Learning public health nursing in urban, rural, and border counties of Texas.

A partnership between the 3 types of public health agencies present in South Texas was created to allow baccalaureate nursing students to increase their understanding of public health through clinical experiences in a city/county health department, a rural county health department, and a regional health department. The students assessed the health of a selected population, identified factors affecting the health of the selected population, gained skills in community participation and decision making, worked with community partners and other public health professionals, and functioned as members of a team of public health practitioners in promoting, protecting, and maintaining the health of the public in Bexar, Medina, and Val Verde Counties of Texas.