CUMU Conference 2019

Issues facing healthcare in the U.S. are lack of access to care and a lack of primary care providers in underserved areas. Chronic conditions associated with the social determinants of health are widespread and disproportionately affect vulnerable groups. Nurse practitioners are a solution to address these issues. However, a lack of practitioners functioning as preceptors and academic-practice partnerships in underserved areas are affecting the number of students who are prepared to meet the diverse needs of underserved populations upon graduating.

This Clinical-Academic Network for Developing Leaders (CANDL) project, funded by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), examines the impact of establishing academic-community partnerships, preceptor education and support, and clinical placements for nurse practitioner students in underserved urban and rural settings for two-years. Strategies aim to prepare graduates to work with underserved populations through community collaborations.

Designated faculty formed partnerships with underserved community sites. Project strategies were implemented over an 18-month period for twenty FNP students. Post-graduate surveys will reveal outcomes for employment intentions for the student participants. Baseline data for self-efficacy related to working with underserved populations for all twenty students demonstrated an increased confidence level providing care to underserved populations.

Preceptors are offered education through interactive modules and have reported increased confidence-level and efficacy as clinical educators before and after their online training. Data has been collected and indicates increased preceptor self-efficacy, especially regarding faculty support and educational tools that outline student performance expectations.