The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61947

Cathy J. Tashiro, PhD, RN, Nursing Program, University of Washington, Tacoma, Box 358421, 1900 Commerce Street, Tacoma, WA 98402-3100, 253-692-4473, ctashiro@u.washington.edu

Community health nursing education encourages students to establish partnership relationships with the individuals, families, groups, and communities with whom they work in health promotion efforts. It is believed that through partnership, the traditional professional/client hierarchy of power may be transcended, with the eventual goal being empowerment of the non-professional(s) in the relationship. Yet there is a need for more discussion of how well the partnership model translates cross-culturally; for example, for nurses working with populations accustomed to a strong hierarchical relationship with health professionals. This session will present lessons learned through teaching a community health nursing class of diverse RN to BSN students assigned to work with elders from diverse cultural backgrounds in a variety of community settings. It will include a discussion of how issues raised by student experiences and reflections can inform the framing of partnership in the community health nursing curriculum.

Learning Objectives:

As a result of attending this session, participants will be able to:
• Articulate the factors that can make implementation of the partnership model problematic with some populations.
• Discuss possibilities for creative adaptation of the partnership model when working with diverse populations.
• Recognize the importance of incorporating the perspectives of culturally diverse students into the community health nursing curriculum

Keywords: Community-Based Public Health, Minority Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.