A Nursing Student Community Experience with Public Housing Elderly

Abstract

Nursing students need community-based clinical experiences early in the nursing program. Ninety-eight baccalaureate nursing students in their first clinical course provided information about an experience with elderly residents living in public housing. The students support the continuation of such a clinical experience. Prior to this experience, many nursing students indicated they were unaware of the large number of elderly with chronic health problems who were living independently in the community. This study suggests that such a community experience can positively alter nursing students' perceptions toward providing health care to this population of elders.