To attain Healthy People 2010 objectives we need nursing leaders that work effectively with communities, provide culturally competent care to underserved populations, and ultimately impact community health outcomes. The community outreach work study program at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing is community-based, designed to enhance cultural competency, increase opportunities to learn and practice with underserved populations, develop leadership skills and provide career counseling. The program was designed to build on skills and strong interests of the students, thus fostering careers and leadership in community health. The program, established in 1993, takes undergraduate students with previous community work experiences including return Peace Corps volunteers, and provides stipends for work in community health programs. The students practice in school of nursing sites, faculty practice sites, and other community sites with whom the school has partnerships. For this direct service the students are paid a stipend and supervised by faculty or preceptors. In addition the students have a required weekly inservice educational program, with ongoing opportunities to discuss their community experience, analyze leadership in community health, and discuss career opportunities. As a result of this program, the community work-study students are more likely to choose careers in public health, take graduate degrees in public health and/or community health nursing, or select to be an advanced practice nurse practitioner in community based primary care. Preliminary results of the first two years indicate that 70% of students participating in the outreach work program are now in leadership roles in community health.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to: 1. Describe the community outreach program at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. 2. Identify strategies used to enhance understanding and develop leaders in community health nursing. 3. Discuss the success of this program in meeting the goals of increased qualitiy and quantity of community health nursing practice among graduates
Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Community Outreach
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
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.