Public health nursing (PHN) workforce crisis: A young perspective on an old problem

Methods: A personal account of one nurse's experience as a new hire in a department of health. Additionally, a supportive literature review was conducted as well as interviews with persons who are positioned to influence change within the workforce. Persons targeted were union representatives, public health nurse administrators, and organizations that are incorporating public health programs outside of the government structure. Reference will be made to the first-prize poster presented at ACHNE's 2006 annual conference, entitled Graduate Nursing Students' Perceptions of the Public Health Nursing Workforce Dilemma.

Results/Discussion: Public health nurses and other public health professionals agree that there is a growing public health workforce problem. There are efforts to address the nation-wide nursing shortage, but most states lack an organized effort to specifically address the PHN workforce crisis.

Retention is improved when a goal-oriented orientation is offered to newly hired nurses and often leads to increased job satisfaction and reduces burn-out rates. State and local health departments are in key positions to improve the orientation standards for PHNs by adopting a career-path model. Health departments' academic partnerships can assist with the development of goal-oriented PHN orientation programs. Finally, implementation of orientation standards and practices for new hires in the public health nursing profession will ensure a competent public health workforce.