Providing practice that moves students toward independence and accountability in nursing is imperative in today's educational settings. SCOPE, Students in the Community: Opportunities for Practice and Education, offers community learning for nursing students through participation in community health initiatives, interaction with a county health department, mentoring with multi-educational levels of nurses, and participation in a nurse-managed partnership. As this project expands, health needs of the underserved continue to be a major focus. The partnership, comprised of public, private, and governmental sectors, includes two schools of nursing, a private health care corporation, and a county health department, creating an environment for differentiated practice. Associate, baccalaureate, and masters nursing students are enlisted to provide care through "teaming". The practice settings are varied and include: health fairs at local schools, Hepatitis B education and immunization, health assessments of soup kitchen clients, support to victims of domestic violence, and participation in programs for community residents. Advocacy and empowerment concepts are stressed in the encouragement of students in this endeavor. SCOPE demonstrates synergy in action. Students witness how their participation in SCOPE leads to alliances with other groups within the community. Service delivery, articulation and collaboration between nursing programs, and educational activities and outcomes are summarized. Evaluation indicates services are provided to those in need and students' knowledge and competence benefit greatly as they encounter a world far beyond their classrooms.
Learning Objectives: 1. Identify the role of nursing in meeting health needs of the underserved in the community. 2. Discuss the benefits of providing service delivery in a collaborative, multidisciplinary model. 3. Describe the opportunities for articulated nursing education in the community setting
Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Community Collaboration
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Montco-Mercy Nursing & Community Partnership
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.