The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43279

Debra Gay Anderson, PhD¹, Marcia K. Stanhope, DSN¹, and Connie Richmond, ARNP, MSN, CS². (1) College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, HSLC #551, Lexington, KY 40536, 859-257-3410, danders@pop.uky.edu, (2) Training/Staff Development Branch, Kentucky Department for Public Health, 275 East Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40621

This paper will report the results of a project developed in response to a call for proposals from the Bureau of Health Professions for programs designed to improve public health nursing practice experiences for baccalaureate students (BSN). Purpose: The purpose of this project was to strengthen the public health nursing practice component of the BSN program within the College of Nursing at the University of Kentucky. The emphasis was on working in collaboration with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services (State health department) to increase the number of BSN prepared nurses available to the workforce to implement the recent change in philosophy, focus and services of the state’s public health system. Significance: Kentucky public health is increasing its community focused care, with an emphasis on the core functions of public health, including the 10 essential services. In the current public health nurse workforce in Kentucky, 60% of nurses are prepared at the Associate Degree level and the majority was hired during a time when the public health emphasis was on the delivery of primary care services. Results: Accomplishments include ongoing collaboration between the Cabinet for Health Services and the University of Kentucky; working closely with nurses and other disciplines at the state level in assessment and program development; and exposure to the political process of health care. Barriers included travel time and expenses; need for preceptor orientation; and need for students to have an orientation to local health departments to ensure they receive the total picture related to health services.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe strategies to increase collaboration between state health departments and colleges of nursing.
• Identify methods to enhance strengths and eliminate barriers to education in state health departments.

Keywords: Community-Based Public Health, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.