Baccalaureate students must be prepared to face a variety of challenges as clinicians. No where is this more evident than in public health practice. While health departments have, for many years, provided personal health services to vulnerable groups, many are actively returning to an emphasis on core public health functions and essential services. Additionally, increasing mobility world-wide makes knowledge of international, as well as national health issues a priority. Educators in nursing, and public health providers must collaborate to ensure that students receive educational experiences that assist them in learning the evolving role of the public health nurse. This presentation will detail the experiences of one group of Baccalaureate students, who worked with the local health department in Arlington County, Virginia, to provide care for the population of refugees in that diverse community. Students were able to combine both population and individual perspectives, as they learned about the plight of refugees. Collaboration with faculty, community groups, and health department professionals provided students with a unique vision of essential services, core functions, and community priorities. Building on a foundation of caring for humanity and social justice, students explored issues of local, state, national and international policy, and their impact on the health of this community.
Learning Objectives: Following the session on "Developing student knowledge of global health issues: working with the refugee population in a local health department" participants will be able to: 1. Identify refugee health care issues relevant to Baccalaureate nursing education; 2. Articulate the relationship between essential public health services, global health issues, and the refugee experience; 3. Discuss the strategies used to integrate individual and population perspectives into a student experience with the refugee community.
Keywords: Education, Refugees
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.