student learning | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Identify three ways to present health promotion education to culturally diverse adolescents |
Pediatric nursing faculty and school nurses are challenged to provide adolescent health education since adolescents in urban areas are at high risk for developing life-long health problems due to their current health decisions. These problems may range from cardiovascular or respiratory problems to mental health difficulties, stemming from behaviors that begin during the adolescent years. Inner-city students in one public high school located on the campus of a private college received seven health classes on the prevention and reduction of risk factors for long-term illness. The students represent a culturally diverse population (approximately 25 countries of origin). Collaboration between the public school district and the nursing program facilitated the arrangements. This endeavor supported the nursing curriculum and mission and philosophy statements due to its community as client perspective where students at the college are enjoined to participate in community outreach efforts through their assigned course/clinical work.
The classes were part of the teens' state-mandated health course. Each group included 14 to 17 students from freshmen through senior years who read about the topic in their health textbook. Each 50-minute presentation was given by junior nursing students as part of their clinical experience in health teaching and healthy adolescent development. The topics presented for the adolescents included: smoking prevention, prevention of respiratory and heart disease, proper nutrition, methods of exercising, self esteem enhancement, breast self exam, and testicular self exam. Evaluations showed that the teens learned a great deal while the nursing students also enjoyed teaching. Their proficiency in teaching in small groups visibly increased. Subsequently these health classes have increased in number and scope reaching more adolescents in the high school. This increases their knowledge of ways to prevent disease in the future.
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