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

Abstract #58340

Beth F. Lamanna, WHNP, MPH, RN, Dep. of Community Health, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB# 7460, Carrington Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460, 919-843-4685, lamanna@email.unc.edu and Janet L. Place, MPH, NC Institute for Public Health, UNC School of Public Health, CB# 8165, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8165.

It is well acknowledge that there is a critical shortage of public health nurses and the aging of those who are still practices will create even greater shortages in this area. Experiences in North Carolina have shown that simply training more public health nurses in not enough. Serious barriers exist that restrict access of nursing students to health department-based practica. Plus, experience requirements mean that new nursing school graduates must gain experience in the private sector before gaining a position in a health department. Often, by the time the nurse is experienced, he or she is lost to public health nursing. This presentation will present the findings of focus groups with key public health nursing stakeholders from both practice and academia in which barriers were identified and addressed. Moreover, the speakers will present recommendations for overcoming these barriers and help student nurses to train in health departments and make an easier transition into health department positions.

Learning Objectives:

• As a result of this session participants will be able to:
• ·Describe barriers that limit the opportunities of nurses wishing to enter public health
• ·Describe methods of providing nursing students with public health core concepts
• ·Describe possible solutions to these barriers

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Workforce

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.