Junior nursing students in psychiatric nursing at the University of San Francisco may substitute two days of participation in an animal-assisted therapy program for two days of inpatient hospital experience. The article describes the program and roles of both the school and the San Francisco SPCA. The program has been determined to be successful. It is recommended that faculty in other nursing schools consider including such an innovative learning experience. It can be implemented easily and cost effectively because of the number of animal shelters already involved in animal visiting programs.
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