The need for graduate education in community health nursing: a survey.

Abstract

AbstractHome health care agency administrators and staff members were surveyed to determine areas of interest for a proposed expansion of the graduate program in community health nursing at Boston University School of Nursing. Two interrelated questionnaires were designed, one for administrators, the other for staff, and were mailed to agency directors. Forty‐six percent of the administrators and 29 percent of staff members responded. Roughly half (49%) of the staff members were graduates of baccalaureate programs in nursing and interested in graduate education in nursing. Clinical specialization within home health care was the area of greatest interest for both administrators and staff members, followed by home health care administration. Many agencies provided released time for the part‐time evening study preferred by staff. It was concluded that there is a great deal of interest in graduate education in home health care, including both clinical specialization and administration. Agency directors stated they were willing to hire graduates of such programs, and the overwhelming majority of staff members who were eligible for and interested in graduate study identified an interest in the subject.