Striving for health equity through nursing education: a critical examination of non-traditional community health placements

Abstract

The use of non-traditional community health placements is common in undergraduate nursing programs; however, we know little about how these initiatives impact partner organizations or equity-denied communities. Based on our experiences as nursing faculty who facilitate these placements, we critically reflect on whether students can advance the health equity agendas of our partner organizations. Using the political economy of health inequities, we discuss how biomedicalism and neoliberalism shape and constrain our students’ work and identify potential harms created by this approach. Furthermore, we link non-traditional community health placements to our current political economy to determine who benefits from this model of nursing education. Finally, we identify strategies to mitigate these harms by critically reflecting on our practice and committing to more equitable partnerships