Academic nursing practice in rural West Virginia

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Rural Health
• Community Health

Background:

• Academic nursing practices are crucial for integrating education, research, and service.
• Rural areas face unique healthcare challenges, particularly for vulnerable populations.
• Bridging the gap between academic roles and community needs is essential for faculty and student development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate how a rural academic nursing practice facilitates the integration of the tripartite academic role.
• To describe the student experience in delivering prenatal care to a vulnerable rural population.
• To highlight the practice's utility as a laboratory for research and intervention testing in rural communities.

Main Methods:

• Case study of a rural academic nursing practice.
• Integration of university students into clinical practice for prenatal care.
• Utilizing the practice as a setting for research and intervention development.

Main Results:

• Successful integration of education, research, and service within a rural academic nursing practice.
• Students gained critical insights into rural academic practice and the needs of vulnerable women.
• The practice served as a valuable laboratory for studying community-specific health problems and testing interventions.

Conclusions:

• Rural academic nursing practices are effective models for integrating faculty roles and student learning.
• These practices provide unique opportunities for research, intervention, and leadership in rural community development.
• Enhancing educational technology integration and faculty leadership strengthens rural academic nursing.