The aims of the Great Lakes Scholars (GLS) Program at UWM are to increase environmental health (EH) knowledge/skills in graduate nursing students and to increase EH content in graduate courses through faculty development. Faculty development is accomplished through workshops and informal discussions, educational materials, and role-modeling presentations by the GLS scholar. Case studies are used as tools for students and faculty to apply EH. For example, in a module in the health assessment course, the scholar presents principles of EH, taking an EH history, and doing a case study on radon induced lung cancer. At a recent pretest for the module, only 2 of 25 students could identify radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer. At post-test, 95% could identify how radon enters the home, who is at risk for exposure, and how to test and abate radon hazard. A second case study on tetrachloroethylene exposure is done in an email format in which small groups of students perform differential diagnostic workups. Students select a group leader, who communicates the groups' case study questions via email. The instructor answers these queries by providing "client responses" and diagnostic data electronically. A recent case study group used a standardized tool to assess the exposure history, found the material safety data sheet on the internet, provided sound rationales for asking questions, and asked excellent probing questions. In addition to didactic content, students can do a practicum in EH supported by the GLS program. Evaluation is ongoing.
Learning Objectives: 1) describe 3 strategies for teaching graduate level nursing students about environmental health 2) discuss 2 strategies to evaluate advance practice nursing students'use of environmental health in practice
Keywords: Nursing Education, Environmental Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.