Community Health Nursing
Community Based Nursing
Community health nursing is defined as a synthesis of nursing and public health practice applied to promoting and preserving the health of populations, according to the ANA in 2000. As an R.N. in the ICU hospital setting, I have not come across the terms community based nursing and public health nursing often. Community health nursing is a synthesis of nursing practice and public health practice applied in promoting and preserving the health of populations. Since Community health nursing promotes self care of the individual, I have not experienced this type of nursing in my present position. As far as distinguishing between public health nursing, community health nursing, and community based nursing, they are different in many ways. Public health nursing has a broader base of practice, caring for the entire community, where community nursing has a more specific group or section of the society. When comparing the nursing code of ethics of different types of nursing, I find that there is no difference. Nurses have four fundamental responsibilities to promote health, to prevent illness, to restore health and alleviate suffering. Since all nurses should adhere to these four fundamental responsibilities, there should not be more than one code of ethics for nurses. Whether a nurse renders health services to individuals, family, or the community, there should be a consistency in ethics and integrity.
The role of the public health nurse as defined in a job description is as follows:
Monitor health trends and identity health risk factors unique to specific communities.
Set local priorities for health related interventions to provide the greatest benefit to the most people.
Advocate with local, state, and federal authorities to improve access to health services for underserved communities.
Design and implement health education campaigns and disease prevention activities, such as immunizations and screenings.
Community health nursing is defined as a synthesis of nursing and public health practice applied to promoting and preserving the health of populations, according to the ANA in 2000. As an R.N. in the ICU hospital setting, I have not come across the terms community based nursing and public health nursing often. Community health nursing is a synthesis of nursing practice and public health practice applied in promoting and preserving the health of populations. Since Community health nursing promotes self care of the individual, I have not experienced this type of nursing in my present position. As far as distinguishing between public health nursing, community health nursing, and community based nursing, they are different in many ways. Public health nursing has a broader base of practice, caring for the entire community, where community nursing has a more specific group or section of the society. When comparing the nursing code of ethics of different types of nursing, I find that there is no difference. Nurses have four fundamental responsibilities to promote health, to prevent illness, to restore health and alleviate suffering. Since all nurses should adhere to these four fundamental responsibilities, there should not be more than one code of ethics for nurses. Whether a nurse renders health services to individuals, family, or the community, there should be a consistency in ethics and integrity.
The role of the public health nurse as defined in a job description is as follows:
Monitor health trends and identity health risk factors unique to specific communities.
Set local priorities for health related interventions to provide the greatest benefit to the most people.
Advocate with local, state, and federal authorities to improve access to health services for underserved communities.
Design and implement health education campaigns and disease prevention activities, such as immunizations and screenings.
References: 1. International Council of Nurses, revised 2000 2. Public Health Nursing: Vol.9; issue 4, pages 223-272: Dec. 1992. 3. South University Online. (2014). NSG3028: Caring for the Community 4. Allender JA. Community Health Nursing: Promoting and Protecting the Public’s Health. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lipincott Williams & Wilkins; 2010. 5. American Nurses Association. Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. Silver Spring, MD: Nursebook .org; 2001. 6. American Nurses Association. Public Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice. Siver Spring, MD: Nursesbooks.org; 2007. 7. Clark MJ. Nursing in the Community: Dimensions of Community Health Nursing. 3rd ed. Stamford, CT: Appleton and Lange; 2001.