…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians
The Development of Public Health Nursing
Competencies for Novice Baccalaureate Nurses in
Canada.
Christina Rajsic RN, MN
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…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians
CASN Sub-Committee on Public Health Education
Members
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Lynnette Leeseberg Stamler – Chair (University of Saskatchewan)
Margaret Antolovich (Public Health Nurses Leaders Council of BC)
Benita Cohen (University of Manitoba)
Susan Froude (Nursing for Public Health Services for Grenfell Regional Health;
Western Regional School of Nursing)
Omaima Mansi (McGill University)
Donna Meagher-Stewart (CHNAC
Heather Pattullo (Canadian Public Health Association)
Christina Rajsic (University of Toronto)
Pat Seaman (University of New Brunswick)
Jo Ann Tober (ANDSOOHA)
Ruta Valaitis (McMaster University)
CASN: Janet Helmer, Colleen Ferris, Ellen Rukholm
Karen Macdougall (PHAC consultant)
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Presentation Objectives
 To provide a summary of work completed to date of the
Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) Subcommittee on Public Health Nursing Education
 To identify current sub-committee activities
• To develop criteria to determine the suitability of clinical
placements for public health nursing education in undergraduate
programs
• To level the Canadian Community Health Nursing Standards of
Practice with regard to standards to be met by Baccalaureate
graduates
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Background
 CASN Public Health sub-committee formed in November
2004
 Supported by CASN and the Public Health Agency of
Canada
 Pan Canadian survey and symposium conducted 2005 to
2006
 Report submitted to CASN board reporting on survey and
symposium results on November 2006
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Survey and Symposium Results
 Key finding from the Pan Canadian symposium is
the disconnect between the theory and practice
 There are a number of barriers and enablers to
community health/public health nursing clinical
placements (Survey and Symposium findings)
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Results
External Enablers and Challenges
to Community Health Nursing Curriculum
(n = 61 except where noted)
Negotiating Placements (N=60)
Health Care Restructuring
Current Political Climate
Accreditation
Preceptors (N=59)
Licensing Body Approval Process
Nature of practice environment
0
10
20
30
40
50
Percentage
Enabling
Neutral
Challenging
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Not Applicable
60
70
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Survey Results Related to Placements
Supportive community health
nursing practice environments
exist.
 Placement of students
• Public Health Unit/Department
(n=2565)
• Schools (n=1940)
• Community Agencies (n=1921)
• Long-term Care Facilities
(n=1814)
• Home Health Care (n=1286)
• Primary Health Care Centres
(n=1075)
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Symposium and Survey Results
 There is a need for stronger partnerships between
academe and community clinical agencies
 More allocation of resources is needed for
education in community nursing
 Recommendations have been forwarded to the
CASN Board of Directors and the Public Health
Agency of Canada
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Current Activities of CASN Sub-Committee
 Literature search
• Are there discipline specific competencies or standards
in community health nursing for the newly graduated
BScN nurse?
• How are competencies/standards leveled? (if at all)
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Current Environment
 Environmental Scan:
• To explore current activities in Canada regarding
competencies, standards and clinical placements for
community health nurses
• Sources of information scanned were provincial
regulatory bodies, PHAC competencies, CCHNSoP,
educational institutions, review of work from the Pan
Canadian Symposium
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Current Environment
 Each source found, lists of 7 to 9 domains
 Domains vary, although some common themes
exist
 Further study will entail a comparison of the various
domains to determine variations and gaps
 Seeking feedback from stakeholders
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Focus groups
 Currently conducting focus groups at conferences
(CHNAC, CPHA, CNA Annual conferences) to
obtain representation from practice and education.
 Standard focus group questions used
 CASN members recording feedback from
participants for analysis to describe practice
environments that connect the theory practice
divide.
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Next Steps
 Complete data collection for literature review and
focus groups
 Complete Leveling of CCHNSoP to identify
standards to be met by baccalaureate nursing
graduates (rather than by nurses 2 years after
graduation)
 Complete development of criteria to assess
suitability of clinical placements for
community/public health nursing education
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Thank you
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