Yale School of Nursing has a long history of and commitment to faculty practice and the provision of direct health care services to the community. Most of our faculty maintain a clinical practice and consult with community-based organizations or nursing systems organizations. As part of our legacy, YSN makes a positive impact in every community where there are YSN students, graduates, or faculty.

For more than ninety-five years, YSN has had a tremendous impact on the health of individuals and families in our local community. YSN faculty have spearheaded the development of new strategies to minimize the effects of diabetes and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Examples of new models of care that faculty have developed and implemented include an evidence-based home visitation program, Minding the Baby, and a program to improve the management of sleep deficiency for those suffering from acute and chronic conditions, especially in populations from underserved communities.

YSN has long been committed to developing partnerships with community agencies and organizations. In response to the health care needs of women, faculty established a Women’s Health and Midwifery practice, which provides comprehensive health, labor, and birth services for women in the Greater New Haven area. YSN has been a consistent collaborating partner with the Yale School of Medicine in supporting a student-run clinic, the Haven Free Clinic. Haven Free Clinic plays an important role in improving health of the underserved and uninsured of the greater New Haven region by providing primary care services. Another partnership is with Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, Connecticut’s first federally qualified community health center, to provide midwifery and women’s health, HIV, and psychiatric mental health services. This crucial relationship provides health care access to people who are medically underserved. Similarly, our faculty are committed to providing health care to key populations through grant opportunities to provide training and primary care services.

The Clinical Support Unit (CSU) at YSN is a well-established unit responsible for coordinating clinical placements for all YSN students. CSU staff collaborate closely with the GEPN and M.S.N. program faculty. Their dedication lies in securing optimal clinical placements for students, ensuring a match between students and preceptors based on crucial learning factors and a thorough understanding of students’ training requirements.