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A clinical experience with foster families
Janet U Schneiderman1, Lawren Miller Askew, Theresa M Reed
1University of Southern California Department of Nursing, Los Angeles 90033, USA. juschnei@usc.edu
Nurse Educator
|July 20, 2002
Summary
Nursing students gained valuable experience in foster care settings, understanding child health issues and interdisciplinary teamwork. This service learning improved their clinical skills and psychosocial evaluation abilities.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Community Health
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Establishing a structured, preceptored clinical experience in foster care for nursing students.
- Addressing the need for nursing students to understand the unique health challenges faced by children in foster care.
- Highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork in managing foster child health.
Observation:
- Public health nurse preceptors identified key areas for student engagement.
- Student involvement included intake processes, health record review, home visits, and case management.
- The experience provided practical application of nursing skills in a community setting.
Findings:
- Students effectively integrated physical assessment, child development knowledge, and psychosocial evaluation skills.
- The community clinical experience facilitated a deeper understanding of foster children's health problems.
- Students reported a rewarding service learning experience, enhancing their professional development.
Implications:
- This model can enhance nursing curricula by providing essential community-based learning opportunities.
- Improved understanding of foster child health can lead to better patient outcomes.
- Strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration skills benefit healthcare teams and child welfare.