The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #47416

Judy Goforth Parker, PhD, RN¹, Martha Chandler, MS, RN¹, Daniel Boatright, PhD, FRSH², Doug Weirick, PhD³, and Deborah Flowers, PhD, RN⁴. (1) Department of Nursing, East Central University, Ada, Oklahoma, 1000 East 12th, Ada, OK 74820, 580-310-5739, jparker@mailclerk.ecok.edu, (2) College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 801 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, (3) Department of Environmental Health, East Central University, 1000 East 12th, Ada, OK 74820, (4) Department of Nursing, East Central University at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, University, Durant, OK 74701

This project demonstrates a cooperative project between The University of Oklahoma Health Science Center (OUHSC), College of Public Health, and East Central University. A Cooperative Agreement funded by the Health and Resource Services Administration through the Association of Schools of Public Health focused on enhancing the level of environment health experience for 35 senior undergraduate nursing students through a directed field of study and field activities. Collaboration between the two schools provided unprecedented access for the nursing students to a range of experience enhancing activities through a CEPH accredited graduate environmental health program, as well as a National Environmental Health Science Protection and Accreditation Council accredited undergraduate program. Example subject matter for the clinical sessions comprised indoor and ambient air quality, water and wastewater treatment and municipal solid and hazardous waste management. Visits to three industrial sites were designed to integrate environmental and occupation health related issues into nursing curriculum. Students participated in field trips to the OUHSC for lectures from the epidemiology and environmental health faculty, the Public Health Practice Coordinator, and Public Health Career Guidance Counselor. Students also attended legislative day at the Oklahoma State Capitol identifying pending legislation that would impact the workplace and environment.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify five learning experiences that enhanced clinicals for nursing students by integrating environmental and occupational health related issues into the nursing curriculum.
• Desribe the collaborative process between a department of nursing, department of epidemiology and college of public health to promote the level of environmental health experience for nursing students.
• Discuss the different learning experiences of nursing students visiting indoor and ambient air quality, water and wastewater treament and municiple solid and hazardous waste management sites in a rural community.

Keywords: Environmental Health, Nursing Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: University of Oklahoma, Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma East Central University, Ada, Oklahoma
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.