The role of empowerment in neighborhood-based nursing education

It is a challenge to prepare nursing students for practice in the rapidly changing healthcare arena. A longitudinal clinical education experience, external to tertiary institutions and supportive of lifelong learning, creative and critical thinking is one way to empower students to provide appropriate care within a diverse population and evolving healthcare system. Nursing faculty, nursing students, community providers and neighborhood residents participate as colleagues in a joint venture of assessment, intervention, and learning.