Community Nursing
UNLV Nursing partners on average with more than 180 organizations each semester, including every major hospital system in the valley. Through these relationships, students gain a true understanding of healthcare system inner workings, best practices with clients, and a deeper sense of community needs. Combined with their academic teachings, our nursing students develop a health care foundation that will endure over time.
Student Efforts Outside the Classroom
UNLV School of Nursing combines evidence-based education with strong and diverse community partnerships to meet growing health demands. Our students are engage through health-based initiatives and real-life experiences to reinforce their commitments to others who require additional assistance.
Southern Nevada CHIPs
Southern Nevada CHIPs (Community Health Improvement Program) is a nonprofit agency that provides resource referral and navigation to existing health and social services for high utilizers of Emergency Medical Services in Southern Nevada. Through its “Second Responders” program, undergraduate nursing students conduct home visits and thorough assessments to address existing and potential health care and social needs and help link high EMS utilizers to programs and services that can help.
Helping Hands of Vegas Valley
Helping Hands of Vegas Valley is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for senior citizens and their families in order to maintain their dignity and independence. Their programs include the Senior Transportation Program, Food Pantry Program, Home Maintenance and Minor Repair, and Respite Care Program. UNLV School of Nursing’s undergraduate students assist primarily with the Senior Transportation Program, conducting in-home assessments of clients to evaluate their transportation needs and identify other existing or future health care and social needs.
Helping Hands of Henderson
Helping Hands of Henderson is a project of Dignity Health that provides transportation and nutrition services to seniors in Henderson. These services allow Henderson residents over 60 years of age with lower incomes and the frail, elderly or disabled to maintain independence by remaining in their own homes. Student nurses conduct assessments of Helping Hands clients in their homes to determine their eligibility for existing services or need for linkage and connection to other services that can improve or maintain their overall health.
Poverty Simulation
The Poverty Simulation is an experiential exercise for community nursing students that simulates one month for a low-income family. Students play different roles as they encounter struggles most low-income families face daily, including applying for jobs, housing assistance, buying groceries on a small budget, taking their kids to school, and transportation concerns. The simulation is an empathy building tool that illuminates both the challenges that individuals and families in poverty face and the strengths and barriers associated with many community services and systems. Additionally, students witness how community systems can contribute to a person’s health and wellbeing.
Community Vaccinations
In 2021, UNLV Nursing students (along with students from Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, Nevada State College and College of Southern Nevada) distributed more than 70,000 vaccines to members of the community. Students already had prior vaccination knowledge from their clinical education; this opportunity gave them a critical real-world experience.
Nurse Camp
The program is a one-week interactive day-camp open to juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates. Attendees learn alongside clinical nurses and nurse educators as they engaged in a variety of hands-on skills labs and activities, including CPR and Stop the Bleed training; donning and doffing PPE, mobility devices and lifts; removing sutures and staples; checking vital signs, medication, administration, and more. Students also gain valuable insight into nursing school and what it takes to become a registered nurse. Nurse Camp offers an opportunity for those interested in healthcare to see the critical job our nurses do everyday.
Student Nurses Association
UNLV’s Student Nurses Association is a nonprofit organization that provides leadership and community service opportunities for nursing students. Largely run by the student members themselves (with faculty support), SNA’s goal is to encourage and foster new knowledge, community engagement, and advocacy. Moreover, UNLV SNA is a great jumping off point for students to become members and leaders in the National Student Nurses’ Association.
Community Nursing Stories
- Enhancing Empathy: Students Gain Insight in Poverty Simulation
- Giving Back Outside the Classroom: Nursing Students in the Community
- Summer Camp, Stethoscope-Style
- UNLV Medicine’s Battle Against COVID-19
- Vaccine Brings Hope to Faculty and Staff
- Students Roll up Sleeves for Vaccination
- Growing Nurse Leaders: Reflecting on Time in UNLV SNA
Community Nursing In the News
Contact
For more information about our community partners and programs contact Minnie Wood, Director of Clinical and Community Partnerships, at minnie.wood@unlv.edu.