Credentialing in public health – Examining factors among public health nurses that influence the probability of being credentialed

While the public health community considers the feasibility and merits of credentialing public health workers and the Associated Schools of Public Health begins their own process of credentialing those with an MPH, lessons can be learned and direction drawn from the public health nursing (PHN) workforce. This credentialing study included the examination of a model depicting factors expected to influence whether or not one has obtained a community/public health nursing (C/PHN) credential. A sample of 655 PHNs was surveyed regarding their sense of the perceived value of and the perceived barriers to the utilization of this 20+ year old credential for PHNs. Variables related to these perceived barriers, perceived value, and individual PHN characteristics were analyzed using chi square, MANOVA, and logistic regression techniques to determine their relationships and ability to predict credential status. Few individual characteristics were able to predict the probability of having a C/PHN credential, except for one's “professional role” (such as staff nurse, administrator, and academic.) Highly educated nurses with PhD's were also significantly more likely to have had a C/PHN credential than their counterparts with masters and (particularly) bachelors degrees. When examining perceptions of the value of and barriers related to credentialing, along with individual characteristics, the model as a whole fit the data and significantly predicted credential status. Few variables in the model acted alone, however, to significantly contribute to identifying who is likely to obtain a C/PHN credential. This study will help to inform next steps regarding credentialing the broader public health workforce.