5073.0: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 9:00 AM

Abstract #26565

Public Health Nursing Practice for the 21st Century Competency Instrument: Development and testing

Derryl E. Block, PhD, MPH, RN1, Sharon Cross, RN, MSPH2, LaVohn Josten, PhD, RN2, Linda Olson Keller, MS, BSN, CS3, Susan Strohschein, MS, BSN3, and Laurel Briske, RN, MA, CPNA3. (1) U of Minnesota School of Nursing, 135 Campus Center, 10 University Dr, Duluth, MN 55812, 218-726-6962, dblock@d.umn.edu, (2) University of Minnesota School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, 6-101 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455-0342, (3) Section of Public Health Nursing, Minnesota Department of Health, Metro Square Building, P.O. Box 64975, St. Paul, MN 55164-0975

The purpose of the Public Health Nursing (PHN) Practice for the 21st Century Competency Instrument is to measure public health nursing competency in population focused public health nursing practice. The impetus for development of this instrument was the USPHS, HRSA, Division of Nursing funded project to increase the skills of practicing public health nurses for population focused practice. Literature review, expert opinion and Benner’s model of Novice to Expert guided development of the instrument. The instrument is comprised of four sections: population-based, individual, community, and systems focused practice. Although the four-point Likert scale instrument was designed for self-rating of competency, it also could be used by educators or supervisors for rating competency of students or staff. The instrument was used to compare pre and post competency of public health nurses participating in the regional PHN Practice for the 21st Century educational series. Results suggest the instrument is able to document change in competency, distinguish competency based on length and type of public health nursing experience, and the content of educational series. Level of PHN education had limited influence on competency for population focused practice. Analysis of this data has led to the creation of different versions of the Instrument. Implications for nursing education, practice and research will be discussed in the presentation.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Articulate domains of public health nursing competencies. 2. Describe strengths and weaknesses of the Public Health Nursing Practice for the 21st Century Competency Instrument. 3. Identify uses for the Public Health Nursing Practice for the 21st Century Competency Instrument in practice and research.

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Competency

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA