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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Stefanie P. Junker, MPH, Center for Public Health Practice, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Forbes-Allies Center, 3109 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15260, 412-383-2232, junkerS@edc.pitt.edu, Molly Eggleston, MPH, CHES, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 3109 Forbes Ave, suite 210, pittsburgh, PA 15260, Beth Anne Bahn, RN, MSN, CSN, Division of School Health, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Room 628, Health & Welfare Building, 7th & Forster Sts, Harrisburg, PA 17120, Margaret A. Modro, MS, CPS, CCR, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Addiction Medicine Services Prevention Department, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 4117 Liberty Ave., Drake Annex, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, and Charity Lee Istone, MSN, CRNP, CSN, McKnight Elementary, North Allegheny School District, 500 Cumberland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.

By effectively reaching school nurses, important collaborations are formed to better prepare schools and communities for public health emergencies. The University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Center for Public Health Preparedness (UPCPHP) provided a Disaster Preparedness for School Nurses curriculum in southwest Pennsylvania as a pilot program. This initial activity was so well-received by participants and planners, and generated so much interest that five additional trainings were carried out. In two months, 150 school nurses, state school health consultants, school dental hygienists, and physical education teachers completed the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) curriculum. Up to 120 more will be trained in Spring 2006. UPCPHP provides the resources for a NASN certified instructor, learner materials, continuing education (CE), and evaluation services. These trainings produced, and benefit from, excellent partnerships between the UPCPHP, state health department, state department of education, school districts, hospitals, professional school nurse organizations, and school nurses. Partners serve on planning committees, process registrations, and provide CE, facilities, and lunch. The partnerships have spawned several more activities including a CE-accredited online course (based on a training's lunchtime speaker) and an action chart for school nurses based on Department of Homeland Security color codes. Evaluation data from the trainings indicates high-priority topics for future activities such as conducting more disaster scenarios and practicing of triage, and new audiences such as school administrators, emergency management agencies, fire, and police. UPCPHP and its partners are planning now for 2006 – 2007 based on this feedback.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Recognize the role of the school nurse in public health preparedness
• Identify key partners in planning disaster preparedness trainings for school nurses

Keywords: Collaboration, Disasters

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation