Evaluation of a College-Community Approach to Developing Multi-level Primary Health Care-Population Health Promotion Practicums for Nursing Students

Abstract

Background: An important objective of Canadian nursing degree programs is to educate students about the principles of primary health care (PHC) and population health promotion (PHP). This mandate is challenged by the lack of full scope PHP practice experiences within the Canadian health care system. Nursing education programs have thus increasingly developed innovative practicums outside of the formal health sector, yet limited formal evaluations have been conducted to evaluate these practicums. In addressing this need, faculty within a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at a Canadian urban college evaluated a fourth year practicum in multi-level PHP practice from the perspective of faculty, students, alumni, and agency partners.

Method: Within a participatory action research framework, a formal evaluation of this practicum was conducted to gather qualitative feedback. 36 participants took part in 20-minute group discussions at the final seminar or via an online survey. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcripts and survey responses.

Findings: Current students reported three main areas of learning, including a deeper critical awareness of the context of health experiences, the nature of multi-level PHP practice and leadership. Importantly, this included a greater understanding of the nature of working at community and policy advocacy levels to promote healthy public policy. Participants also identified key elements of the administration of this practicum in order to support student learning.

Conclusion: Evaluation findings emphasize the importance of continuing to situate PHP practicums within non-health based sites to enable nursing students to experience the full scope of PHP practice. These practicums need to include some projects that focus on community organizing and policy advocacy in order to support learning about multi-level PHP practice. It is also important for faculty to advocate for health system transformation guided by a primary health care model.