226298 Leveling public health nursing (PHN) competencies: Educating the next generation of PHN leaders

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Pamela Levin, PhD, APHN-BC , Department of Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL
Susan M. Swider, PhD, APHN-BC , Department of Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL
Marilyn E. O'Rourke, DNP, RN , Department of Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL
Sarah Ailey, PhD, RNC , Department of Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL
Susan Breakwell, DNP, RNC , Department of Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL
Alice Geis, MS, APN , Department of Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL
Diane McNaughton, PhD, RN , Department of Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL
Anne Brusius, MSN, RN , Department of Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University, College of Nursing, Chicago, IL
Background: An evidence-based approach to preparing generalists (pre-licensure) and specialists in PHN recommends that educational programs should be competency based to assure graduates are prepared with the necessary attitudes, skills, and knowledge for practice. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing's (AACN) new “Essentials” documents include increasingly more population related language and PHN faculty are challenged to articulate what differentiates core nursing content from PHN specialty knowledge/competencies. Additionally, as advanced generalist and BSN to DNP programs develop, faculty are faced with distinguishing the generalist versus advanced generalist competencies and in turn, the PHN specialist competencies at the MSN versus DNP level. This challenge provides the opportunity for faculty in PHN to develop specific criteria for competencies across practice levels, and use these to educate and evaluate generalist and specialist students for practice proficiency. Description: This presentation describes the innovative efforts of faculty at one university in differentiating PHN competencies and core content from advanced generalist to the DNP specialist level. The process included: (a) mapping the DNP AACN Essentials to the newly revised Council of Linkages/Quad Council PHN competencies, (b) differentiating competency levels across the advanced generalist to PHN DNP level, (c) determining core PHN content for each level, and (d) identifying measurement criteria for documenting competency achievement. Lessons Learned: Three Advanced PHN nursing faculty mapped 76 Quad Council competencies to 8 DNP Essentials. Using a systems framework (micro, mezzo, macro), 135 competency statements in total were written for each level of practice (advanced generalist, MSN specialist, DNP specialist). The work was then reviewed and validated by additional faculty. We are completing efforts at differentiating the core PHN content and corresponding measurement criteria for each level of practice and these results will be shared. Recommendations: Future steps should include validation by practice leaders. As very few advanced PHN programs are competency based, this work helps inform what the competencies, core content, and measurement criteria would be across degree programs and helps inform the development of a DNP in PHN.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Public health or related education
Public health or related nursing

Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss one approach to differentiating PHN competencies at varying levels of nursing education. 2. Demonstrate methods for measuring competency in education and practice at the advanced generalist and specialty levels.

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Competency

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Faculty in a competency-based PHN specialist MSN program, teach in a DNP program, have published and presented on PHN competencies at specialist level
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.