This past summer, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) students from the VCU School of Nursing (VCU SON) helped children in Richmond by conducting back-to-school physicals, ensuring children were prepared for a successful academic year. The initiative, in collaboration with Richmond Public Schools (RPS) and the Richmond Henrico Health District (RHHD), has expanded significantly in recent years, providing vital support to students and families throughout the community.

Originally, the partnership centered on a single central event organized by the Richmond City Health District, where back-to-school physicals and immunizations were offered together to help families meet both requirements in one visit. However, the large crowds often led to significant wait times.  "We often said at that time how great it would be to offer the event at local schools, closer to where the families live," said Allison A. Gregory, M.S., RN, FNP-BC, clinical assistant professor and concentration lead for the Family Nurse Practitioner program.

In 2023, that vision became a reality as the collaboration brought these events directly into schools and community centers, reducing travel burdens for families and wait times for care.

The 2024 partnership had a significant impact, with 46 VCU FNP students in clinical practicum courses, supported by six faculty members, participating in five events held across Richmond. Under faculty supervision, students worked in pairs to conduct health assessments, verify vaccination records, and collaborate with RHHD and RPS staff to connect families to essential resources. In total, students and faculty teams completed 131 physicals.

Each event was designed to meet the specific needs of its local community. For example, a session held at the Sacred Heart Center, a resource center supporting Richmond’s Latino community, offered translation services, allowing VCU nursing students to collaborate with health district staff to address language barriers and improve access to care for families.

Virginia Slattum, community health nurse supervisor for RHHD, credited the students' role in increasing access to health services. "The VCU School of Nursing students provided free school entrance and sports physical assessments in RPS and other community-based locations, greatly expanding the number of students who could access these important services,” she said. “These caring, engaging, and thoughtful nursing students made families feel welcome and prepared for the start of school.”

This partnership is an incredible opportunity to meet many learning outcomes for the students and the program. Students gain an opportunity to learn about child health, engage in health promotion, and witness population health in action while providing a needed service to the local community.

Allison Gregory, M.S., RN, FNP-BC
Clinical Assistant Professor

In addition to conducting physical exams, FNP students verified immunization records and arranged follow-up clinic visits for required vaccines. They also administered tuberculosis (TB) screening tests for children at risk of exposure. Each event included a community health worker who connected families to primary care providers, eye care, and dental services.

For students, this initiative offers a valuable opportunity to collaborate with interprofessional teams and apply their skills in a real-world setting. “This partnership is an incredible opportunity to meet many learning outcomes for the students and the program,” said Gregory. “Students gain an opportunity to learn about child health, engage in health promotion, and witness population health in action while providing a needed service to the local community.”

This initiative not only enriches student education but also highlights the power of collaborative partnerships in meeting community health needs. "The collaboration between RPS, RHHD, and VCU SON maximizes the strengths of each partner to provide wraparound care for clients in trusted locations, such as our school system and community centers," said Slattum. "This increase in trust has expanded access to the services needed to start school, the number of warm hand-offs to primary care, and the connection to other essential resources."