Learning Objective #1: Improve nurse practitioner students' competency in caring for underserved populations by designing collaborative partnerships with community health centers

Learning Objective #2: Describe methods and resources to facilitate students' understanding of the needs of underserved populations

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Significance: Increasing enrollment nationally in Nurse Practitioner programs has created a challenge among schools to secure sufficient role models to precept students. While advanced practice nurses (APNs) are ideal, overuse and inadequate numbers present barriers to meeting the need. Creative models are needed to more effectively utilize this scare resource. Purpose: Faculty at one university leveraged a HRSA funding opportunity to partner with two federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and another nursing program. The partnership's purpose is to coordinate student placements between schools, strengthen relationships between the schools and FQHCs, and expand preceptor opportunities. Methodology: The leadership of potential partners was invited to participate in a HRSA application targeting recruitment of NP graduates into FQHCs. The four partners developed a plan to coordinate school needs with available precepting resources at the FQHCs. Partners approved the proposal and signed a commitment. Implementation strategy: Faculty and preceptors will attend a joint orientation and receive interactive Spanish self-study software. Students will participate in a healthcare literacy pilot to help prepare them for the FQHCs' underserved populations. Collaborative classes regarding use of the Health Disparities Collaboratives and FQHC policies and systems are planned. Quarterly meetings of partners to evaluate progress will strengthen relationships and provide a basis for future collaboration. Evaluation: FQHC partners committed to ten placements during this academic year, a 67% increase over last year. In addition, psychiatric placements at both sites are newly available. Arrangements are sensitive to peak needs at each school. While still in the initiation phase, evidence for collaboration beyond the grant period has already emerged. The schools plan a joint forum for graduates to present capstone projects, and students from each university are co-chairs for National Primary Care Week events, to be held at the FQHCs.