Interprofessional Student Quality Improvement Project in a Federally Qualified Health Center

Quality improvement (QI) and interprofessional competencies are needed to adequately prepare the health care workforce. A nurse-led, federally qualified health center provided university students from multiple health care programs a volunteer opportunity to collaborate on a QI project influenced by social determinants of health.

Working in dyads, students surveyed patients to understand what they want to learn while waiting to see their provider. Analysis prioritized healthy lifestyles and nutrition topics. Students identified, provided, and evaluated culturally appropriate educational materials, including language and literacy in their preferred modality. A healthy lifestyles/nutrition video, recipes in English and Spanish, and a pamphlet were delivered.

Patients deemed some materials helpful, and patients and staff provided feedback for the next project phase. Students achieved basic interprofessional and QI competencies and described project satisfaction.

The hands-on approach allowed students to develop beginning interprofessional and QI competencies for their future professional practice. [J Nurs Educ. 2020;59(10):585-588.].