246454 Toddler and Preschool Developmental Assessment Clinics: Enhancing Student PHN Clinical Experiences While Serving the Community

Monday, October 31, 2011

Penny Weismuller, DrPH, RN , School of Nursing, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Karen D. Munoz, MSN, PHN, RN , Public Health Community Nursing, Health Care Agency/County of Orange, Santa Ana, CA
Toddler/Preschool development assessment clinics were developed as a screening service for community parents and as a clinical experience for baccalaureate nursing students. Working with community partners, such as Family Resource Centers, Head Start,community clinics and school readiness programs, development clinics were advertised by flyers and announcements from public health at community partner sites. Student public health nurses worked with experienced mentors to set up the clinic to provide screening areas as well as areas for story time and for demonstration of age-appropriate play for parents to use with their children. Student public health nurses assessed development of toddlers and preschoolers using the Ages and Stages developmental screening tool. Parents received recommendations for appropriate stimulation for their children, as well as a copy of Kid Builders, a parenting activity manual. Referrals to community agencies were provided to the families engaged when needs were identified. Children identified as having possible developmental delays were referred to appropriate agencies in the community for further follow-up. Outcomes of the screening clinics included 36 children receiving developmental assessments. 3 children were identified with possible developmental delays. Student public health nurses developed increased competence in using the Ages and Stages developmental assessment and in providing age and development appropriate anticipatory guidance. This event received positive comments from parents and from the students. The developmental clinics will continue to assure primary and secondary intervention experiences for students and to address the community need for developmental screening to insure school readiness.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related nursing

Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss planning for the establishment of toddler and preschool developmental screening clinics used to enhance student PHN clinical experiences. 2. Describe roles of mentor PHNs, clinical faculty and students in carrying out clinic operations.

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am currently a professor of graduste nursing education at Californis State University, Fullerton and have previously had over 25 years of clinical public health practice as both a PHN and divisional administrator for communicable disease.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.