Community health clinical experiences: the primary care setting

Applying the nursing process to the health of populations is a challenge in undergraduate community health nursing education. We evaluated a method of applying the process in primary health care settings. Key factors were using case management and other means to assess systems from the client's perspective, assessing population needs, diagnosing community needs-service mismatch, planning in partnership with communities, and implementing and evaluating plans. Because these are difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish in a one-semester undergraduate course, students transferred projects and cases from one semester to another. Case management is the principal interface of students to individual and family clients.