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

Abstract #74347

Pamela Ortner, BSN, RN, COHN-S, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 N. Ingalls, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 248-398-8098, ortpam@comcast.net and Brenda Afzal, MS, RN, Environmental Health Education Center, University of Maryland, School of Nursing, 655 West Lombard Street, Room 665, Baltimore, MD 21201-1579.

Environmental health is a growing concern and an important determinant of health. It has been determined nurses are in a good position to address environmental health due to their comprehensive approach to health, yet although one of the largest groups of healthcare professionals (2.7 million), the majority of nurses have little or no training in occupational or environmental health (IOM, 1995). The Michigan Public Health Training Center, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, was awarded supplemental funding from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to incorporate environmental training targeted to the nursing workforce in 2002. To compliment a one-day introductory workshop on public health nursing and environmental health that was implemented in 2002, a new on-line CE module was developed in 2003 to specifically build nursing skills in advocacy and policy regarding environmental health issues. This program was piloted in Michigan and then released via the web through the Michigan Public Health Training Center and the University of Maryland, who co-produced the module. A description of the module will be presented as well as a review of the efficacy of the pilot. Keywords: Nursing, Environmental Health, Advocacy

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session participants will be able to:
• Discuss multiple strategies to teach nurses and nursing students about environmental health advocacy.
• Identify methods to effectively engage nurses and nursing students in environmental health advocacy.
• Describe the contributions that nurses have made in environmental health advocacy.
• Identify future steps to be taken to engage nurses in environmental health advocacy.

Keywords: Nurses, Advocacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Project Manager