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Public Health Nursing
Section Newsletter
Spring 2006
Message From The Chair
Greetings to All, As we gathered for the PHN Section 2006 Mid-Year Meeting on March 24 & 25 at APHA headquarters, I was struck by the time and talent contributed by all who make up our leadership and membership. Over the course of these two days, there was much discussion and action regarding our Section’s priorities, operations, issues and initiatives. We laughed much, enjoyed the opportunity to come together around all manner of public health and nursing matters, and framed next steps that reflect energy and inspiration. I find myself thinking in couplets of words as I reflect on those two days: wisdom and warmth, caring and commitment, creativity and courage, perseverance and power, grace and giving…, and these do not begin to cover the capacities and qualities of the PHN Section. It was a good meeting with many important next steps outlined and now in the Section’s pipeline! Check out the list of achievements following my message to read some, but by no means all, of the meeting updates and accomplishments.HIGXYZ68HIGZYX Many thanks to all of you who attended, called in, and submitted reports for the meeting. A note of special thanks to Rita Gallagher who again arranged for us to dine at the National Press Club, an event and dinner that was filled with journalism history, a fine meal, and great fun! Concerns and Challenges Over the past couple of years, a number of important public health and nursing issues have emerged that have generated concerns and challenges for public health nursing. One concerns the public’s health. The other relates to our place as a specialty nursing group. The interrelationship of these two issues is integral to moving forward to address both of these matters. As a result, a great deal of thoughtful discussion as well as strategizing has occurred within the Section. I would like to take this opportunity to address these with you. First, it is evident that public health is again a matter of interest to legislators, organizations and the public. All are acutely aware of the diverse threats to our health and safety from pandemic diseases, an aging society, ongoing health disparities, the increasing number of natural and manmade disasters, and the insufficient progress toward meeting APHA’s Objectives for the Nation. The fraying public health infrastructure and the diminishing PHN presence in many official health agencies, community-based settings, and other forums require that we name, frame and rise to meet these challenges. Second, actions taken by nursing and nursing-related entities are indicative that PHNs are neither sufficiently recognized nor represented when decisions that threaten the role of public health nursing and, subsequently the public’s health are made. The American Nurses Credentialing Center nearly eliminated the PHN Credentialing Exam in 2005. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing disseminated a draft Vision Statement that delineates advanced practice nursing from clinical specialists, and focused on pharmaceutical intervention as central to advanced practice nursing. The APRN Stakeholders Group initially did not invite PHN representation in redefining advanced practice nursing until the Quad Council raised a strong voice that demanded PHN participation in these deliberations. Public Health Nursing’s population-based practice and focus on health promotion and disease prevention are essential elements in assuring the health of society today. The updated Public Health Nursing Scope and Standards document, scheduled for release in 2006, will require that Public Health Nursing review our stated role and responsibilities and our core competencies, assuring their congruency and alignment. This will provide us with the means to articulate our capacity as public health nurses to improve the nation’s health.
Vision, Voice, and Visibility The Vision, Voice and Visibility Campaign - a strategy for the PHN Section to address these challenges, is emerging. The objectives of this campaign are to raise awareness and to educate the public and other health care professionals about public health nursing and our essential evidence-based role in the health care delivery system. In addition, the Vision, Voice and Visibility Campaign seeks to generate support for actively developing and integrating public health nursing in all aspects of public health and nursing practice. Campaign planning efforts will begin with the naming and framing of a vision for PHNs in the future health of the nation. This will be followed by strategic efforts to raise our collective voice so that we are better heard in the din of dialogue concerning the future of public health. Third, we will undertake specific steps to raise the visibility of public health nursing and the PHN Section in endeavors that advance public health and nursing. Section leadership is planning one or two PHN Section Conference Calls before the 2006 APHA Annual Meeting. These discussions will shape this campaign initiative so as to develop a draft proposal for review and final approval by the Section, and plan for a funding proposal to support the Campaign’s efforts. In closing, I invite all Section members to participate and contribute to this important endeavor. We must seize this opportunity to take charge of our practice and guarantee our place at the table in order to ensure the future of public health nursing. We must take action now or risk losing the rich tradition that is ours as public health nurses. Our future as vital contributors to the health of the public and the nation are at stake.
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Public Health Nursing Web Site Re-Launched!
