The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70086

Kaye W. Bender, RN, MSN, Mississippi Department of Health, MS Department of Health, PO Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700, 601-576-7951, kbender@msdh.state.ms.us

The Institute of Medicine's (IOM) recently released report on The Future of the Public's Health in the 21st Century is anticipated to have major impact on public health systems policy development. Since its release in November 2002, it has already been discussed at major national meetings and continues to be the subject of several journal articles and commentaries. There are 17 specific recommendations contained within the report on strengthening the public health infrastructure. There is also a model of social determinants of health described in the report, with examples of public health improvement related to the model. A companion study, Who Will Keep the Public Healthy?, was also released on November 2002. Building upon the recommendations in the broader report, this study reported recommendations related to public health education and workforce development. Since public health nursing comprises the largest single workforce within the public health infrastructure, both reports have significant potential for affecting public health nursing practice, education, and research. This paper identifies specific areas within public health nursing practice, education, and research in which the IOM reports contain relevant recommendations and formulates observations about the impact of those recommendations on each.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session, the participant will be able to:
• Describe the salient content of the Institute of Medicine's report "The Future of the Public's Health in the 21st Century".
• Relate the key infrastructure recommendations to public health nursing practice and education.
• Describe implications for public health nursing practice and education based on the recommendations of the report.

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Infrastructure

Related Web page: www.nas.edu

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Institute of Medicine Committee study report, of which I was a member and contributing author
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.