Preparing Nurse Practitioner Students for a Global Community

Vulnerable, oppressed, and yet resilient trauma survivors, refugees are often deprived of adequate and equitable healthcare. Among the assessed needs of older (age 55 and over) refugees in the state are chronic health issues, informed medication use, and ability to navigate the American healthcare system. These issues are compounded by lack of knowledge regarding available services and language and transportation barriers. In addition healthcare providers lack adequate preparation to work with populations that have experienced significant trauma and require medical interpretation. In response to these needs, as well as goals identified by Healthy People 2020 and the Standards of Practice for Culturally Competent Nursing Care, the School of Nursing (SON) has partnered with the state Office for Refugee Services to establish a healthcare delivery system that provides services to this vulnerable population and prepares nurse practitioner (NP) students for a global community. Through home visits, advanced health assessments, and medication and health condition education, NP students provide culturally congruent, trauma informed, patient centered care within an innovative service learning clinical opportunity titled the Senior Refugee Holistic Healthcare Program. The Program has two primary goals: 1) to improve the health outcomes of older refugees in Idaho and 2) to prepare NP students for work in a global community. The partnership includes an interprofessional advisory board and student and faculty training provided by cultural consultants, medical interpreters, and members of the refugee community. Training is built on the Standards of Practice for Culturally Competent Nursing Care and includes three key components: 1) trauma informed care, 2) cultural congruency, and 3) medical interpretation. Program evaluation indicates increased cultural competence, gained knowledge regarding specific refugee groups, and improved proficiency in working with medical interpreters. Outcomes also include identification of priority healthcare needs among senior refugees in Idaho, development of a unique clinical opportunity for NP students, and an increased number of healthcare providers that can serve the refugee population. Service learning through the Idaho Senior Refugee Holistic Healthcare Program creates an effective product for both the nurse practitioner student and the community.