Mission...
The mission of ASTDN is to provide a peer and collegial forum for public health nursing leadership, recognizing the authority as well as the responsibility of the governmental role in protecting and promoting the health of the public..
Values...
A world where health is highly regarded
Optional pathways for achieving health
Universal access to health care
Prevention as the foundation for health promotion
An epidemiological base for decision making
Cultural diversity
Community empowerment
Collaboration and partnering
Excellence in health services
Leadership as an essential public health skill
Goals...
To participate with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) in promoting a program of national health protection and promotion.
To establish guidelines for states and territories in setting standards for public health nursing services.
To recommend and advocate the effective and efficient use of public health nurses in the provision of preventive, health promotion and personal health services.
To identify and promote methods of improving the education, utilization and distribution of public health nurses.
To develop innovative and collaborative partnerships with national governmental and voluntary agencies in programs to protect the public’s health.
To foster, advocate for and support public health nurses in leadership roles ain administrative, management and staff positions.
To assist in marketing public health nursing.
To assure that inputs from and perspectives of public health nursing are incorporated into position statements on the nursing profession
History...
The Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing (ASTDN) began in 1935 as an advisory group of state health department nurses. ASTDN continues today as an active association of public health nursing leaders from across the United States and its Territories. ASTDN is an affiliate of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).