kathleen a. Sternas, PhD, RN and maryann Scharf, EdD, RN. college of nursing, seton hall university, 400 south orange avenue, south orange, NJ 973 275-2154, sternaka@shu.edu, sternaka@shu.edu

This presentation describes skills for developing and sustaining community partnerships; identifies assessment and intervention projects that address environmental problems, and identifies benefits for students and community partners collaborating on projects. Methodology: Traditional (n= 61) and accelerated (second degree, n= 55) community health nursing students and 23 community partners participated. Students selected a topic for a project from a list developed by partners and faculty and received mentoring. Topics included environmental problems including asthma, lead poisoning, alcohol, smoking, communicable diseases, and bioterrorism. Students and partners completed evaluations measuring project outcomes. Findings: Skills for developing and sustaining partnerships included: mutuality; trust; respect; commitment; identifying strengths; working on areas needing improvement; decision-making; communication; and acknowledgement of partnership accomplishments. Evaluations indicated 100% traditional and 96.88% accelerated reported increased competence in assessing and planning community interventions and increased leadership skills; 100% of traditional and accelerated students agreed experiences promoted cultural awareness; 93.8% traditional and 100% accelerated had improved Internet abilities. Student’ benefits included: increased interest in working in communities; expertise in caring for high-risk populations; identification of barriers to health care; application of critical thinking skills. Partner evaluations: 100% agreed assessments and interventions met community needs, findings were useful in program planning, writing grants. Partner’ benefits included new health programs, increased knowledge about health and resources. Conclusions: Community partnerships were beneficial in addressing environmental problems, meeting health needs of high-risk populations and increasing community-based knowledge of students. Implications include educating nurses and students about partnership skills and benefits of partnerships for addressing environmental problems.

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