The public health nurse: Looking back and looking forward
View/ Open
Issue Date
2007-05-31Author
Ryan, Robin E.
Publisher
University of Kansas
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
M.P.H.
Discipline
Preventive Medicine
Rights
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The nurse has historically been a key figure in public health. The shrinking pool of nurses, competitive hiring practices, and individual attitudes about the role of the public health nurse make public health recruitment increasingly difficult. This thesis proposed that the undergraduate nursing population had incomplete knowledge about public health nursing (PHN) and didn't consider the role for immediate post-graduate employment. To test the thesis, students were surveyed to determine priorities when choosing a position, attractiveness of options, and attitudes about the role. 151 senior students from three nursing schools completed the survey. Students had the highest level of interest in hospital nursing. One-third of respondents reported no interest in PHN. The majority believed the PHN was paid less, was not always valued, and did not utilize all of the skills of a baccalaureate-educated nurse. Role promotion and building public health relationships should be prioritized.
Description
Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Kansas, Preventive Medicine, 2007.
Collections
- Theses [3942]
Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.