Role of nursing students at rural nurse-managed clinics.

With stiff competition for clinical sites, one Midwestern university partners nursing students with faculty who provide primary healthcare to clients in 2 rural nurse-managed clinics. Some students are also assigned to follow select clients during weekly home visit rotations for their public health clinical course. The result has been a successful faculty practice and preceptor model that benefits rural communities, a clinical setting that provides opportunities for students to experience client care needs of the underinsured or uninsured in small communities, and student exposure to the financial burdens and challenges of today's healthcare environment in the United States.

Public health nursing student home visit preparation: the role of simulation in increasing confidence.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of simulation in preparing senior nursing students for their first home visit and to determine comfort and confidence levels of these students as they prepare for their first home visits. This exploratory study used a convenience sample of public health nursing students (n = 115). A pretest posttest design evaluated the effectiveness of the simulation using a 5-point Likert scale to detect changes in student confidence. Significant differences were noted on the majority of mean scores (p <.001) post-simulation. This approach could also be used to prepare newly hired home health care nurses and inexperienced nurses who are making the transition to home care from another aspect of nursing practice.

Use of the public health nursing bag in the academic setting.

The nursing bag has been a vital tool for public and community health nurses since the early 1900s. However, the practice of utilizing the nursing bag has declined. This study sought to determine whether the practice of teaching students to use a public health nursing bag when making home visits should continue. Deans and directors of all schools of nursing with baccalaureate programs listed on the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Web site (n=437) were e-mailed an exploratory, descriptive self-report survey. Although 32% of responding schools continued to utilize a standard public health bag during home visits, the majority did not. Lack of use of the bags was primarily related to cost and the lack of research demonstrating its efficiency in enhancing the home visit and its value in promoting infection control. The researchers concluded that they would continue to teach the use of the public health nursing bag. It provides a receptacle for equipment and supplies, reinforces the need to be prepared for a variety of situations, and serves as a reminder that handwashing is a routine part of every client's care, regardless of the setting.

A social ecological approach of community efforts to promote physical activity and weight management.

Obesity and physical inactivity are major public health problems in the United States. Campus-Community partnerships have the potential to address the community health and quality of life issues at the local level. The purposes of this study were: (a) to identify groups who are at risk for being overweight and physically inactive; (b) to identify a relationship between broad social ecological layers and weight and exercise levels; and (c) to identify community features that are associated with weight and exercise levels. Interventions for physical activity and weight reduction should consider the social ecological framework, including environmental and social influences.