Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #105010

Carol B. Isaac, MA, RN, Public Health Association of Nebraska, 4667 Hickory St., Omaha, NE 68106-0366, (402) 558-0755, PHNsNE@aol.com and Bevely J. Hays, PhD, RN, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 321 Lafayette Ave., Council Bluffs, IA 51503.

The purpose of this presentation is to describe methods used to deliver an innovative practice oriented, public health nursing (PHN) bioterrorism preparedness curriculum to PHNs statewide in our rural/urban state. The curriculum resulted from a collaborative partnership between the PHN section of our statewide public health association and our local university's bioterrorism education center. Both productivity pressures and widely dispersed locations make it difficult for PHNs to receive continuing education opportunities critical to their workforce development. Nevertheless, PHNs comprise a large percentage of the public health workforce, making PHN development imperative to a competent public health workforce. Focus group and key informant interview results provided direction to Year 1 planning and curriculum development. A nine-module curriculum was developed and presented as a series of 3 sessions during Year 2, with each session a cluster of 3 modules. This training reached 115 PHNs with varying educational backgrounds across the state, using a combination of live presentation (Sessions 1 and 3) and web-based training (Session 2). CEUs were awarded for each session but nurses who attended all 3 sessions received a certificate in bioterrorism preparedness. Results to be presented include the aggregated pre-and post-test results and their correlation with specific curriculum modules. Discussion will include access issues and strategies for public health nursing continuing education in a rural/urban state.

Learning Objectives:

• Name two benefits to incorporating web-based training in PHN continuing education.
• List three barriers to continuing education for PHNs in rural/urban areas.
• Discuss three strategies for developing a successful PHN bioterrorism preparedness continuing education activity across a rural/urban state.

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Bioterrorism

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.