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Online Program

316543
Impact of State Certification of Community Health Workers on Team Climate Among Registered Nurses in the United States


Monday, November 2, 2015

Mark Siemon, PhD, RN, APHN-BC, CPH, School of Nursing, Boise State University, Boise, ID
George Shuster, RN, PhD, College of Nursing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Blake Boursaw, Nursing Faculty, MS mathematics, College of Nursing, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM
  
A number of states have adopted certification programs for community health workers (CHWs) to improve recognition of CHWs as members of health care teams, increase oversight, and to provide sustainable funding. There has been little research into the impact of state CHW certification on the diffusion and adoption of CHWs into existing health care systems. This study examined the impact of state CHW certification on the perceptions of team climate among registered nurses (RNs) who work with CHWs in states with and without CHW certification programs. The study recruited RNs using a purposeful sampling method and used an online survey, which included the Team Climate Inventory (TCI), and compared the perceptions of team climate between the two groups. The study found no significant differences in the overall mean TCI score or TCI subscale scores between RNs who work in states with CHW certification programs (n = 81) and those who work in states without CHW certification programs (n = 115). There was a statistically significant difference on one survey question regarding whether RNs believe state certification of CHWs improved the ability of their health care team to deliver quality care. More research is needed to assess impact of state certificationof CHWs and other factors that influence the diffusion and adoption of CHWs into the current health caresystem.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Diversity and culture
Ethics, professional and legal requirements
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the impact of state certification of Community Health Workers (CHWs) on the perceptions of team climate among Registered Nurses working in primary and community-based care. Describe how state certification of Community Health Workers (CHWs) may impact the adoption and diffusion of CHWs within primary and community-based care organizations.

Keyword(s): Community Health Workers and Promoters, System Involvement

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Over 20 years of public health nursing experience in a variety of settings including: Nurse Epidemiologist/Disease Intervention Specialist, Public Health Nurse with Indian Health Service and U.S. Commissioned Corps, Tribal Health Department Director, dual Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) and Community Health Nursing (MSN), and Doctorate in Nursing with emphasis in health policy. National certifications in Public Health (CPH) and Public Health Nursing (APHN-BC).
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: 3393.0: Health Systems and Practice Reform Round Table