Online Program

280185
Heeding the IOM call: Integrating public health into primary care nurse practitioner (NP) curricula


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

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, FAAN, Department of Community, Systems and Mental Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, IL
The IOM's recent report calls for integrating primary care and public health. The emphasis on enhancing the numbers of primary care NPs is necessary to increase access to care. However, primary care NPs also need public health knowledge and competencies if they are to be instrumental in developing and implementing the necessary population-focused strategies to meet the Healthy People 2020 goals. Primary care NP programs are challenged to incorporate the necessary public health content into DNP curricula, as programs are already lengthy. This session describes the innovative efforts of faculty at one university in incorporating public health content into the DNP curriculum of primary care NP students to develop the necessary competencies to meet the health needs of populations across diverse settings. The focus is on two tracks: BSN to DNP Family NP and post master's Primary Care NP in Enhancing Population Health Outcomes. This session will describe the public health courses based on Quad Council/Council of Linkages competencies that are substituted for two nursing courses. The courses prepare students to work as part of a team to: (1) assess a clinical population for the most prevalent risks and health needs, (2) develop interventions to address unmet needs, and (3) engage in health promotion and disease intervention planning for vulnerable groups. Curricula suggestions are provided for other programs looking to integrate public health content into DNP curricula, to help assure primary care NPs are prepared to be effective team members in improving health outcomes for populations in their practice settings.

Learning Areas:

Clinical medicine applied in public health
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related nursing

Learning Objectives:
Describe one approach to integrating primary care and public health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the Co-Project Director on the federally funded training grant that developed the curricula discussed in the presentation. I am the course director for one of the two courses detailed.
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.