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ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study was to evaluate how participation in in CareLink program influenced the community health knowledge and skill of baccalaureate nursing students regarding the care of community-dwelling older adults. Students were assigned three to four clients each during their 14-week clinical placement with a home care agency, situated in a naturally occurring retirement community or senior center. Students contracted with their clients to set goals and provided standardized health assessments and teaching. Students completed pretest and posttest surveys, and attended focus groups to address their learning. Students' public health nursing and cultural competence improved significantly. The CareLink program provides a meaningful learning experience for baccalaureate nursing students. Attitudes toward older adults and community health nursing in general shifted to acknowledge that older adults have strengths and resilience not previously acknowledged.
The education and training of qualified nurses to care for the growing population of older adults is a priority at all levels of health care, from community to acute care settings. With 80% of older adults living with and challenged by at least one chronic illness (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2009), it is imperative for community health professionals to be competent in the care of older adults residing in their communities. The American Geriatrics Society Position Statement: Home Care and Related Medical Services (2003) recommends involving nursing students in home care settings. Teaching specialized, community-based older adult nursing care practices requires an expert knowledge base and a partnership with community organizations, which are also struggling in meeting the demands for care of this population. CareLink, a community service and partnership model, provides one solution to these challenges.
The CareLink in New York City (NYC) program was modeled after similar programs in Pennsylvania (Tucker, Nester, Gross, & Johnstone, 1996) and Connecticut (Bernal, Shellman, & Reid, 2004). CareLink NYC was developed between the New York University College of Nursing (NYUCN) and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) in 2004 in response to academic placement needs, community organization manpower needs, and a concern for the challenges faced by many older adults living alone and trying to manage chronic illness. Although research on the effectiveness of preventive home visits to community-dwelling older adults is just emerging (Masters,...