Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #113075

Betty B. Daniels, RN, MN and Patricia Bowman, RN, MN. School of Nursing: SONAT, Medical College of Georgia, 6933 Ayers Court, Atlanta, GA 30360-1302, 770-394-3412, bdaniels@mcg.edu

Community assessment is an essential part of undergraduate community health nursing courses. These projects require extensive research as well as critical analysis of data, program planning, intervention, and evaluation. Because of the complex nature of these projects, they also represent an opportunity to introduce undergraduate students to the possibility of publishing their work. Few undergraduate students consider publishing these products even though many are excellent examples of instituting change in communities. Students typically have had the opportunity to critically analyze scholarly articles in their research courses, thus have the basic knowledge to construct an article suitable for publication. It is important that faculty not only encourage students to take the next step, but also facilitate the process. Faculty assisted student groups in the preparation of articles based on their community projects for submission to peer reviewed journals. Students identified the potential benefit of publication when applying for employment and graduate education. Further, students saw the benefits of communicating lessons learned through the professional literature. Faculty were able to strengthen liaisons with community organizations and leaders through participation in these projects. The potential outcomes of this will include increased student interest in research and publication, as well as contributions to the body of knowledge for improving the health of selected populations.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session the participant will be able to
• 1. List 5 advantages of encouraging scholarly publication of population health projects.
• 2. Describe means of encouraging students to publish lessons learned from community projects.
• 3. Analyze the potential for implementing scholarly writing based on community assessment projects.

Keywords: Nursing Education, Publication

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.