Implementation of a Mental Health Nursing Practicum in an Urban Homeless Shelter

Abstract

Background: People experiencing homelessness suffer from deficient access to health care and disproportionately poor health outcomes. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) maintains learning competencies for prelicensure nursing students. Shelters are rich environments for students to garner experiences with the inequities plaguing our health care system and to fulfill AACN competencies. Method: We established a psychiatric and mental health nursing practicum at a homeless shelter. Following a retrospective pretest methodology, we evaluated student learning with the Health Care Professional’s Attitudes Toward the Homeless Inventory (HPATHI). Students, faculty, and shelter staff provided qualitative feedback postpracticum. Results: Students’ median HPATHI scores increased on 16 of 19 survey items. Qualitative feedback was largely positive and reinforced HPATHI data. Conclusion: The practicum provided rich learning experiences for students. Educators establishing shelter-based practica should prioritize continuity, develop referral pathways for residents with illness, maintain a flexible mindset, administer prospective student surveys, and solicit feedback from shelter residents.