Online Program

336038
Maximizing public health nursing's impact on the health of populations


Sunday, November 1, 2015

Pamela A. Kulbok, DNSc, RN, APHN-BC, FAAN, School of Nursing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Pamela Levin, PhD, APHN-BC, Department of Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL
Susan M. Swider, PhD, APHN-BC, FAAN, Department of Community, Systems and Mental Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, IL
Background: The Quad Council endorsed a national public health nursing (PHN) invitational strategic planning conference in November 2013 and sponsored a round-table session at APHA in 2014 to develop actions as key elements of the plan for the future of PHN. This work built upon current reports and policy briefs on the future of PHN from RWJF, Quad Council, AACN, and AAN.

Methods: An overview of the strategic planning and prioritization process was described to more than 100 participants. Participants selected a work group focused on one of three strategic priorities: 1) Develop leadership skills in PHNs at all levels of practice, education and research; 2) Identify funding for PHN relevant research including comparative effectiveness studies of public health interventions across provider type; and, 3) Develop a business case for PHN practice including payment model. Eighteen groups completed reports including actions, stakeholders, responsible parties, resources, and outcomes. Qualitative analysis of themes and short- and long-term actions within and across priorities was conducted.

Results: An array of actions items were proposed: Leadership (33); Research (23); and, Business Case (24). Preliminary priorities include: collaboration across organizations; educating the discipline about PHN; the need for PHN leadership “boot camps”; visioning the future of PHN; focus on value-added PHN practice and reimbursement (under ACA); update PHN research priorities and frame to align with funders; and, increase research dissemination.

Conclusions: Despite an ambitious agenda, implementation of priority actions will advance the specialty and enhance the impact of public health nurses on the public’s health.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related nursing

Learning Objectives:
Describe at least two priority actions to meet the goal of maximizing the influence of public health nurses on improving the health of the public.

Keyword(s): Planning, Workforce

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a PHN educator and researcher for more than thirty years. My co-authors and I organized and implemented a national strategic planning process on the future of PHN.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.