Concepts and Models of Faculty Practice Among Community Health Nursing Faculty in Management of Diabetic Foot Complications

Abstract

Faculty Practice involves applying the nursing faculty's expertise to provide direct services to clients, thereby continuously enhancing their professional proficiency. This practice integrates scholarship, education, research, and nursing practice. The purpose of this article was to describe the concepts and models of faculty nursing practice in Community Health Nursing and to present a study of managing diabetic foot complications in collaboration with primary care units. The Collaboration Model was employed, involving faculty members, professional nurses, and healthcare staff. This initiative addressed a prevalent local health issue and a significant national public health concern. The operational framework was guided by the System Approach, utilizing Family-Centered Care and Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory.

The result showed that patients and their families improved their foot care behaviors and self-examination skills, thereby reducing the risk of foot ulcers. However, challenges remained regarding awareness of appropriate footwear selection, necessitating ongoing follow-up by the primary healthcare unit. Healthcare personnel and village health volunteers (VHVs) enhanced their competencies in promoting foot care behaviors tailored to the community's lifestyle and context to prevent and reduce diabetic foot complications. Furthermore, the faculty members refined their clinical skills in caring for patients with chronic diseases and their families. This experience has led to the integration of these insights into Community Health Nursing pedagogy and fostered future research collaborations between the educational institution and the healthcare facility.