Using a quality improvement model to enhance community/public health nursing education

Abstract

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.