As I write this message, the PHN Section’s new Web site is going live. This is a landmark moment for Section members. In the past several years, limitations in our capacity to maintain an active Web site has served as a barrier to communications with Section members and the broad public health and nursing communities. We are delighted to now provide information about who’s who in the Section’s leadership, discuss activities related to our strategic priorities, and frame the challenges for PHN’s in the public health and nursing arenas. With many thanks to the folks at APHA who have made this possible, we also want to especially thank two people who have moved us forward in the world of online communications. Julia Shovein created and managed our first Web site over a number of years from Chico State University. She helped us learn how powerful this communication mechanism can be and patiently guided our efforts to launch the site. Carol Graham has now taken on the challenge of moving the Section’s Web site forward in an exciting collaborative relationship with APHA. She has guided the development of a new look and an approach that begins with an interim modest Web site within APHA, to one that will one day be a fully interactive communication vehicle. Sustainability of our Web site has been challenged since Julia first helped us begin this important element of Section effort. Funding, technology expertise, and coordination with APHA are all essential to ensure the site can be maintained and sustained over time. APHA is now offering all Sections the opportunity to operate within APHA, rather than each having to scramble and find ways to make this happen. This will be a long term effort that begins with an interim site with several basic elements that includes PHN role and responsibilities, leadership and committee information, Section priorities and reports of activities. We are also hoping to begin to introduce commentary on the issues of the day in both public health and nursing. More information will follow, but be sure and check us out at http://www.apha.org/extranet/phn/default.htm! We welcome all ideas for design, content, navigation, and tools and resources that may prove useful to our members. Please send these thoughts and suggestions to either Webmaster Carol Graham @ carolmitter@global.net, or PHN Section Chair Marjorie Buchanan @ MarjorieOn@aol.com.
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Congratulations Derryl Block - RWJ Executive Nurse Fellow
The Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellows Program graduation ceremony held in Washington, DC on April 8, 2006, recognized one of its newest graduates, Public Health Nursing Section member Derryl Block. Left to right in the photo are Lavohn Josten, Derryl Block, Joy Reed, Debbie Swanson, and Linda Olson-Keller, all members of the PHN Section of APHA. Josten, Reed, Swanson and Olson-Keller are graduates of the RWJ Executive Nurse Fellows Program from the RWJ cohorts of 2003, 1998, 2002 and 2001, respectively.
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Legacy Leadership: Beverly C. Flynn
Invitation for Application to The Beverly C. Flynn PHN Mentorship Program The Public Health Nursing Section of APHA invites graduate nursing students with a public health concentration, Bachelor of Science in Nursing students who plan to engage in PHN practice, and novice public health nurses to submit an application to become a mentee of the Beverly C. Flynn Public Health Nursing Mentorship Program. This program provides mentorship to nurses for one year for the purposes of establishing meaningful connections in the public health nursing community, developing future PHN leaders, maximizing mentee experiences at the APHA annual meeting, and supporting their involvement in the PHN Section. This year we are inviting nurses from Louisiana, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont to apply. The donor of this award values diversity and recognizes the importance of developing PHN leaders from all walks of life. All mentees will be assigned a mentor from the PHN Section. Mentees are expected to attend the APHA Annual Meeting. Conference registration and PHN Section luncheon fees will be provided for each mentee. Eligibility requirements, mentee responsibilities, and an application are attached. For more information, contact Kathleen Russell, katrusse@iupui.edu or (317) 274-4079, or Anne Belcher, abelche@iupui.edu or (317) 274-4750.
ELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS DUE BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS DAY, July 31, 2006 Related Files:Beverly C. Flynn Mentee Elibibility & ResponsibilitiesBeverly C. Flynn Mentee ApplicationThe Legacy of Beverly C. Flynn
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AcademyHealth Call for Nominations
AcademyHealth requests nominations of health services research that has made a positive impact on health policy and/or practice. The lead researcher of the winning impact will receive $2,000, and the research will be disseminated widely as part of AcademyHealth's ongoing efforts to promote the field of health services research and communicate its value for health care decision-making. The award will be announced at the 2007 National Health Policy Conference on Feb. 12-13, and the winner will receive complementary registration, travel and lodging to the conference.
Submit your nominations today! * Lead researcher receives $2,000.
* Winning research is published & disseminated as part of AcademyHealth "HSR Impact" series.
* Award is presented at the 2007 National Health Policy Conference on Feb. 12-13.
Selection Criteria: * Quality of research.
* Effectiveness of research dissemination and translation approach.
* Impact of the research.
Nominations must be received by Friday, July 28, 2006 For more information on the HSR Impact Award, please visit The AcademyHealth Web site or contact Jennifer Muldoon, jennifer.muldoon@academyhealth.org, or (202) 292-6700.
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El Paso County Celebrates Public Health Week
The El Paso County Department of Health and Environment celebrated Public Health Week 2006 in their community with advocacy and education. Both the Colorado State and Denver Health Departments also participated in Public Health Week activities. El Paso County public health workers sponsored Pandemic Preparedness with an annual meeting for the community. Public Health Nurses from El Paso County hosted an information session for the community on Child Abuse coinciding with Child Abuse Prevention Month on April 24, with more than 150 community members in attendance. The Colorado State Health Department focused on the People of Public Health, using posters and information briefs about public health workers, while the Denver Health Department staged a walk to the state Capitol to celebrate public health.
