| Learning Objective #1: Identify benefits and challenges of creating community/university partnerships | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Describe a plan for collaboration in faculty/student research |
A local free clinic provided a unique opportunity for the development of a diverse partnership amongst area health care providers, nursing educators, and nursing students. The clinic is a grass roots not for profit organization that provides primary health care, education, and support free of charge for the working poor and underinsured living in a three county area. In addition to primary care services, several specialty clinics are offered. Health education services are provided in nutrition, weight management, self-breast exams, prostate screening, and diabetic screening. Since 1991 this clinic has provided over 34,000 patient visits through blending professional and volunteer services. A comprehensive outcome evaluation has never been done. Through collaboration with the clinic director and university-nursing faculty, an outcome evaluation study was planned. This evaluation was necessary to demonstrate the effectiveness of the services provided, provide a profile of the clinic volunteers, and develop a mechanism for ongoing program evaluation. Undergraduate senior nursing students involved in their community health rotations were provided the opportunity to participate in this study. Although students have had a course in nursing research, it is not traditional that undergraduate students participate in ongoing research studies. Through this collaboration students were allowed to apply knowledge and participate in research that influences decision making and policy development in the local area impacting the healthcare of the underinsured families in this community. Faculty and students interacted with diverse healthcare professionals volunteering at the clinic. Students experienced first hand how nursing science impacts nursing practice. They were involved in collection of data through patient and volunteer staff surveys, chart review, and data entry. The impact of this project was three-fold: university faculty provided service to the free clinic, students were mentored through the research process, and clinic services were evaluated to better serve the needs of the community.
Back to Partners in Service Learning
Back to 37th Biennial Convention - Clinical Sessions
Sigma Theta Tau International