Using Elementary Schools for Pediatric Practicum: An Alternative Approach

Securing clinical sites that facilitate achievement of nursing skills to competently care for children is often challenging for nursing faculty. An additional challenge is helping nursing students learn the importance of conceptually driven practice and its application in the delivery of high quality care. This manuscript describes an alternative pedagogical approach that utilizes elementary schools for pediatric practicum, which is framed by the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model. Our model driven approach not only provides a framework by which baccalaureate nursing students gain the skills necessary to interact with, educate, and care for children, but also one in which they can gain a greater understanding of how the home, school and community influence the overall health and well-being of children. Subsequently, this pedagogy serves as an exemplar of how an alternative site can be utilized to successfully educate nursing students regarding the care of children.