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New York City Council Proclaims National Healthy Schools Day
A new report released on April 24, National Healthy Schools Day, shows an estimated 32 million children at high risk for health and learning impairments triggered by their own schools. State-by-state analysis, including personal stories, illustrate the problems are deeper and more widespread than previously acknowledged. A second report documents the fact that no federal agency is charged with intervening to protect children's health in schools, and meager programs are uncoordinated, leaving children compelled to attend schools that make them ill and leaving their parents without recourse. To view their nationwide press release, please see: http://www.healthyschools.org/documents/NatlPress4_24_06.pdf To access and read the aforementioned two new national reports, please see: 1- WHO's IN CHARGE OF PROTECTING CHILDREN'S HEALTH AT SCHOOL?, a research report reviewing the sciences of school environments, outlining roles of federal agencies, and showing how no agency can protect children, while adults have some workplace protections. http://www.healthyschools.org/documents/WhosInCharge.pdf 2- LESSONS LEARNED, a first-even national compendium of state by state data and examples of problems, quoting more than 40 parents and teachers. http://www.healthyschools.org/documents/LESSONS_LEARNED.pdf
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Joint Environmental Health/Public Health Nursing Task Force Report
The task force is a joint collaboration between the Environment Section and the Public Health Nursing Section. Throughout 2005, with the support of a mini-grant from Nurses Work Group of Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), the task force developed environmental health "Principles and Recommendations," which were approved in December by the PHN Section and endorsed by the Quad Council of PHN Organizations (ACHNE, ASTDN, ANA). The "Principles and Recommendations" document will be shared with the Environment Section for the section's endorsement. Work for the taskforce in 2006 is being supported by another HCWH mini-grant to prepare a "Greenprint for Action," which will serve to raise awareness and foster adoption of the environmental health principles and recommendations for environmental health practice, education, research, and advocacy.HIGXYZ69HIGZYX For more information on the taskf orce, to receive our "Principles and Recommendations" and/or "Greenprint for Action," or to join the efforts, please contact Co-Chairs Rita Lourie (PHN) RLourie@temple.edu and Robyn Gilden (ENV) rgilden@son.umaryland.edu.
Greenprint for Action Project Objectives: 1. Disseminate the approved Environmental Health Principles and Recommendations in both printed and electronic formats through the Quad Council of PHN Organizations (PHN Section of APHA, Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing, Association for Community Health Nursing Educators, and the American Nurses Association), and Health Care Without Harm. 2. Link the environmental health Principles and Recommendations with the ANA 2006 Scope and Standards for Public Health Nurses and the Quad Council Core Competencies for Public Health Nurses. 3. Promote awareness and adoption of these principles and recommendations by PHNs, public health agencies, schools of nursing, professional associations, and others. 4. Foster multi-disciplinary and multi-sector environmental health collaboration with PHNs by environmental organizations and others that reflect the Environmental Health Principles and Recommendations. Rita Lourie, RN, MPH, PHN, has assumed the role of Environmental Health Task Force Chair and will work with Marjorie Buchanan, Project Director, and Task Force members in this next step to help rebuild the bridge between public and environmental health. The Task Force is accomplishing these next steps via a series of conference calls between June and December 2006. If you have an interest in becoming involved in this effort, or would like additional information, you may contact Rita at Rlourie@temple.edu , or Marjorie Buchanan at MarjorieOn@aol.com.
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ASTDN 2006 Conference Highlights
The Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing held another successful conference in Seattle, from April 28 through May 3, 2006. The first conference day ASTDN hosted an Emergency Preparedness Day with guest speaker Roberta Lavin, MSN, APRN, BC, CAPT, of the U.S. Public Health Service’s Office of Emergency Preparedness, who spoke to the “National Perspective on Emergency Opportunities for ASTDN Linkage and Leadership.” Guest speaker Sharon Stanley, PhD, RN, RS, program director, Center for Health Preparedness, School of Public Health at Ohio State University, shared her insights on “Preparedness Resources for Public Health Nurses.” Kristine Gebbie, DrPH, RN, facilitated the afternoon session group that developed Emergency Preparedness goals for ASTDN to work on in 2006. Sunday’s activities included ASTDN’s Leadership Dinner and Panel program, facilitated by Jack Thompson, director of the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice. Panelists included Clair Millet, APRN, MN, CNS, chief public health nurse, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, who shared a moving presentation of the “Impact & Response the Aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.” Juanita Graham, RN, MSN, health services chief nurse, Mississippi Department of Health, spoke of “Leadership Skills and Lessons Learned from Time of Crisis.” “Supporting the Response in Disasters” was addressed by both Carole Jakeway, RN, MPH, chief nurse of the Division of Public Health in the Georgia Department of Human Services, and Carol Patwari, RN, director of Public Health Nursing, Texas Department of State Health Services. HIGXYZ70HIGZYX Partner Day, held on May 1, is an annual event that provides a forum for information sharing between national nursing partners and ASTDN. Reports from the following Quad Council members were: the Public Health Nursing Section of APHA, represented by Betty Bekemeier, MSN, MSPH, immediate past PHN Section chair; the Association of Community Health Nurse Educators, represented by President Pamela Kulbock; American Nurses Association was represented by Bobbie Berkowitz and Rita Gallagher. Other national partners included Pat Drehobl from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Mary Shaffran, p |