An Innovative Longitudinal Educational Approach to Maternal‐Child Community Health

Poster PresentationPurpose for the ProgramThe health care environment is rapidly changing. Nurse educators must develop innovative curricula to prepare future nurses to respond to the community maternal/child health needs of an evolving health care system.Proposed ChangeStarting in 2012, University of New Mexico (UNM) graduate and undergraduate faculty partnered to provide bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) students with a longitudinal community clinical experience through the Family Health Partnership (FHP). The FHP, a faculty practice located in rural Sandoval County, NM, is a federally funded, nurse‐managed practice center. Using the FHP as a clinical site, a three‐term sequence of community‐based maternal/child electives were developed to engage students in activities aimed at promoting maternal/child health, preventing disease, decreasing health care disparities, and increasing access to care.Implementation, Outcomes, and EvaluationBSN students worked with certified nurse–midwives, nurse practitioners, community health workers, and a mental health nurse practitioner to provide group prenatal care, well‐child group care, and labor support; perform extended family assessments; and research community resources. Student reported benefits included building connection to a community, increased understanding of the benefits of the provision of preventative services in the community, and an increased interest in working in maternal/child community settings and/or gra...

Source: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing - June 4, 2015 Category: Nursing Authors: Mary Wright Tags: Professional Issues Source Type: research