Providing care to a culturally diverse community: a mobile academic nursing center

Health care institutions are increasingly collaborating with nursing education programs to provide quality and cost-effective primary health care services to the community. Mobile academic nursing centers are emerging as viable alternative sites for these services because they can provide immediate access to health care services and circumvent logistical problems in access to care. Although not a new concept, their development as an integral component of the nursing academic unit is being reexamined in light of health care reform and nursing's role in this reformation. Unlike stationary clinics, these "clinics on wheels" provide multisite access to diverse populations and communities. This article describes how a mobile academic nurse managed center can provide nurses and students with opportunities to develop competencies in community-based experiences.