Closing the Provider Gap in Rural and Underserved Communities: Preparing Family Nurse Practitioner Students for...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Rural Health
• Behavioral Health Integration

Background:

• Rural and underserved areas face significant health care disparities, particularly in behavioral health management.
• Shortages of primary care and mental health providers exacerbate these challenges.
• Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) are essential for delivering care in these regions, yet often lack specialized behavioral health training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Collaborative Academic Practice (CAP) program in preparing FNPs for practice in rural and underserved areas.
• To address the deficit in behavioral health specialists by optimizing FNP education.
• To enhance the capacity of FNPs to meet the unique health care needs of underserved populations.

Main Methods:

• The CAP program utilizes a hybrid learning model, combining online education with immersive, in-person clinical experiences.
• It integrates comprehensive behavioral health training into the FNP curriculum.
• The program includes telehealth education and enhanced preceptor training to support student learning.

Main Results:

• Graduates of the CAP program demonstrate increased likelihood of practicing in underserved areas.
• The program reports high levels of preceptor satisfaction with FNP preparedness.
• Key program components, such as immersive training and telehealth education, contribute to its success.

Conclusions:

• The CAP program effectively transforms FNP education by equipping graduates to address critical mental health needs.
• It successfully bridges gaps in health care delivery in rural and underserved communities.
• Despite challenges like financial and communication barriers, the program demonstrates a positive impact on health care access and quality.