Strengthening relationships for a successful nurse directed center within an academic setting

This article focuses on the evolvement of a nurse-directed student health center within an academic setting. The advantages of having a student health center located under academic affairs versus the traditional model of being placed under student affairs is discusses. How this organizational arrangement can be used to develop and strengthen relationships, as well as promote collaboration among various disciplines within the college is discussed. Such an arrangement can provide resources, student practicum experiences on campus as well as strengthen and develop relationships within the surrounding community. These strategies can be used to create a forum for discussion of various strategies which will assist in establishing a vision, overcoming obstacles, expanding the center's scope of services as well as provide mentoring opportunities for student nurses and faculty.