The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48074

Catherine Salveson, RN, PhD, School of Nursing, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97201, (503) 494-3558, salveson@ohsu.edu

The public health nursing leadership in Oregon has identified a need for Associate Degree (AD), prepared nurses to have access to continuing education in public health, including opportunities to receive Bachelors Degree (BS), preparation. The practice of public health nursing has grown to include complex issues of case management for diverse populations, supervision of a wide variety of ancillary health personnel, responsibility for policy and procedures development, leadership and advocacy in multiple systems and institutions, and oversight of complex fiscal structures. In response to this need, the faculty and administration of fourteen A D Programs and the Oregon Health and Science University developed a program allowing provisional admission for first year AD student nurses into the OHSU BS Program. AD trained Public Health nurses in practice may participate in a statewide program available on the Internet to receive their BS Degree. Mechanisms are in place for nurses to challenge and portfolio courses in which they demonstrate mastery of required competencies. Ongoing challenges to encourage nurses to participate and provide incentives will be presented. Barriers and obstacles to program progression as well as rewards will also be discussed. The importance of a seamless system of ongoing opportunities for public health nursing education in relationship to recruitment, retention and the nursing shortage will be included in the presentation.

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

• Understand the factors involved in the creation of a statewide system providing provisional admission for Associate Degree students into a Bachelors Degree nursing program;
• Discuss the essential administrative structures that must be put in place for Associate Degree trained public health nurses to participate in a statewide Internet based Bachelors degree program; 3)Discuss the challenges involved in providing incentives for Associate Degree trained public health nurses to return to school to complete their Bachelors Degrees.

Keywords: Public Health Nursing,

Related Web page: NA

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: NA
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.