An international approach to Problem Solving for Better Health Nursing (PSBHN)

This paper describes the Problem Solving for Better Health Nursingtrade mark (PSBHN) model, launched by the Dreyfus Health Foundation in 2002, and now operational in 14 countries at varying stages of development.

Through a training workshop, participants are introduced to the model's five-step process of identifying local health problems and applying a systematic methodology for project design.

Since the inception of PSBHN, 80 nursing workshops have been held, with more than 3000 participants (nurses and nursing students). Nurse participants have designed more than 2000 projects, and more than 1000 of these projects have been sustained beyond the initial start-up period. Examples of both recently implemented and successfully completed projects are included for the purpose of illustrating the PSBHN process.

Workshop evaluation results are included for 151 nurse participants, indicating a positive impact of the workshop training.

Plans for the future are described. These include a focus on additional evaluations, particularly of the long-term benefits of the projects implemented; enhanced sustainability of projects; dissemination of the project activities and results; and creation of key partnerships with global nursing and healthcare organizations.