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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Kristine Warner, PhD MPH RN and Sheila Hoban, RN EdD. School of Nursing, California State University, Chico, 400 West First Street, Chico, CA 95929, 530-898-5225, kdwarner@csuchico.edu

The increased risk of poor health outcomes due to poverty is well documented. Understanding the issues facing the poor, especially those that impact the health of these individuals, families and groups is vital. Knowledge alone is however, insufficient in the provision of effective and appropriate nursing interventions. Students must be able to provide services to these vulnerable groups in an empathetic and non-judgmental manner. Faculty in our undergraduate nursing program identified a small but growing number of students who seem to lack concern for the challenges faced by the poor in our communities. As a means to assess student attitudes and beliefs, a cross-sectional survey was implemented using two pre-existing assessment instruments and replicating in part, the work of Canadian researchers Sword, Reutter, Meagher-Stewart, and Rideout (2004). The two instruments utilized successfully in the Sword et al. study were the Attitudes about Poverty and Poor People scale (Atherton & Gemmel, 1993) and a researcher developed assessment tool to address additional areas of interest, including type and duration of exposure to poverty and personal experiences. Approximately 150 students were surveyed, representing each level of our five (5) semester generic program. Participation was voluntary and surveys were completed during or immediately after scheduled classes. The expectation is that the results will provide some insight into variations in students' beliefs as they progress through the program. Moreover, the results may provide a basis to evaluate the initial impact of an early community-based service learning experience recently added to our curriculum.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Summarize published research relating to attitudes and beliefs on poverty among nursing students.
• Relate the issue of student attitudes on poverty and health to curriculum development.
• Recognize the relationship between level of engagement with vulnerable groups and student attitudes.

Keywords: Vulnerable Populations, Public Health Nursing

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation