Interprofessional education for undergraduate students.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nursing Education
• Social Work Education

Background:

• Collaborative practice is crucial in public health nursing.
• Interprofessional collaboration prepares students for real-world healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate joint classroom and clinical experiences for nursing and social work students.
• To explore student perceptions and challenges in interprofessional collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Faculty from community health nursing and social work created integrated curricula.
• Undergraduate students partnered with a neighborhood organization for community assessment.
• Student collaborative practice was analyzed for role perceptions, group dynamics, and values.

Main Results:

• Students demonstrated both similarities and differences in understanding roles, group processes, and problem-solving approaches.
• Discipline-specific values and attitudes influenced collaborative practice.
• Logistical challenges included student scheduling and communication.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional education is effective in preparing future public health professionals.
• Addressing logistical issues and clarifying role expectations can optimize collaborative learning.
• Recommendations are provided for faculty developing cross-disciplinary student experiences.