268930 Strategies to strengthen State-wide organizations of Public Health Nursing leadership

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 : 8:30 AM - 8:50 AM

Mary Hansell, DrPH, RN, PHN , Department of Public Health/ MCAH, City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Cathy Drusen, BSN, RN, PHN , Department of Public Health, County of Fresno, Fresno, CA
     
Background: California does not have a state Director of Public Health Nursing. For 60 years, the Directors of Public Health Nursing of the 62 Local Health Jurisdictions have worked together voluntarily in order to advance the profession and improve public health.

Description: Since the mid 2000's the Directors of Public Health Nursing (DPHN) have taken steps that have resulted in a stronger organization. Key changes were to adopt and implement a Business Plan and a Strategic Plan. Work Groups for Leadership, Workforce Development, Best Practices; Marketing and Health Equity were formed to work on organizational goals. Results include that DPHN has increased its policy activity, improved its marketing and outreach and increased involvement with state and national organizations.

Lessons Learned: The Business Plan was important because it laid out the rationale and ways to increase revenue. After approval by full membership, steps to increase revenue were taken, such as increasing membership dues, expanding membership eligibility and opening up continuing education days to non-members. The increased revenue enabled DPHN to expand contracts for administrative support. The Strategic Plan worked well because it clarified goals and formalized the role of all members in working to provide PHN leadership in the state. Also, leadership has been expanded beyond the Executive Committee by making new assignments to members.

Recommendations: The public health leadership in states without official State Directors could adopt some of the strategies of California Directors of Public Health Nursing to strengthen their leadership role in their own states.

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

Learning Objectives:
Explain strategies that can be taken by a voluntary statewide group of Public Health Nursing leaders to become more effective

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Leadership

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a member of the California Directors of Public Health Nursing (DPHN) for 12 years. Since the mid 2000's, I have served on the Executive Committee for five years. I served as the DPHN President in 2010-11 and am currently in the role of Past President of DPHN.
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: 5096.0: Public Health Nursing Leadership