Office of Nursing
Public Health Nursing Network
The Georgia Public Health Nursing Network is comprised of
multiple entities, each charged with specific responsibilities and expectations
for enhancing the practice of public health nursing in Georgia. Some of the
groups are composed of nurses, while other groups are interdisciplinary in their
memberships. All of the various groups within the network are interrelated and
serve the overall mission of public health, which is to “promote and protect the
health of Georgians.”
Background
The Georgia Public Health Nursing Network was formed in
accordance with the principles of shared governance. The purpose of the network
is to maximize the knowledge and expertise of the public health nursing
workforce for the benefit of improving the health status of the populations
served. The public health nursing workforce at the county, district and state
levels, represents a vital resource for embracing critical public health
issues. The network structure provides a mechanism for harnessing and
channeling this resource in ways that improve and safeguard the health of the
populations served by public health.
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Guiding Principles
The Georgia Public Health Nursing Network utilizes the
following guiding principles to assure maximum benefit of the networking
process:
- Public Health Nursing is a Vital Resource
Each member of
the Georgia Public Health Nursing Workforce is a vital resource and has
potential for making an impact on public health nursing and the health of
populations served throughout the state.
- Sharing Best Practices is a Professional Responsibility
The Georgia Public Health Nursing Workforce is comprised of licensed health
professionals who are expected to share their expertise, lessons learned and
models of excellence with their colleagues.
- Networking is Cost-Effective
Providing a formal network that connects workforce resources is considered a
cost-effective measure and will help avoid duplication of effort as well as
promote maximum application of ideas that work.
- Networks Can Help Recruit and Retain Nurses
A professional network that is structured to engage a significant portion of the
workforce it represents can serve to help in recruitment and retention of
nurses.
- Collaboration and Partnership Promotes Synergy
The collaboration and partnership that is integral to the Georgia Public Health
Nursing Network fuels the engines of passion for the work of public health and
generates new energy and thinking for tackling issues and challenges.
All members of the public health nursing workforce and
members of the network are encouraged to participate in maximum utilization of
the network to enhance the practice and impact of public health nursing in
Georgia.
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Current Status
The Georgia Public Health Nursing Network is comprised of
the following groups (See Diagram A):
- Executive Leadership Group
- Membership: This group consists of District Public Health Nursing and Clinical Directors, District Public Health Nursing and Clinical Assistant Directors, Public Health State Office Nurses and the
Office of Nursing.
- Purpose: Provide leadership, guidance and direction regarding the preparation for and practice of public health nursing in Georgia; review and approve all proposed policies, procedures, guidelines, structures and initiatives that impact public health nursing in Georgia; and develop, implement and evaluate the statewide strategic plan for public health nursing.
- Public Health Nursing Council
- Membership: The majority of members are public health nurses from the front-line and staff levels within county health departments, County Nurse Managers and Nurse Practitioners. Other groups represented on the council include: District Public Health Nursing and Clinical Directors, Public Health State Office Nurse Consultants and the
Office of Nursing.
- Purpose: Identify and address current issues that impact the preparation, policy and practice of public health nursing in Georgia. The Council promotes best practices and models of excellence that are meaningful to public health and to public health nursing. The Council develops strategies, position statements, documents and guidelines that are reviewed and approved by the Executive Public Health Nursing Leadership Group.
- Committees
Nurse Protocol Committee
- Membership: Members include at least one public health physician in clinical practice, selected nurses from districts or counties, State Office Nurse Consultants (Women’s Health, Child Health, TB, STD, HIV/AIDS Related, Chronic Disease, Immunizations) and representatives from the Pharmacy Section, the Georgia Public Health Laboratory, the Nutrition Section, Epidemiology and the
Office of Nursing.
- Purpose: Provide review and recommendations for the yearly revisions to the Nurse Protocol Manual. This committee reviews all proposed new nurse protocols to assure that they meet the established criteria for content and format and reviews revisions to current nurse protocols to assure consistency with best practices and current technology.
Future of Georgia Public Health Nursing Committee
- Membership: This committee is comprised of a mix of stakeholders outside governmental public health who bring diverse perspectives on health and leaders who represent local and state level public health.
- Purpose: The purpose of the committee is to examine the opportunities for health in Georgia; consider the past, present and future roles of Public Health Nurses; and develop strategies to enhance the capacity and support the leadership and practice roles that Public Health Nurses need to assume in achieving the vision for a safe and healthy Georgia.
Public Health Nursing
Emergency Preparedness Executive Leadership Committee
- Membership: This committee is comprised of the District Nursing Directors, Assistant District Nursing Directors, State Office Nurses and the
Office of Nursing.
- Purpose: Identify and address emergency preparedness issues significant to the preparation and practice of public health nursing; review and approve proposed policies and guidelines regarding the practice of public health nursing in emergency preparedness and establish strategic directions to support the future practice of public health nursing in emergency preparedness.
- Career Track Workgroup
- Membership: This workgroup is comprised of District Health Directors, and leaders representing Environmental Health, Nutrition, Nursing and Oral Health from District, County and State Offices. The
Office of Nursing provides leadership for this workgroup.
- Purpose: Develop a comprehensive and progressive career track program for the public health workforce. The career track shall include a method for measuring and evaluating the progression of training and experience requirements for staff.
- Georgia Practice and Education Workgroup (GaPEW)
- Membership: This group is made up of public health nurses from the county, district and state levels and nursing educators from the schools of nursing throughout Georgia.
- Purpose: The GaPEW identifies and addresses issues of common concern relative to the current and future practice and preparation of public health nurses in Georgia. The GaPEW co-sponsors the Annual Georgia Public Health Nursing Summit in partnership with the Division of Public Health.
- Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Team
- Membership: The State QA/QI team is comprised of State Office Nurse Consultants, representatives from the State Public Health Laboratory, Environmental Health, Emergency Preparedness, Administrative Support and the Sections of Pharmacy, Health Information/Policy, Nutrition and Nursing.
- Purpose: The State QA/QI team provides coordination and review of the Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement (QA/QI) for Public Health Nursing Practice Initiative. The team also addresses QA/QI issues of concern and works on solutions.
- Special Taskforces
These groups are convened as needed to address specific priority issues. A task force is comprised of representatives from county, district and state office perspectives and is usually multi-disciplinary in nature, depending on the specific issue. The purpose of each taskforce is to study an identified issue and develop solutions, proposals and/or recommendations.
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For More Information
Carole Jakeway: ccjakeway@dhr.state.ga.us
e-mail: phn@dhr.state.ga.us
phone: 404-463-0378 | fax: 404-463-0377
website: http://health.state.ga.us/programs/nursing/index.asp
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Organization Chart
& Bios