How a Nursing Program Strengthens Community Ties by Providing Health Teaching to Head Start Participants

Abstract

The University of South Dakota (USD) Department of Nursing and the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Head Start program have a working relationship that provides educational opportunities for students from USD and Head Start. Head Start provides learning opportunities for a diverse population in South Dakota. This article provides an overview of Head Start. The majority of the article describes the teaching project process and evaluates the benefits of this opportunity as reported by the community and nursing students. The need for graduate nurses well versed in patient education and in providing patient education at the patient’s level of understanding is well documented. This community health clinical opportunity enhances this important skill of nurses.