Abood, Richard Oral History Interview

Professor of Pharmacy Practice (1991-2015). Topics include: Arrival at University of the Pacific, curriculum/programs, people, controversial issues, significant achievements, students, progress/evolution, and the community.https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/esohc/1153/thumbnail.jp

The Relationship Between Nurse to Population Ratio and State Health Ranking

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between nurse to population ratio and population health, as indicated by state health ranking. Design: Secondary analysis correlational design. Sample: The sample consisted of all fifty states in the U.S. Measurements: Data sources included the United Health Foundation’s 2006 state health rankings, the 2004 National Sample Survey for Registered Nurses, and the U.S. Health Workforce Profile from the New York Center for Health Workforce Studies. Results: Significant relationships between nurse to population ratio and state health ranking (rho = -.446, p =.001) and 11 of the 18 components of the overall ranking (motor vehicle death rate, high school graduation rate, violent crime rate, infectious disease rate, percentage of children in poverty, percentage of uninsured residents, immunization rate, adequacy of prenatal care, number of poor mental health days, number of poor physical health days, and premature death rate) with higher nurse to population ratios associated with higher health rankings were found. Physician to population ratios were also significantly related to state health ranking, but were associated with different components. Conclusions: These findings suggest that greater nurses per capita may be uniquely associated with healthier communities, however further multivariate research is needed

The Relationship Between Nurse to Population Ratio and Population Density: A Pilot Study in a Rural/Frontier State

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between nurse to population ratio and population density. A secondary analysis was conducted, correlating nurse to population data with county-based population density data. The sample consisted of all 17 counties in the state of Nevada (3 urban, 4 rural and 10 frontier). County nurse to population ratios ranged from 178 to 861 per 100,000 population and population density ranged from 0.3 to 173.9 people per square mile (mean of 39.3). Correlational analysis indicated a significant positive relationship between nurse to population ratio and population density (r = .65 (p \u3c.005). Mean nurse to population ratios were found to be significantly different between frontier (356/100,000), rural (682/100,000), and urban (587/100,000) counties (F = 7.53, p =.006). Not surprisingly, the results indicated that the lowest nurse to population ratios occur in areas with the lowest population density. These findings provide rural and frontier nurses with support in advocating for aggressive strategies to address the nurse to population disparity affecting rural and frontier communities

Idaho Public Health Nursing Study

Public health nursing represents the foundation of the U.S. public health system, particularly in predominantly rural and frontier states. Increasing attention has recently been paid to strengthening the public health infrastructure and workforce in response to disaster preparedness concerns. Major concerns regarding the current and future shortage of public health nurses have been raised at the national and state levels (The Quad Council of Public Health Nursing Organizations, 2006; Health Resources Services Administration, 2005; Gehrke, 2007). Factors contributing to the shortage include the aging nursing workforce, inadequate funding and salaries, lack of qualified applicants, and ineffective recruitment and retention. In some states vacancy rates for public health nurses reach 20 percent with turnover rates up to 14 percent (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, 2005). Unfortunately there is limited current research information regarding the state of public health nursing in Idaho as well as other, predominantly rural and frontier areas. The purpose of the Idaho Public Health Nursing Study, which was conducted in the spring of 2007, was to describe the current status of public health nursing in Idaho

Better Together: Expanding Rural Partnerships to Support Families

Chronic shortages of health, social service, and mental health professionals in rural areas necessitate creative partnerships in support of families. Cooperative extension professionals in Family and Consumer Sciences and community health nurses are introduced as trusted professionals in rural communities who can bring critical skills to human services teams. Multidisciplinary prevention programs offer particularly good contexts for county extension educators and community health nurses to work in collaboration with social workers. The case of grandparents raising grandchildren illustrates the critical roles that can be filled by professionals in these two fields to extend the reach of family support programs

County Health Rankings: A New Tool for Idaho Nurses

In February 2010, a highly useful tool for local and state health planning and promotion was released, the County Health Rankings (2010). These rankings were developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, based on a model of population health improvement in which measures of health outcomes are used to describe the current health status of the county. These health outcomes are influenced by a set of health factors. The rankings identify the healthiest and the least healthy counties within every state. The rankings represent a valuable resources for nurses in assessing and planning health promotion initiatives for their communities

Abood, Richard Oral History Interview

Professor of Pharmacy Practice (1991-2015). Topics include: Arrival at University of the Pacific, curriculum/programs, people, controversial issues, significant achievements, students, progress/evolution, and the community.https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/esohc/1153/thumbnail.jp

Building on Our Strengths: The Idaho Rural Community Health Assets Study

Background Here in Idaho, we have many strengths; particularly in our rural and frontier communities. In relation to health and health care, however, too often rural/frontier communities are viewed only from a deficit perspective (Wakeman, 2008). Nurses can help shift that view, consistent with our health promotive philosophy, to focus on the health-related strengths in communities. Then, in collaboration with our communities, we can build on these strengths to help make rural communities even healthier