Recorded presentation

Sharon L. Dudley-Brown, PhD, RN, FNP¹, Sr. Rosemary Donley, PhD, RN, C-ANP², Sr. Mary Jean Flaherty, PhD, RN, FAAN², Eileen Sarsfield, MSN, APRN, BC², laura Taylor, MSn, RN¹, and Heidi W. Maloni, MS, RN³. (1) School of Nursing, Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Ave, NE, Washington, DC 20064, 202-319-6531, dudleybrown@cua.edu, (2) School of Nursing, The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Ave. NE, Gowan Hall, Cardinal Station, Washington, DC 20064, (3) School of Nursing, Community/Public Health Program, The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Ave. NE, Washington, DC, DC 20064

The Changing Public Health Environment and Implications for Public Health Nursing Education

The public health environment, including infrastructure, has changed dramatically over the past decade. Privatization of health services, previously provided by state and local health departments, has occurred in many places, including Washington, DC. The privatization of the pubic health delivery system has become increasingly fragmented, impacting health outcomes of vulnerable populations. The key to minimizing the effect/impact of the fragmentation and strengthening the public health infrastructure is a qualified workforce. Approximately 50% of the public health nurse workforce does not have a baccalaureate or higher nursing degree, which has implications for public health nursing education. While these nurses are perfect candidates for a graduate degree program in public health nursing, these statistics also reveal the dearth of qualified preceptors at the graduate level. This presentation will address the changes in the public health infrastructure as it impacts the nursing workforce, and the implications for nursing education in community/ public health nursing. Specifically, strategies used at The Catholic University of America School of Nursing in the Care of Vulnerable People in Communities (CNS in Community/Public Health) and Promoting Healthy Families in Vulnerable Communities (FNP and Community CNS Blended Role) programs will be addressed. Theses strategies focus on the selection, recruitment and retention of preceptors and the recruitment of students to the two programs.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to

• Describe 2 recent changes in the public health nursing environment that influences practice.
• Cite 2 ways that the public health infrastructure impacts nursing education in community/public heatlh nursing.
• Describe 2 strategies to increase the number of both preceptors and students in a community/public health graduate nursing program.

Keywords: Nursing Education, 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.

Recorded presentation