Educational implications of community health preceptors' practice values

Educators in baccalaureate nursing programs realize that clinical experiences in community health differ from those in acute care facilities. Competencies required in community settings must be identified to ensure that students have had opportunities to develop necessary skills before obtaining clinical experience. Such identification is also necessary for evaluating student competence in the clinical setting. The authors identify valued community health practice competencies that could be used by educators to evaluate students and help them prepare for clinical practice.