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Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

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<strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Nursing</strong> & <strong>Midwifery</strong>, <strong>Trinity</strong> College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research <strong>Conference</strong><br />

Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007<br />

<strong>Conference</strong> <strong>Proceedings</strong><br />

Back to contents page<br />

An exploration <strong>of</strong> the core elements <strong>of</strong> public health nursing<br />

care<br />

Author: Ms. Catriona Murphy MSc, BSc, RPHN, RM, RGN<br />

Lecturer<br />

<strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Nursing</strong><br />

Dublin City University<br />

Glasnevin<br />

Dublin 9<br />

Phone: 700 8956<br />

Email: catriona.murphy@dcu.ie<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong> Anne Scott<br />

Dublin City University<br />

Dr. Padraig McNeela<br />

National University <strong>of</strong> Ireland Galway<br />

Abstract<br />

Background<br />

The invisibility <strong>of</strong> public health nursing is a frequent theme in the<br />

literature (Zahner and Gredig 2005, Clarke 2004, Kelleher 2003).<br />

This research aims to contribute to documenting the work <strong>of</strong> public<br />

health nurses (PHNs) in an Irish context. This documentation is<br />

essential as more primary care teams are established and the<br />

nursing resource in the community is expanded.<br />

Aim: To explore the core elements <strong>of</strong> public health nursing care in<br />

Ireland<br />

The specific objectives are<br />

� To identify core elements <strong>of</strong> public health nursing care.<br />

� To quantify core elements <strong>of</strong> public health nursing which achieve<br />

high and low levels <strong>of</strong> agreement among the respondents.<br />

� To compare and contrast elements that are identified as core to<br />

public health nursing with those elements which have previously<br />

been identified as core to other groups <strong>of</strong> Irish nurses.<br />

Methodology<br />

A survey was conducted which involved the distribution <strong>of</strong> a selfadministered<br />

questionnaire to PHNs. This questionnaire was<br />

developed by Scott et al (2006) over three rounds <strong>of</strong> a Delphi<br />

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