Kathleen N. Smith, APRN, BC, MPH, Public Health Nursing Administration, Los Angeles County, 241 N. Figueroa St. Room 347, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213-240-8089, kasmith@dhs.co.la.ca.us and Lynell Miller, BSN, Department of Health Services Public Health, County of Los Angeles, 241 N. Figueroa St. Room 347, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

In the County of Los Angeles, Tuberculosis morbidity is a common presenting concern for many clients encountered by the district public health nurses with 1025 cases confirmed in the county in 2002. About 180 district public health nurses are responsible for the nursing care of these clients along with their contacts. In 2001, a holistic nursing assessment based on the 10 Leading Health Indicators from Healthy People 2010 and the Public Health Nursing Practice Model was introduced as the basic template for PHN documentation of effort at the individual level of practice. In 2002 this template was further expanded to include the assessment of issues and concerns crucial to the successful completion of therapy by TB cases. This presentation discusses the collegial process undertaken to agree on the content of the expanded assessment and its format. The process included nurses from all levels including management, supervision and line staff. It also required a dialog between the Tuberculosis Control Program and the local district nursing units. The resulting assessment and its documentation were piloted in 6 health districts in 2002 and were in use countywide in October 2002. In addition, a standardized monthly follow up tool was developed in tandem with the assessment tool. Computerization of the tools is in process. The assessment tool and monthly follow up tool will be shared with all participants at the presentation.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the learner will be able to

• Describe the elements needed to create a common assessment process with documentation for a tuberculosis suspect/case.
• Apply the knowledge gained about PHN TB assessment to their own jurisdiction.
• Identify the elements of assessment of a TB client needed to reflect Healthy People 2010 leading health indicators.

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Tuberculosis

Related Web page: www.lapublichealth.org/phn

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.