229453 Interdisciplinary Course Collaborative: School of Nursing and Department of Public Health Sciences

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Betty Smith-Campbell, RN, PhD , Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS
Janet Brandes, MPH , Department of Public Health Sciences, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS
Background and Issues: In 1988, the Institute of Medicine described the mission of public health as "fulfilling society's interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy" (p.7). In an era of state and national budget cuts, public health worker and faculty shortages, creative and innovative educational partnerships are needed to meet the mission of public health. The profession of public health (PH), as well as public health nursing (PHN), will need to expand the workforce to meet this mission. PH and PHN educators will need to include teaching core functions of public health to traditionally direct care providers.

Description: In spring 2008, Wichita State University enrolled their first class of Doctorate of Nurse Practice (DNP) students. A course titled Population and Social Determinants of Health was developed to meet the DNP essential criteria of "Population Health for Improving the Nation's Health". In Fall 2009, the University began budget cuts and hiring freezes. At the same time the College of Health Professions faculty were encouraged to develop on-line courses, initiate interdisciplinary collaboratives and find creative solutions to meet the College's mission of "Innovation and Excellence in Education to Promote a Healthy Society". With these initiatives, faculty from the School of Nursing and Department of Public Health Sciences (PHS) began a discussion of merging the DNP course and a PHS graduate course - both included objectives related to social justice and determinants of health.

Lessons Learned: The merged course will be taught in Fall 2010. Analysis of the process will include: a) University initiative to expand on-line learning; b) collaborative process between departments; c) initiation and course modifications; c) evaluation by students and faculty; and d) recommendations. Lessons learned can benefit other professional schools as they explore ways to implement and evaluate the collaborative process of interdisciplinary course development.

Learning Areas:
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related education
Public health or related nursing

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the session the participant will be able to: 1) Discuss the process of one interdisciplinary course development project between a School of Nursing and Department of Public Health Sciences 2). Describe 2 lessons learned during an interdisciplinary course development project.

Keywords: Education, Collaboration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am one of the key partners in the collaborative and I will be teaching the merged Interdisciplinary course.
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.

Back to: 2036.0: Collaborations to Improve Health