Field Research in Public Health Clinicals

Background /Issue

Public Health Nurses (PHNs) are often required to do community assessment to obtain funding.  Many times PHNs are not familiar with more formal means to collect assessment data.  Reaching out to universities and PHN students can be beneficial to both the agency and the students. Students should participate in research activities and evidence based practice according to Essential III of the Public Health: Recommended Baccalaureate Competencies and Curricular Guidelines for Public Health Nursing.  There are limited experiences for students to participate in field research. 

Description

Students at an upper mid-western University conduct a field collaborative community research in their public health clinical. The research project is determined by the clinical site.  Students are taught research in a co-requisite course. The research project is an assignment in both classes. Points are awarded in the two classes for different parts of the research project.  The projects are collaboration between the two courses and the clinical sites.

Lesson Learned

Combining research class and public health allows the more rigorous development of assessment tools, sampling techniques and data collection. Instructors need to be clear and coordinate the projects and timeline.  Compromise needs to be part of process for both the site and the University. Clinical sites need to be clear about the information they are seeking. There are limitations with undergraduate research. Diverse communities require different data collection metrics.

Implications

Research can be taught and conducted with and by undergraduate nursing students.  The information can be valuable and useful for community partners.