ENVIRONMENTAL-HEALTH COMPETENCES - A SURVEY OF US NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS

Because of widespread public and governmental concern about the health effects of environmental hazards and exposure in recent years, and th e increasing incidence of environmentally-induced diseases, it is impo rtant that primary care nurse practitioners possess the knowledge and skills to effectively address environmental health as a component of t heir practice. A mailed questionnaire survey of 187 U.S. nurse practit ioner (NP) programs was conducted, with a response rate of 64%, to det ermine: 1) current and ideal emphasis on environmental health, 2) facu lty preparation for teaching environmental health, 3) environmental he alth competencies expected of graduates, 4) didactic and clinical cont act hours devoted to environmental health, and 5) barriers and incenti ves to greater emphasis on environmental health. Findings reveal that more than two-thirds of NP program directors believe there should be g reater emphasis on environmental health in their programs, but express ed concerns about overcrowded curricula and lack of faculty preparatio n as barriers to change. Competencies with the highest mean ratings in cluded understanding the relationship between environmental hazards an d human health, accessing information resources related to environment al hazards and health, and counseling clients about how they can reduc e risks associated with environmental hazards. The two factors identif ied as most likely to increase the emphasis on environmental health in NP programs were. having nurse faculty with expertise and being able to access information resources related to environmental health. Curre ntly insufficient attention is given to environmental health in nurse practitioner education programs.