Using the Omaha System as a Framework to Demonstrate the Value of Nurse Managed Wellness Center Services for Vulnerable Populations

Abstract

Nurse managed wellness centers (NMWCs) are academic service settings where baccalaureate nursing students gain rich community health clinical experience while providing valuable wellness services to a vulnerable population. The Omaha System provides a framework for generating meaningful data that is essential for describing the value of NMWCs. A retrospective study of Omaha System assessments from 9 NMWCs provides descriptive data about the characteristics of the patient population and patient outcomes in relationship to knowledge, behavior, and status. Patients showed significant improvement for the overall sample and for 6 important health problems. These findings support anecdotal data about the value of NMWC for a vulnerable population.

Research for this article was funded in part by a grant from HighMark.

Notes

Research for this article was funded in part by a grant from HighMark.