Public Health nurses (PHNs), the single largest group of public health workers, are the backbone of public health. Assuring the health of communities depends greatly on the skills and abilities of the public health workforce. As a part of the public health team, PHNs need a broad range of population-based skills. The mix of population-based versus personal/clinical preventive services that public health will be providing in the future will be driven by local community needs, resources and preferences. The overall goal of this Division of Nursing funded project was to prepare the PHN students for the change in practice that is now occurring. Students enrolled in three required community health courses engaged in activities outlined in this project during their clinical rotation in a county health department under supervision of a clinical instructor. Activities met selected objectives of each course and added a new dimension of professional interaction to students’ public health capabilities. Students were required to 1) Describe the process used to assess the community’s health status at the county level; 2) Analyze health data from various data bases to identify health trends and health issues; 3) Collaborate with members of the interdisciplinary public health team and community partners to determine the priority health issues; and 4) Present health information to key policy makers at the local and county level for the purpose of influencing health policy decisions. Project evaluation will be reported.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Articulate the importance of teaching policy development to baccalaureate student nurses. 2. Identify the four components used in teaching policy development. 3. Discuss positive and negative outcomes of the teaching methods and the project.
Keywords: Nursing Education, Policy/Policy Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.