The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44339

Martha Cuccia, MPH, Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2430, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-988-7778, cuccia@tulane.edu, Teresa M. Nastoff, BSN, Division of Health Education and Promotion, Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, Mailstop E-42, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, John Casken, RN, MPH, PhD, School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, University of Hawai`i, 2528 McCarthy Mall, Room 442, Honolulu, HI 96822-2399, and Barry Stern, MPH, Center for Public Health, Bureau of Health Professions, Room 8-103, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.

Environmental conditions affect the health of individuals, families, and communities nationwide; however, health care provider knowledge and training related to these conditions and associated risks are minimal. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recognizes the need for health care providers, particularly in the field of nursing, to be knowledgeable and have access to training about the environment and how it relates to health. Nurses are invaluable resources for reaching the public about environmental health issues; however, nursing education typically includes few, if any, courses on the environment as it relates to health. ATSDR has responded to this identified need by initiating a joint venture with Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to use its 14 nationwide Public Health Training Centers (PHTCs) as conduits for training the nursing workforce on the core competencies of environmental health as they relate to nursing practice. PHTCs are charged with administering, accrediting, and evaluating this training.

PHTCs have opted to work either collaboratively or independently on the project. ATSDR, HRSA and some of the training centers will report on the progress during this conference session.

Learning Objectives:

• 1-Identify nurses as critical in educating multiple segments of the nation’s population on environmental health issues.
• 2-Describe three key elements of a national plan to train the nursing workforce in environmental health knowledge and skills.
• 3-Discuss methods for the training and evaluation of the project.

Keywords: Environment, Nursing Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Health Resources and Services Administration and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
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.