Presentation
Evaluation of Public Health Competencies in Undergraduate Nursing Education
American Public Health Association 2016 Annual Meeting & Expo
(2016)
Abstract
Background: Baccalaureate nursing education is designed to prepare registered nurses for entry level positions in a variety of areas including public health nursing. This study's aim was to assess the utility of the Competency Assessment for Tier 1 Public Health Professional instrument (Public Health Foundation, 2014) to measure pre-course and post-course perceptions of public health competence among undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students. Methods: The Competency Assessment for Tier 1 Public Health Professionals instrument is designed to measure perceived competency in the eight domains of the core competencies of public health practice. Non-parametric tests were completed to determine if there are any statistical differences between pre-post course perceptions of public health competency for the eight domains of the assessment instrument, and if there are there were differences between undergraduate cohorts in pre-post course perceived public health competencies. Results: Analysis of pre-course competencies found significant differences between student cohorts (i.e., RN-BS and pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing) in scores for Public Health Sciences Skills. Results for pre-post course assessments found significant differences in perceived competencies for all eight Public Health Competency domains. Conclusion: The Competency Assessment for Tier 1 Public Health Professionals instrument provides a way to measure perceived competency in the eight domains of public health. Results from the pre-course assessment could be used to adapt the course content to meet needs identified by the assessment, and post-course competency assessment could be used to assess the effectiveness of undergraduate education to prepare students for entry level positions in public health.
Keywords
- public health curricula & competencies,
- nursing education
Disciplines
Publication Date
October 31, 2016
Location
Denver, CO
Citation Information
Mark Siemon. "Evaluation of Public Health Competencies in Undergraduate Nursing Education" American Public Health Association 2016 Annual Meeting & Expo (2016) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/mark_siemon/9/