Susan J. Zahner, DrPH, RN, School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin, P.O. Box H6/246 CSC, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53972-2455, 6082635282, sjzahner@wisc.edu and Quynh Nga T. Bui, RN, BS, Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, H6/245, Madison, WI 53792-2455.

The Public Health Nursing Changing Practice study was conducted to assess the extent and quality of public health nursing (PHN) practice change at the local, staff-nurse level. This paper presents qualitative findings from the study including recommendations from PHNs for improvements in practice and basic, graduate, and continuing education. A survey was conducted with PHNs working in local health departments (LHDs) in Wisconsin. A total of 424 PHNs from 76 LHDs returned completed surveys (68% response rate). Responses to four open-ended questions were transcribed verbatim into word processing files. A content analysis was conducted by two investigators using methods described by Miles and Huberman (1994). QSR N6 software was used for data management. The most frequent practice recommendations included the need to increase public health system and organizational resources and to increase public awareness of public health nursing functions and services. Recommendations for basic education included requiring more clinical hours, increasing basic public health content in undergraduate programs, and including skills needing for working in organizations and with community groups. Graduate education recommendations stressed better access to programs and the need for more organizational support and incentives for advance education. Recommendations for continuing education centered on improving access and the need for more specific public health content. Overarching themes were identified including the impact of budget cuts on PHN practice, a perception of being undervalued as a PHN, and the increasing complexity of PHN roles. The implications of these findings for managers and educators will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Understand the purpose, methods, and limitations of the study.
• 2.Describe key recommendations made by staff public health nurses for practice and education improvements.
• 3.Appreciate the implications of the findings for public health nursing managers and educators.

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Public Health Education

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.