Building a strong public health nursing workforce in Canada: A continuing education solution

Abstract

Building a strong public health nursing (PHN) work-force capable of advancing population health and reducing inequities is critical. Though undergraduate nursing education is expected to provide introductory knowledge and practice of PHN in Canada, this is not always sufficient to adequately prepare nursing graduates for the complexity of PHN practice. To be practice ready for the full scope of PHN roles and interventions, new baccalaureate nurses and new registered nurses in public health are required to apply PHN competencies, theory, and knowledge of nursing and public health sciences, and to practice within the mandates of provincial and territorial public health legislation. To advance practice readiness a formal continuing education program is essential to foster these critical roles in PHN. This article describes the development of a postgraduate continuing education program for preparation to practice in PHN.