Norman L. Gray, PHN, MS¹, Roberto Avitia, PHN, BSN¹, and Thelma T. Egnozzi, RN, MSN². (1) Education and Professional Development Unit, County of Los Angeles, Department of Health Services, Public Health Nursing, 241 N. Figueroa Street, Room 347, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (2) Public Health Nursing, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Public Health, 241 N. Figueroa St, Rm 347, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 909 868-0280, tegnozzi@dhs.co.la.ca.us

The public health concerns of our communities are varied and at times seem unending. The standards of professional performance as developed by the Quad Council states “the public health nurse seeks professional development experiences that are consistent with the changing needs of the population for which the nurse has responsibility.” To meet the challenges that public health nursing faces in working with communities and systems to accomplish our mission of “Healthy People in Healthy Communities,” nurses need to be competent in a variety of skills. The Education and Professional Development Unit of the County of Los Angeles, Department of Health Services, Public Health Nursing has developed a comprehensive staff development program that is designed to educate nurses new to the public health setting and offers additional learning opportunities to all public health nurses to augment their knowledge and skills so they are better able to practice effective population-based care. This presentation will share with participants the content areas of a program that is designed to provide novice public health nurses with the tools to become competent public health nurses. Information regarding the continuing education curriculum based on the Public Health Nursing Practice Model as a means of augmenting the knowledge, skills and attitudes of nurses as they face the challenges of the complex issues of public health including environmental quality, injury and violence, physical activity, overweight and obesity, immunizations, responsible sexual behavior, and access to healthcare will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify two strategies to assure a competent public health nursing workforce.
• Describe at least five topics to be included in an staff development program for nurses new to public health.
• Describe at least two benefits to communities of a competent public health nursing workforce.

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Competency

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.