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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Kathleen A. Baldwin, PhD, RN1, L. Michele Issel, PhD, RN2, and Roberta L. Lyons, MPH, CHES1. (1) College of Nursing, Peoria Regional Program, University of Illinois at Chicago, One Illini Drive, Box 1649, Peoria, IL 61656-1649, 309/671-8467, KBaldwin@uic.edu, (2) School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2035 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612
As public health nursing’s focus changes from direct service provision to population-based care, public health nurses (PHNs) in a large Midwestern state determined the need for a PHN workforce plan. After obtaining federal funding, the authors with the support of three state PHN organizations organized a State Advisory Board (SAB) that includes local and state health department administrators, local health department (LHD) nursing directors, and faculty from associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degree nursing programs. Under the leadership of a nationally prominent PHN consultant, the SAB developed a strategic plan to strengthen PHN education, practice, and recruitment of registered nurses into public health. Specifically, the plan calls for 1) creating a PHN graduate degree option facilitating degree mobility from associate degree through baccalaureate to the master’s degree, 2) recruiting and retaining highly qualified applicants who are representative of the cultural and geographic diversity of the state, 3) developing professional learning opportunities for local and state PHN preceptors and field staff, and 4) expanding access to the dual master’s in nursing/MPH degree. Local consortia formed at five regional sites are charged with implementing the SAB plan. Consortia participants represent their region’s state and LHD nursing administrations, university and community college faculty, and school nurses. Although just nearing the end of its first year, this project has begun the work of implementation and the face of public health nursing in the state is changing as educators and practitioners formally work together to enhance practice.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to
Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Nursing Education
Related Web page: www.uic.edu/nursing/aphne
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.