Public health nursing education in T urkey: a national survey

Aim To investigate public health nursing content in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in T urkey. Methods This study included all of the nursing schools in T urkey that provide university level education. The data were collected through a self‐administered questionnaire designed to identify the existing status of undergraduate and postgraduate public health nursing education between F ebruary 2011 and J une 2011. The questionnaire was completed only by the head of the department of public health nursing in each school. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics using SPSS for W indows 17.0 software. Results The study achieved a response rate of 72.5%. All participants reported offering a course in public health nursing in their undergraduate programmes. Fourteen (24.1%) participants reported offering Master of Science degrees in public health nursing. Seven (12.1%) participants reported offering doctorate degrees in public health nursing. In the responding schools, the public health nursing course was given in one semester (14 weeks) for an average of 5.54 ± 1.43 h/week for theory and an average of 13.48 ± 5.11 h/week for clinical practice. Of the participants, 43 (74%) reported problems related to public health nursing education. Conclusion There are problems in T urkey with regard to public health nursing education. The nursing school curriculum must be revised on a national level if public health nursing is to be revived and strengthened.