Comparison of the dissemination and implementation of standardized public health nursing competencies in academic and practice settings.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
To assess the use of the "Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals" standards in practice and academic work settings by public health nurses (PHNs), and to determine differences between practitioners and faculty.

DESIGN:
Nonexperimental, descriptive study using a cross-sectional survey. Sample:
Three public health nursing (PHN) organizations sent invitations to all members. A total of 334 (18.7%) from an estimated 1,786 members completed the survey.

MEASUREMENTS:
The investigators developed a 17-item web-based survey with open- and closed-ended responses, using Rogers' diffusion of innovations as a theoretical framework.

RESULTS:
Respondents are equally familiar with the competencies for public health professionals disseminated by the Council on Linkages and for PHNs by the Quad Council of Public Health Nursing Organizations (Quad Council). Two thirds of PHNs are aware of the competencies after only 2 years, primarily from professional PHN organizations. Faculty are adopting and using the competencies at a significantly faster rate than practitioners.

CONCLUSIONS:
Faculty and practitioners who use the competencies value them, and rarely discontinued their use after adoption. Efforts to promote diffusion among faculty and especially practitioners need to continue. Professional organizations can actively provide and share examples of useable formats and best practices associated with the competencies.

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Author information

Author/s: Oppewal, Sonda (S); Lamanna, Beth F (BF); Lee Glenn, Loyd (L);

Affiliation: Community Partnerships & Practice, School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. soppewal(-atsign-)unc.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.) (Public Health Nurs), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2006 Mar-Apr; vol 23 (issue 2) : pp 99-107

Dates: Created 2006/05/10; Completed 2006/07/11; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 16684185, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Attitude of Health Personnel
Awareness
Benchmarking - organization & administration
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diffusion of Innovation
Educational Status
Employment - organization & administration
Faculty, Nursing - organization & administration
Guideline Adherence - standards
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans

Information Dissemination - methods
Models, Nursing
Nurse's Role
Nursing Education Research
Nursing Methodology Research
Nursing Staff - education; organization & administration; psychology
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Professional Competence - standards
Public Health Nursing - education; organization & administration
Questionnaires
United States

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