Since the fall of 2000, the Population Health online course has been offered to public health nurses in Georgia. The purpose of the course is to develop and enhance public health nurses’ knowledge and use of the following competencies: 1) Community health assessment and diagnosis; 2) Interpreting and presenting health information to local leaders, policy makers and partners; 3) Using computer technology in the health planning and policy development processes; 4) Building and sustaining community coalitions. After nurses complete the online course, they become eligible to attend scholars programs. These continuing education programs are designed to transition students from the academic setting to the actual practice of population health. The scholars’ program topics are based on feedback from nurses who have completed the course and reinforce the concepts and competencies taught during the course. These opportunities for continuing education in population health also provide scholars with practical information on developing and sustaining projects initiated during the online course.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the presentation, the learner will be able to
• Describe the components of a successful sustained learning environment for a population health education program;
• Identify the topics effective in transitioning nurses from the academic to practical setting of population health;
• Apply the lessons learned in the Georgia model to future population health education programs.

Keywords: Nursing Education, Population

Presenting author's disclosure statement:


Public Health Education

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA