Colleagues in Caring: Public Health/Disease Management Task Force

Public Health Nurse Competencies

May, 1998 – Work in Progress

The capacities/competencies identified as part of the PH nursing role are listed under the core PH functions and two other categories; nursing theory and public health theory. Rationale for these categories is that public health nursing is a synthesis of nursing and public health theories.

ASSESSMENT

Community assessment	Analysis of data
Synthesis of information	Research
Awareness of financial environment	Resource management
Reimbursement	Case-finding, tracking

POLICY DEVELOPMENT

Building partnerships in community	Political savvy
Ability to mobilize	Links of patient, group, and community
Able to deal with local political climate	Build trust with clients—credibility
Conflict management	Media relations
Dealing with conflict	Being consistent under pressure
Managing facts and individual values	Values identification & mobilization into life styles
Emergency/disaster management	Management of communicable disease outbreaks
Community collaboration & participation	See the "big picture"
Understand & articulate mission	Fiscal management (resource allocation)
Partner with all specialists	Networking skills

ASSURANCE

Outcome based practice	Continuous quality improvement
Know state regulations & enforcement	Client/public outcomes

NURSING THEORY

Strong sense of nursing judgment	Manage change
Good communication skills, written & verbal	Open to feedback
Teaching skills, all groups and ages	Public speaking skills
Open & non-judgmental communication style	Listening
Respectful of & acceptance of individual values	Patience and persistence
Leadership skills

PUBLIC HEALTH THEORY

Sense of community	Sense of social justice
Epidemiological understanding	Multiple factors
Population based – theoretical and practical experience	Health as community issue
Patience and persistence – SLOW process to get outcomes	Population based/community needs