An Innovative Role For Nursing Students Within A Student-Run Free Clinic

Historically, the majority of nurses have been employed by hospitals. However, the changing landscape of health care has seen a shift to other areas of practice. Nursing graduates must be prepared to work collaboratively with a shared vision that is patient-centered and team-oriented. To better prepare students for collaborative practice, a School of Nursing developed a course for senior level nursing students that included a clinical experience within a student-run free clinic. Nursing students were able to enhance clinic services by providing health screening, patient navigation, patient education, health coaching, and patient follow-up.