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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Using Learning Outcome Measures to assess Doctoral Nursing Education
Published on: June 21, 2010
A competency-based approach to public health nursing performance appraisal
Kate Bracy Kalb1, Nancy M Cherry, Jayne Kauzloric
1Public Health-Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington, USA. Kathleen.kald@METROKC.GOV
Objectives:
To integrate public health nursing (PHN) competencies into a comprehensive performance review instrument for nurses at multiple practice levels in an urban public health department.
Design:
Based on thorough review of PHN competency literature, the tool evaluates performance for 5 nursing practice classifications (Staff RN, Public Health Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nursing Supervisor) in eight PHN domains (assessment, policy development/program planning, evaluation, communication, cultural competency, partnership/collaboration, disease prevention/health promotion, leadership/systems thinking).
Sample:
Tool was piloted with over 50 nurses from PHN workforce (n>400) of Public Health-Seattle & King County (Washington).
Method:
Pilot testing includes all components of the performance appraisal system: Public Health Competency Grid, statement of general workplace expectations, Nursing Performance Appraisal Tool, and supporting documents defining performance elements by job classification.
Results:
Supervisors find the tool easy to use and report that it provides opportunity for real communication between employee and supervisor. Nurses at all practice levels report that it effectively describes/evaluates their practice.
Conclusions:
This tool is an efficient performance appraisal instrument providing meaningful feedback to nursing employees within a framework of PHN competencies. Adopting such tools in PHN practice can help nurses to better understand their role in population-based public health efforts.
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