"The theory I'm choosing to discuss in light of my project is the Organizational Change Theory. This theory holds that health policies are more likely to be implemented and maintained in an organization based on certain processes and strategies. This makes sense with my project, because the foundational goal of my project is to change the way we describe the value of services delivered by public health nurses, and by changing that practice (or strategy), I hope to garner more sustained support for the field itself, at least in my state. Such support would be seen in implementing a policy to hire and maintain public health nursing services at or above current levels. My project focuses on both the definition of the problem (which occurred in the project defense stage) and initiation of action, which is happening now as I develop the information and framework necessary to inform the "data" supporting future support of public health nursing. Communicating this data, which will happen next semester, will hopefully begin the implementation of change. Institutionalization of the change will necessarily be a lengthy and ongoing process, as public health is funded and supported through public resources that frequently shift along with priorities.

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This particular work is vital to patient, or population outcomes. Without public health nurses applying the nursing process to broad systems, appropriate interventions to protect the public's health will not be delivered efficiently or effectively (there is debate on this...hence, my project). Take for instance the case of measles. Public Health Nurses have a very specialized skill set that allows them to develop relationships with populations that historically may be vaccine hesitant. These trusting relationships can and do lead to people making the decision to vaccinate, where before they would not. Without support for public health nurses, their numbers dwindle, meaning fewer people in these populations will be reached effectively. Today, that would mean a decrease in herd immunity and increasing numbers of measles cases, arguably a bad outcome for not only those who are suffering the infections, but those who are paying for that care in terms of financial, time, and emotional resources.

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I feel it's vitally important to find ways to get organizations such as local and state governments to change the way they provide support and resources, and this requires us to speak their language. My project, which is determining the return on investment of public health nurses delivering immunization services in Wyoming, is the beginning steps to developing a framework that enables public health nurses to translate their work into language that can drive organizational change."

 

Riverside Community Health Foundation. Theories and Models Frequently Used in Health Promotion. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/lindsay.huse/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/IE/M0AQEM98/theories-and-models-frequently-used-in-health-promotion.pdf.