Recorded presentation

Kathleen A Baldwin, PhD, RN, University of Illinois at Chicago, Peoria Campus, Advancing Public Health Nursing Education Project, College of Nursing, One Illinois Drive, Peoria, IL 61656-1649, 309-671-8467, kbaldwin@uic.edu, Michele Issel, PhD, School of Public Health/Division of Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 West Taylor Street, Rm 619, Chicago, IL 60612, Margaret L. Beaman, RN, PhD, School of Nursing, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Room 2339, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1066, and Bobbi Lyons, MPH, CHES, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Peoria Campus, One Illini Drive, Peoria, IL 61604-3492.

The purpose of this paper is to present the educator’s perspective on a statewide practice-education partnership designed to further public health nursing in the state of Illinois. This partnership is three years old and involves the Illinois Public Health Nurse Administrator’s Association, the Advancing Public Health Nursing Education (APHNE) project, the Public Health Nursing Roundtable, and the Nursing Section of the Illinois Public Health Association. The presentation will cover the educators’ views of the work involved and the barriers and joys encountered during the processes of coming together, talking together, and working together. The following barriers will be addressed and the methods to overcome them will be discussed: a) funding, b) territoriality, c) differing paradigms of practice and education, d) differing paradigms within differing levels of educational institutions such as community colleges, diploma schools of nursing, small liberal arts undergraduate programs, and larger state universities with undergraduate and graduate programs, e) geographic differences and isolation f) limited employment opportunities and low salaries, and g) scheduling and time limitations. The many joys include interactions with national leadership, realization we hold many common goals, new lines of communication, and better practicum mentors for students. However, the most significant outcome for us as educators has been a renewed pride in the public health nursing profession as participants of all ages and experiences share not only their concerns, but their enthusiasms and commitment to excellence in public health nursing.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the educational perspective of three elements for establishing a statewide practice-education partnership
• List four strategies to overcome barriers to establishing and maintaining a statewide education-practice partnership.
• Identify two new perspectives on statewide education-practice partnerships

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Collaboration

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.

Recorded presentation