Intensive immersion of nursing students in rural interdisciplinary care

The goal of the Rural Interdisciplinary Practicum is to develop culturally sensitive health professionals who can function within an interdisciplinary team to deliver care in rural settings. Nursing and other health professions students enroll in a 4-semester-hour elective which is offered in an intensive 5-week, 5 days per week block in the summer. Working closely with preceptors and faculty, students are immersed in a rural community. They gain expertise in their own specialties, collaborate in an interdisciplinary team approach to community-based care, and gain experience with culturally and geographically diverse groups. By actually living and practicing in a rural community, students learn that rural healthcare presents unique challenges as well as opportunities for a positive, high quality lifestyle, both personally and professionally. Findings to date indicate that the practicum positively influences students' attitudes toward rural, interdisciplinary practice.