Partners in action: a public health program for baccalaureate nursing students

Because of the current state of health systems changes and bioterrorist threats, the time is ripe for expanded community-based partnerships. The project described in this article, titled Partners in Action: University of Delaware and Delaware Division of Public Health, created a replicable academic-public health partnership. This new partnership developed undergraduate public health nursing clinical experiences and addressed the documented public health resource and service needs across the state of Delaware. Twenty-six students and 20 public health staff participated in the Partners in Action program over 2 semesters. Important public health services were delivered while students developed critical public health skills and received academic credit for their work. Public health preceptors, staff, nursing students, and faculty met on a regular basis for focus groups and public health in-services, using classroom, video, and Web-based formats. Partners in Action targeted medically underserved areas and offered health education and disease screenings. Community-based organizations and residents worked with students, faculty and public health staff to develop, implement, and evaluate this partnership. Partners in Action's evaluation included formative and summative measures. Partners in Action outcomes can serve as a blueprint for the replication of such programs at other schools of nursing.