The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #58123

Elizabeth A. Giese, RN, BSN, MSPH and Joan M. Theurer, RN, BSN, MSN. Wisconsin Division of Public Health, 610 Gibson Street, Suite 3, Eau Claire, WI 54701, 715-836-3830, gieseea@dhfs.state.wi.us

Assuring effective and safe public health nursing practice at a local health department is essential for population health outcomes to occur. In Wisconsin, there has been a long history, as well as statutory support for the mandated educational level of public health nurses to be at the bachelor’s degree or higher level. Nationally, the APHA, the ANA, and other organizations have supported the bachelor’s degree as the necessary education for entry in to public health nursing practice. Unfortunately, due to the nursing shortage, challenges with offering a competitive salary and difficulty recruiting to under served areas, local health departments are increasingly in the position of not being able to find qualified staff to fill nursing positions. In response, a white paper was developed for use by local health departments in making decisions about hiring, training, and evaluating nurses with educational preparation at the associate and bachelor’s degree level. This paper documents current forces, standards, and statutes impacting public health nursing practice; outlines differentiated educational preparation for associate and bachelor degree nurses; describes differentiated competencies for the two educational levels using the national public health competency framework; describes differentiated practice for the two educational levels based on the Public Health Nursing Intervention Model from Minnesota; and outlines infrastructure that needs to be assured in order to have effective and safe public health nursing services. This paper will be distributed to local health departments in Wisconsin, and used to develop a strategic, local response, to current workforce conditions.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session the participant will be able to: 1.Describe differentiated preparation and competencies for associate and bachelor degree nurses working in public health.
• State two differences in public health nursing practice/interventions for nurses with varied educational levels.
• Describe three infrastructure supports necessary to assure effective and safe public health nursing practice by all nurses.

Keywords: Competency, Public Health Nursing

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.