Nancy Ann Donovan, RN, MN, Health & Community Systems Department, University Of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, 415 Victoria Building, PIttsburgh, PA 15261, 412-624-6943, ndo100@pitt.edu

A critical shortage of nurses exists in most areas of our country, with potential dire consequences for the health care of the public. This shortage has been well documented in the professional literature. (Beurhaus) Key informants in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area also relate the difficulty that is occurring in recruiting qualified nursing professionals into the field of public health. An approach to alleviate the shortage of adequately prepared public health nurses was developed through collaboration between the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Nursing, the Allegheny County Health Department and The Pennsylvania Department of Health. The purpose of the partnership was to develop a vigorous plan to expose students to the broad functions of public health nursing, both on the county and state level. This exposure included both classroom content and clinical practicum sites. A second part of the plan was to utilize the expertise of the professionals from the partnering agencies to strengthen the curricular content related to public health competencies. Planning occurred through collaboration with key partners from both public health agencies and University nursing faculty. A mutually beneficial outcome from this partnership includes beginning public heath nursing competencies in graduate nurses and also an increased interest for practice in the public health realm. Program evaluation is through meeting clearly established behavioral objectives which address didactic and clinical practice areas.

References: Buerhaus, Peter, Staiger, Douglas, Auerbach, David, "Implications of an aging RN workforce, Journal of the American Medical Association, June 14, 2000, 283 (22):2948-2954.

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