Colorado Nurses and the NFP : AJN The American Journal of Nursing (original) (raw)

FEATURE

Jan Lewis is on the faculty of the nursing department at Pueblo Community College in Colorado. A former Colorado NFP supervisor and nurse home visitor, she served as Colorado's Nurse–Family Partnership mental health consultant from October 2003 through June 2007. For assistance with the retreat questions and discussion methodology, the author acknowledges David L. Olds, PhD, professor of pediatrics at the School of Medicine and director of the Prevention Research Center for Family and Child Health (PRC) at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center (UCDHSC); Pilar Baca, MS, RN, clinical director for Program Development Research for the Nurse–Family Partnership, PRC, UCDHSC; Nancy Kehiayan, MS, PHN, RN, CS, director of Quality Improvement, and Patricia Uris, PhD, RN, director of the Office of Knowledge Development, both at the Nurse–Family Partnership National Service Office, Denver; and Ruth O'Brien, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor of nursing at the School of Nursing, UCDHSC.

Contact author: [email protected].

Abstract

The author conducted a discussion with nurses participating in the Nurse–Family Partnership (NFP) in Colorado. The 10 attendees represented nine of the state's 18 NFP sites. Participants identified two elements that sustained their work: building relationships with clients and feeling they've made a difference in peoples' lives. The nurses also described it as “all-consuming” work that “never ends,” and made recommendations for the retention of nurses in this important initiative.

Feedback from those working in the Nurse–Family Partnership may help retain nurses.