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Sunday, November 1, 2009
Learning Objective 1: recognize issues threatening the advanced practice role for public health nurses.
Learning Objective 2: describe findings obtained from 30 California directors of nursing regarding the role of advanced practice nurses in the local public health agencies.
There has recently been much debate about which nursing roles serve in advanced practice capacities, including discussion on how public health nursing practice fits within those advanced practice nurse roles, if at all. An overview of the current issues related to advanced practice nursing in general, along with specific reference to public health nursing will be presented. This presentation will provide insight into events that have occurred and the precarious status of the advanced practice role for today’s public health nurses. A study was conducted using survey methodology to obtain information from directors of public health nursing in California about the role of advanced practice nursing within their local agencies. Information obtained from 30 nursing directors will be shared. Specific areas addressed in the study include identification of the current and the future needs for advanced practice nursing in public health settings. It is hoped the findings of this study will help nurse educators and public health nurse leaders to better clarify the public health nurse’s advanced practice role and allow them to be advocates for the continued development of this role. This study may also set the stage for future studies of this kind, which could provide a richer understanding of this role as it is described and utilized in the actual workplace. The researcher invites suggestions from public health nurse educators, leaders, and others regarding such future studies.