Linking Education and Practice for Excellence in Public Health Nursing

This presentation describes a six-year grant funded academic-practice partnership project aimed at improving population-based public health nursing practice in Wisconsin. Project objectives, structure, activities, and products are described. Project evaluation revealed increased competency for contemporary practice; broad project reach among intended participants including students, faculty, and practicing nurses; and improved education for undergraduate student nurses and nurses new to public health practice. The presentation will provide both academic and practice perspectives.

Sponsored by the Academic Practice Partnerships Initiative.

Webinar SpeakerS

Rebecca Hovarter, MS, APHN, RNBC, Lecturer, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay

Becky Hovarter is a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Professional Nursing Program, starting in August 2013.  She was an ad hoc lecturer at UW Green Bay for 4 years before starting full time. Becky was the Public Health Director/Health Officer at Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department in Wisconsin from July 2011-August 2013. Other public health work experience includes being a Public Health Nurse Consultant for the Wisconsin Division of Public Health, providing technical assistance to 22 health departments and three tribal community health centers in a 17 county area of Northeast Wisconsin. Becky is a graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing with a Master of Science, Nursing, Public Health Nursing track and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and is a board certified Advanced Public Health Nurse.

Susan Zahner, DrPH, RN, FAAN, Villas Distinguished Achievement Professor, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Dr. Susan J. Zahner is a Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Nursing. She teaches graduate students and conducts research in local public health system performance, multi-sector health improvement partnerships, and public health nursing education and practice. She was the Project Director for a six year federally funded academic practice partnership called the LEAP Project.  She is the current Co-Director of the Wisconsin Public Health Research Network. Leadership positions have included serving as the Chair of the Board of Health for Madison and Dane County and as the Chair of the PHN Section of the American Public Health Association.