Population-Focused Practice Competency Needs Among Public Health Nursing Leaders in Washington State

Area of Science:

• Public Health Nursing
• Health Services Research
• Nursing Education

Background:

• Public health nurses (PHNs) require effective strategies to reduce health disparities.
• A population-focused approach across the continuum of care and an ecological perspective are essential for PHNs.
• Assessing training needs is crucial for equipping PHNs with necessary population-focused knowledge and skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the training needs of public health nursing leaders in Washington State regarding population-focused practice competencies.
• To explore the utility of the Push-Pull Infrastructure (PPI) practice model in addressing these training needs.
• To identify supports and barriers to adopting population-focused care in public health nursing.

Main Methods:

• A statewide leadership group of county-level PHN leaders in Washington State participated in the assessment.
• Interviews were conducted with 17 PHN leaders.
• Interview findings were coded based on the Quad Council PHN Competencies and analyzed using the PPI practice model.

Main Results:

• PHN leaders identified a need to strengthen their leadership skills and support staff in transitioning to population-focused care.
• The assessment highlighted specific competency needs among PHN leaders.
• The PPI practice model provided a framework for organizing recommendations and bridging the practice-research gap.

Conclusions:

• The findings underscore the need for targeted training to enhance population-focused practice among PHNs.
• The PPI practice model offers a valuable framework for developing evidence-based training programs for PHNs and local health department staff.
• Addressing competency gaps is vital for improving public health outcomes and reducing health disparities.