Community-based student practice: a transformational model of nursing education

Abstract

Nursing and nursing faculty shortages demand innovation of nurse-educators and nursing leaders to prepare nursing students for the environment in which they will practice. This article outlines the process of curricular revision undertaken by a department of nursing in a small rural liberal arts college, in partnership with clinical affiliates, based on a structure-process-outcome framework. An expanding literature base promotes service learning in nursing education. Comparison of service-learning and community-based nursing education led the partners to view community-based nursing education experience as practice, and, as such, an emerging model that transcends service learning. Community-based student nursing experiences that meet student, program, and community outcomes are planned and implemented in collaboration with community partners. This model provides students with opportunities to develop a rich understanding of the professional nursing role, while promoting nursing workforce development at both the individual and organizational levels.