A BSN-Completion Project to develop PHN Competencies


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

3066.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - 10:30 AM

Abstract #121210

Constance A. Diaz Swearingen, MSN, APRN, BC and Karen Ouzts, RN, PhD. Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, University of Wyoming, College of Health Sciences, Dept. 3065, Laramie, WY 82071, 307 / 760 - 0428, ConnieSwearingen@aol.com

The Public Health Leadership in Nursing Project from the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing provides a new model of competency-based nursing education for current and future public health nursing leaders. The new project, funded in part by HRSA, offers rural nurses in Southwest and Central Wyoming the opportunity to complete RN-to-BSN degrees online, as they position themselves to provide critically needed public health leadership skills in their home communities. The central innovation of the Public Health Leadership Program in Nursing is the development of new bridge and practicum courses. Specific learning objectives for the courses are based on the Public Health Nursing (PHN) competencies as defined by the Nursing Quad Council (2004). The bridge course, students' first course in their BSN nursing major, introduces students to public health nursing competencies and leadership, with an emphasis on developing cultural competencies. The final practicum utilizes clinical placement within a local PHN office combined with distance learning in a web-based format. Integral to the practicum experience is completion of an evidence-based public health service-learning project and a self-assessment of proficiency in the PHN Competencies that students complete in conjunction with their Public Health Nursing preceptors/mentors. The Project will contribute to the solution of Wyoming nursing and public health workforce issues. In essence, the Project will create new baccalaureate–prepared public health nurses and support them in the development and delivery of innovative, culturally sensitive, evidence-based public health interventions not only in the public health department but across other community health care settings.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) will be able to

1. Describe how the Public Health Nursing competencies were integrated into an online RN/BSN-completion program to increase levels of PHN competencies across practice settings.
2. Understand how the educational partnership between the state health department and the University School of Nursing contributes to building capacity among current and future Wyoming PHNs by increasing levels of competency in PHN practice.
3. Analyze how learning activities were designed to specifically develop cultural competency and leadership

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Education

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.

Committee on Affiliates Poster Session

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA