Public Health Nursing.

Each of us has a spark of life inside us and our highest endeavor ought to be to set off the spark in one another. Introduction T he development of a competent future public health nursing workforce is strongly influenced by the nursing students' educational experiences. The responsibility for providing realistic, high quality public health nursing education is shared by both education and practice. Using currently employed public health nurses as preceptors for students is a successful strategy that increases the education/ practice partnership and benefits both the students and the preceptors. this handbook to assist preceptors and educators in developing preceptor programs. The information in this handbook is intended to serve as a guide and should be adapted to meet the needs of the agency, student, and school of nursing. for this project. We appreciate their willingness to share their product and allow us to adapt it for use in Missouri. Alternate forms of this publication for persons with disabilities may be obtained by contacting the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services at 800-735-2966. A preceptor fills three roles: nurturer, educator, and role model. A preceptor education model provides the following benefits: For Students • Individual support and encouragement by a practicing professional • Individualized orientation to meet learning needs • Increased knowledge about public health and public health nursing as a specialty • Creation of a relationship for exchange of information and ideas • Opportunity to apply curriculum content to a real practice environment • Closer working relationship between faculty and agency leading to improved access and understanding of community and agency • Increased confidence in nursing skills For Preceptors • Formal recognition of preceptor as a role model • Gratification of advancing the practice of public health nursing • Networking opportunities and support from other preceptors and faculty • Opportunity to sharpen own skills and knowledge base • Increased ability to coach/mentor/teach others • Opportunity to influence change in workplace • Satisfaction of sharing knowledge and experience For Agency • Increased clinical, communication and teaching skills of preceptor contribute to agency goals • Commitment of preceptor as valued, knowledgeable member of the organization • Retention of skilled public health nurses who are able to continue their professional development • Recruitment of new public health nurses whose skills are known and recognized • Creation of a relationship for exchange of information and ideas • Closer working relationship …