New York University College of Nursing’s (NYUCN) Oral Health Nursing Education and Practice (OHNEP) Program announces the launch of an Interprofessional Oral Health Faculty Toolkit, an innovative web-based open source product intended to facilitate integration of oral-systemic health content and clinical competencies into nurse practitioner (NP) and midwifery (MW) curricula.
“Our Toolkit can serve as an exciting starting point for faculty, clinicians, and organizations as they work to play a leadership role in building interprofessional oral health workforce capacity,” notes Dr. Judith Haber, NYUCN associate dean for graduate programs and executive director of the OHNEP Program. “The Toolkit’s primary goal is to improve oral health access, by decreasing oral health disparities, improving oral health and overall health outcomes, preparing for accreditation, and improving the health of the communities they serve.”
The Toolkit is designed as a “turnkey” product for faculty and clinicians. It shows step-by-step how to “weave” oral health content, teaching-learning strategies, and clinical experiences into pediatric, adult-gerontology, family, women’s health, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and midwifery programs.
“Oral-systemic health is the perfect exemplar for developing interprofessional education experiences,” says. Erin Hartnett DNP, APRN-BC, CPNP, program director for NYUCN Oral Health Programs, OHNEP, and Teaching Oral Systemic Health (TOSH) Programs. “Each template takes the student from oral health exposure in the classroom to immersion in live or simulated clinical experiences. Additional interprofessional service learning experiences, as well as health literacy, advocacy, and policy activities are also included in our Toolkit.”
OHNEP leaders also stress that it is important for nurse practitioners and midwives on the frontline of primary care to have the interprofessional oral health competencies necessary to recognize and diagnose both normal and abnormal oral conditions and provide patients with treatment including, prevention, education, and referral as needed.
The OHNEP Interprofessional Oral Health Faculty Toolkit features:
- Curriculum Templates for Integrating Oral Health into NP and MW Health Promotion, Health Assessment, and Management Courses
- Links to Case Studies, Test Questions, Advocacy, Policy and Service Learning Activities
- Smiles for Life: A National Oral Health Curriculum (2010)
- Healthy People 2020 Module: Oral Health Across the Lifespan (2014)
- HRSA Report: Integration of Oral Health and Primary Care Practice (2014)
- Oral Health During Pregnancy; A National Consensus Statement (2011)
- IPEC Competencies (2011)
- Interprofessional Education Faculty Facilitation Guide
- Publications for further reading and research
Developed by the Oral Health Nursing Education and Practice (OHNEP) Program, the Interprofessional Oral Health Faculty Toolkit aligns with the Interprofessional Education Competencies (IPEC, 2011), the NONPF Core Competencies (2013), ACNM Midwifery Core Competencies (2012), and the HRSA interprofessional core competencies delineated in the Integration of Oral Health and Primary Care Report (2014).
The OHNEP Program, representing the nursing profession on the Steering Committee of the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health (NIIOH), is funded by the Dentaquest, Washington Dental, and Connecticut Health Foundations.
About the New York University College of Nursing
NYU College of Nursing is a global leader in nursing education, research, and practice. It offers a Bachelor of Science with major in Nursing, a Master of Science and Post-Master’s Certificate Programs, a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and a Doctor of Philosophy in Research Theory and Development. For more information, visit nursing.nyu.edu.