Class content was organized in five modules:
1) n u rsin g an d the culture of agriculture; 2) life
sp a n issu es influencing the health of agricultural
workers; 3) environmental issues affecting the
h e a lth of agricultural workers; 4) psychosocial
issu es associated with farming; an d 5) emerging
groups an d issues influencing the hea lth of
agricultural workers. 26 stu d en ts have completed
the course. Teaching strategies included the use of
tegrity video lectures, YouTube, farm videos, and
discussion boards. Quizzes and discussion boards
as well a s online readings selected for each module
were used to engage stu d en ts in critical thinking.
Evaluation d a ta indicate a positive learning
experience with 96% of th e stu d en ts reporting they
could apply information/skills learned in the course.
The course h a s received full university approval as
a n academic elective course. Course modules are
currently being converted to continuing education
u n its for practicing nurses. The entire course can
easily be adapted to other geographic a re a s and
will be sh a red with n u rsin g faculty throughout the
United S tates a s requested.
Nurses equipped with a n u n d e rstan d in g of the
cu ltu re an d h a z a rd s of agriculture can provide more
sa lient an d acceptable care to the population. The
online format facilitates the access of the content for
n u rs e s in distanc e sites. This format for providing
n u rsin g education lends itself to modification for
continuing education modules an d course modules
th a t c a n be offered online for n urses. With limited
educational programs to addre ss th is high risk
group, th is course is a novel and efficient way to
tran s la te rese arch to practice