Use of public health nurse competencies to develop a childcare health consultant workforce.
The purpose of this article is to describe the efforts in the state of Georgia to train public health nurse-childcare health consultants (PHN-CCHCs) using the framework of the "Core competencies for public health practice."


OBJECTIVE
The goal of the training was twofold: (1) to prepare a statewide cadre of PHNs as the primary workforce for Georgia's emerging childcare health consultation (CCHC) system and (2) to prepare their district nurse directors to lead and support CCHCs.


METHODS
Administrators attended a 2-day workshop followed by access to executive coaching for their management teams. PHNs participated in a three-phase training program, with phases 1 and 3 offered as 3-day workshops with field experiences, and phase 2 offered online and as a practicum.


METHODS
Forty-four administrators and over 85 PHN-CCHCs completed the training.


RESULTS
Graduates of the program reported satisfaction with training and reported the use of PHN core competencies in CCHC. Graduates also found enhanced skills in using core competencies to be applicable to a variety of population-based practices. Beyond CCHC being instituted in selected health districts, interest in CCHC has occurred statewide.


CONCLUSIONS
The PHN-CCHC program enhanced the knowledge and use of core competencies and heightened interest in CCHC statewide.
Wold
Judith Lupo
JL
Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. jwold@gsu.edu
Gaines
Sherry K
SK
Leary
Janie M
JM