Development and testing of a practicum matching program for baccalaureate nursing education,a local public health unit |
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| Authors: | Marjorie C McCullagh PhD RN PHNA-BC COHN-S FAAOHN FAAN Jennifer Mecomber MSN RN Jayne J Hubscher BSN Olivia G Kingsinger BSN RN Kayla M McBride BSN RN Soyeon Park BSN RN Karina J Souksay BSN RN Chloe Marie V Velasquez BSN Lauren M Yake BSN RN |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA;2. Jackson County (MI) Health Department, Jackson, MI, USA |
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| Abstract: | This article describes a novel approach to nursing education, designed to improve the experience of both students in public health nursing, and the local public health unit where they affiliate. Students, faculty, and public health department staff developed a method for matching programs and needs of the local public health unit to the skills and learning needs of nursing students. We describe our experience articulating student competencies, program-specific functions, and an approach to matching student interests and learning opportunities to agency needs. Students, faculty, and staff rated the program moderately to very high in feasibility, satisfaction, and acceptability. Data suggest the novel program served to improve the quality of the practicum affiliation, to the satisfaction of both the school and agency, while contributing to a robust public health learning experience for emerging professional nurses. |
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| Keywords: | community health nursing public health nursing education undergraduate nursing education |
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