COMMUNITY-HEALTH CLINICAL-EXPERIENCES - THE PRIMARY-CARE SETTING

Applying the nursing process to the health of populations is a challen ge in undergraduate community health nursing education. We evaluated a method of applying the process in primary health care settings. Key f actors were using case management and other means to assess systems fr om the client's perspective, assessing population needs, diagnosing co mmunity needs-service mismatch, planning in partnership with communiti es, and implementing and evaluating plans. Because these are difficult , if not impossible, to accomplish in a one-semester undergraduate cou rse, students transferred projects and cases from one semester to anot her. Case management is the principal interface of students to individ ual and family clients.