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

Abstract #70113

Marilyn L Stember, RN, PhD, FAAN¹, Cathy White, RN, MS², Marlaine Smith, RN, PhD³, Nancy Brown, RN, PhD, FAAN³, Karen O'Brien, RN, MS², and Judith A. Barton, RN, PhD³. (1) School of Nursing, University of Colorado, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Denver, CO 80220, 303-315-4338, marilyn.stember@uchsc.edu, (2) Office of Local Liaison, Colorado Department of Health and Environment, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246, (3) School of Nursing, C-288, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 East 9th Avenue, Denver, CO 80262

Experts agree that the nation’s public health workforce is under-prepared and insufficiently skilled to carry out today’s public health agenda and respond to emergency situations including bioterrorism. This study of public health nurses (PHNs) was part of a larger statewide study of public health workers in Colorado (N=1,249 participants). A self-assessment tool, Towards 21st Century Public Health Practice, was used to collect data on 8 Core Competencies and 7 Bioterrorism/Emergency Preparedness areas. Workers were directed to an Internet website for completing the tool; those without access completed a paper version. The PHN respondents (N=270) averaged 47 years of age with 18 years experience in nursing and 9 years in public health. Although all counties were represented, most were employed in urban counties. Results of the competency self-assessment showed PHNs were more proficient in Core Competencies than in Bioterrorism/Emergency Preparedness Competencies. Among the Core Competencies, PHNs were most proficient in Cultural Competency, Communication, and Leadership; they were least proficient in Policy Development/Program Planning and Financial Planning/Management. Among the Bioterrorism/Emergency Preparedness Competencies, PHNs rated themselves most proficient in Disaster Response and Physical Injury and least proficient in Disaster Planning and Toxic Chemical/Environmental Hazards. Although PHNs recognized educational needs across all areas, they reported greater educational needs related to Bioterrorism/Emergency Preparedness than for Core Competencies. Subsequent analyses focused on differences in competencies and educational needs between various groups of PHNs (e.g., type of position, rural/urban). Informed decisions are now being made to offer relevant educational programs to improve Colorado’s public health nursing workforce.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• Identify an approach to assessing PHN workforce competencies and educational needs.
• Describe competencies in one large group of PHN workers.
• Articulate different learning needs by type of PHN worker.

Keywords: Competency, Public Health Nursing

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.