The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46078

Susan Metzger, MSN, RN, Community Health, Jefferson Health System, 130 So. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, 610.526.8720, Metzgers@comcast.net

The Congregational nurse network of Main Line Health (MLH) has been in existence since 1996. Each congregational or parish nurse, hired by the faith community, through funding from foundations of the health care system, was provided with a laptop computer at time of hire. A standard documentation tool was provided and data collected and returned on a monthly basis. This tool looked at overall statistics, including number of visits, age groups, health education programs, and attendance at meetings. While the data was important to understand the work process of new congregational nurses, it did not convey the impact of the parish nurse role in the faith community. A new tool was developed using Excel with individual interventions and outcomes documented. While more focused and specific, the nurses were resistant to using it and felt it didn’t capture the true work that they perform. Through group discussion a new tool has been developed. This presentation will discuss the evolution of the tool, challenges, as well as the results obtained.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation, participants will

• Discuss the challenges of capturing qualitative data.
• Examine the role of technology in collecting data in non-traditional practices.
• List the benefits to documentation of the practice of the congregational nurse in the community.

Keywords: Outcome Measures,

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.