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Faye Hummel, RN, PhD.
275 South Third Avenue
Brighton, Colorado 80601
(303) 659- 1322
October 16, 1996
Weld County Commissoners
915 10th Street
Greeley, CO 80631
Dear Weld County Commissioners:
I am writing this letter to express my grave concerns about the future of public health
nursing at Weld County Health Department. As a public health nurse of twenty years
and faculty member in the School of Nursing at the University of Northern Colorado, I
have had the opportunity to work directly with the nursing division at the Weld County
Health Department and to make a number of professional observations. Over the past
decade, I have been impressed with the strong county support of the Weld County
Health Department. I have been impressed with the innovative programs the nursing
division has implemented at the county level such as outreach clinics to the remote
rural areas in the county and innovative immunization campaigns. I have been
impressed with the professionalism and expert nursing care provided to county
residents by the nurses and support staff at Weld County Health Department.
However, I would like to draw your attention to the following observations that I have
made, particularly in the past year.
1. The number of nursing programs and nurse-run clinics has remained
constant in the past year with an ever increasing demand for the services
as reflected in the increasing number of clients in each program.
2. There has been a significant net reduction in the number of nursing staff
as well as nursing support staff to implement nursing services and
programs. I estimate that in the past year there has been a net loss of
seven (7) nursing positions including:
-one (1) nursing administration position
-two (2) mid-level nurse positions (nurse practitioners)
-one (1) field nurse
-three (3) nurses who once provided direct patient care who have
transferred to administrative positions
Additionally, there has been a net loss of at least three (3) nursing
support staff. As a result, the nurses must perform clerical work in
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addition to their professional nurse activities and functions.
3. The reconfiguration of the nursing division administration where the
nursing director position was abolished and replaced with three (3)
nursing supervisors in charge of three separate programs: Outreach,
Child Health and Women's Health, has resulted in dilution and
fragmentation of nursing services. Due to the severe shortage of nursing
personnel, nurses are scheduled to work the clinics that need to be
staffed as opposed to being scheduled to work in the clinics in their
program and area of expertise.
4. Nursing leadership appears fragmented and lacks focus for the future role
of nursing at Weld County Health Department. This is a particularly
salient issue in our changing health care environment. Public health
nursing across the state and nation is evolving and changing to meet the
demands and opportunities that have been created by managed care,
capitation, and other numerous economic variables. Public health nurses
have always played a vital role in public health and will continue to do so.
However, the future role of public health nursing in Weld County requires
thoughtful planning, implementation, and evaluation of appropriate
programs by a nursing leader.
In sum, I believe the nursing personnel at Weld County are competent and dedicated to
their clients. This is a nursing staff who has demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice for
the good of the organization by working longer and harder. But after nearly a year of
ongoing nursing staff reductions and increasing client demand for nursing services, the
nursing staff is getting tired, their reserve energies have been drained, and
unfortunately, they see no respite in sight. As a result, I believe that the quality of
patient care is in serious jeopardy.
Nursing plays a vital function in the health and well being of the residents of this
county. It is my sincere hope that my observations about nursing will serve as a
catalyst to initiate change in the nursing division at the Weld County Health
Department. If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me. I can be
reached at (970) 351-1697 (work) or at (303) 659-1322 (home).
Sincerely,
Faye Hummel, RN, PhD.
Assistant Professor, Community Health Nursing
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