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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Susan J. Zahner, DrPH, RN¹, Betty L. Kaiser, MS, RN², and Julie Simani, MS, RN¹. (1) Madison School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin, H6/246CSC, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792-2455, 608-263-5282, sjzahner@wisc.edu, (2) School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Clinical Science Center K6/380, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53792

Public health nursing practice varies considerably across states and communities. This variation in practice has implications for the credentialing debate currently underway in the public health professions. The purpose of this presentation is to present results of a study of public health nursing practice conducted in two states characterized by different types of public health systems for service provision at a local level (local structure versus state structure) and to discuss the implications of the results for the credentialing debate. Data were collected from public health nurses (n=574) through written, mail-back surveys conducted in two states. Overall survey response rate was 63%. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted. No differences in demographic characteristics between states were seen except that nurses in the local structure state were more likely to have baccalaureate degrees. Few nurses in either state were formally credentialed in public health nursing. Statistically significant differences by state were found in time spent in types of services, change toward more population-focused practice, the complexity of work, change in support for public health nursing, the impact of the nursing shortage, and change in time devoted to essential public health services. Conversely, qualitative results revealed great similarity between states in recommendations to improve public health nursing practice and educational preparation at basic, graduate, and continuing education levels. Implications for the credentialing debate that will be discussed include variation in knowledge and skills needed for public health nursing practice under differing organizational systems, appropriate expectations for credentialing given differences in educational preparation of public health nurses, and the dynamic nature of public health nursing practice across settings.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)Describe differences in public health nursing practice in two different states.
• 2)Describe the implications of practice variation and change on credentialing of public health nurses.

Keywords: Education, Public Health Nursing

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation