Spring: February 8 and 22, March 22, and April 4, 2010

Videoconference sites in Chapel Hill, Elizabeth City, Fayetteville, Greenville, Hickory, Sylva, Wilmington, and Wilson

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• Overview
• Format
• Prerequisites
• Objectives
• Pre-Course Planning
• Expectations of Students
• Credits
• Cosponsors
• Public Health Competencies 
• Registration and Application

Overview

Physical Assessment of Adults forms the foundation of the enhanced role nursing courses. This course is designed to provide nurses with comprehensive data on obtaining health histories and physical assessments of adults and enables them to perform a complete physical assessment and develop a plan of action. Successful completion of this eight-week course and the six-month clinical practicum will enable participants to meet the Medicaid requirements for billing Health Promotion Services, MOU with the local health departments.

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Format

The entire course runs for eight weeks and consists of four modules, each lasting two weeks. Each module begins with a full day of didactic instruction. Participants then return to their individual health departments to work with their clinical advisors to practice specific skills in an actual clinical setting and document their experiences. Three days of didactic instruction will be conducted by teleconference. The fourth will be onsite at a central location. The eight-week course is followed by a six-month clinical practicum.

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Prerequisites

Introduction to Public Health Nursing or BSN

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Objectives

Given a client, the participant will be prepared to perform a comprehensive nursing assessment:

• Elicit and document an age-appropriate health history; assess signs, symptoms, and risk factors; utilize the Problem Oriented Health Record.
• Perform a physical assessment.
• Distinguish between normal, possibly normal and abnormal conditions.
• Describe and record the assessment findings in explicit terms.
• Refer clients with possible abnormal or abnormal findings to appropriate medical care.
• Plan for appropriate medical care and appropriate follow-up.
• Provide clinical management utilizing the nursing process and principles of health promotion/disease prevention for individuals and populations at risk.

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Required Pre-Course Planning

Each participant must arrange (through the regional nurse consultant with the Office of Public Health Nursing) for an on-site clinical advisor. A Local Planning Document signed by the participant, clinical advisor, and regional nurse consultant with the Office of Public Health Nursing must be completed by the start of class.

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Expectations of Students

For successful completion, participants must:

• Attend all sessions.
• Complete pretest.
• Complete all assignments by due date.
• Score at least 80% on final examination.
• Complete clinical practicum within six months.
• Score at least 80% on a final clinical examination.

Students will be permitted only one extension on the clinical practicum. After that the student must take the challenge exam in order to continue the clinical practicum.

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Credits

A certificate of contact hours will be provided for each participant upon completion of the practicum.

Continuing education credit will be provided through Public Health Nursing and Professional Development (PHNPD) in the Local Technical Assistance and Training Branch of the Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Human Services. PHNPD is an Approved Provider of continuing nursing education by the North Carolina Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

The Office of Public Health Nursing and Professional Development qualifies as an acceptable provider of continuing education as defined by the NC Board of Nursing for the Continuing Competence process for RN license renewal.

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Cosponsors

Public Health Nursing Continuing Education Advisory Committee (PHNCEAC)

Office of Public Health Nursing and Professional Development
Division of Public Health, NC Department of Health and Human Services

The North Carolina Institute for Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health

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Public Health Competencies

The core competencies represent a set of skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for the broad practice of public health. They transcend the boundaries of the specific disciplines within public health and help to unify the profession. This course addresses the competencies listed below. Click on a competency number to view the full text.

Essential Services: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8

More information on the public health competencies.

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Application and Registration

Registration fees:

• $400 for the course
  
• $200 for the challenge

Application Process

To register, you must submit BOTH a course registration and an Application for PHN Enrollment in the Enhanced Nurse Training Program in order to verify that you have completed the necessary prerequisites. The application must be signed by the student and her/his supervisor. To receive an original application form, send e-mail to oce@unc.edu or call 919-966-4032. Or you may view the form online, then print it out and complete it. Send the application to the Office of Continuing Education at the address below.

View and Print Application (required step)

To register, click the site you wish to attend OR the challenge exam:

For more information about the course or the challenge process, contact Tavie Flanagan, at 919-966-9135 or tavflan@email.unc.edu.

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