A virtual nursing internship: Where policy and politics matter

Incorporating policy and politics into undergraduate nursing courses is increasingly important and yet is generally undervalued by students. This challenge is complicated in community and public health by the students' need to absorb complex nursing concepts, skills, and interventions, as well as the introduction and emphasis on social determinants of health and populations. Community nursing practice calls for an appreciation of the role of policy and politics in shaping both the health and wellness of the local community and the interventions that are possible in that location. While multiple clinical placements could assist students to better understand the diversity of nursing roles and interventions, in reality it is only possible for each student to “practice” in one or two community settings during the academic quarter. To meet these challenges, we developed a “virtual internship” that takes place within the didactic portion of our 10-week Community Public Health Nursing course for accelerated second degree BSN students. The “internship” supplements traditional clinical placements and allows students to apply critical thinking skills while taking into consideration the effects of politics and policy on their virtual roles and proposed interventions. This community health nursing “internship” happens in Killardton, a dynamic fictional community developed by the authors, and uses a modified problem-based learning strategy. This presentation includes a brief overview of the Killardton experience with a focus on the integration of policy and politics, the viewpoints of both instructors and students, and lessons learned.