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Using a quality improvement model to enhance community/public health nursing education
Author(s) -
Joyce Barbara L.,
Harmon Monica J.,
Johnson Regina Gina H.,
Hicks Vicki,
BrownSchott Nancy,
Pilling Lucille B.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/phn.12656
Subject(s) - nursing , public health nursing , public health , community health , health education , health care , population , quality management , nurse education , medicine , quality (philosophy) , medical education , psychology , political science , environmental health , management system , philosophy , management , epistemology , law , economics
Background Population‐focused practice is an essential component of baccalaureate nursing education. The specialty of community/public health nursing (C/PHN) emphasizes prevention and focuses on the multiple determinants of health to improve population health outcomes. This project addressed two problems. How to: (a) Standardize C/PHN education by utilizing a set of competencies, and (b) Evaluate learning outcomes after using the competencies. Method As collaborative team applied community/public health competencies to nursing education using the Omaha System and the four phases of the Quality Improvement Model (QIM) and to enhance C/PHN education. Results The QIM focused on team‐based participation with mutual learning and engagement for both students and faculty. Logical thinking and continuous assessment improves the teaching process and prepares students to work in multiple health care environments. Conclusions Systematic quality improvement enhances population‐focused care by providing a foundation for the integration of education and practice.