PUBLIC HEALTH

“science and art of preventing disease

prolonging life and promoting health
and efficiency through organized
community effort for the sanitation
to ensure a living adequate for the
maintenance of health”
- Dr. C.E. Winslow
 PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING

“Special field of nursing

that combines the skills

of nursing, public health,
and some phases of social
assistance and functions
as part of the total public health program.”
COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING
“Service rendered by a professional nurse to
communities, groups, families, and individuals
at home, in health centers, in clinics, in
schools, and in places of work for the
promotion of health, prevention of illness,
care of the sick at home, and rehabilitation. “
-Ruth B. Freeman
“Nursing practice in a wide variety of
community services and consumer
advocate areas, and in a variety of roles, at
times including independent practice…
Community nursing is certainly not
confined to public health nursing agencies.”
– Jacobson, 1975
“The utilization of the nursing process in
the different levels of clientele –
individuals, population groups and
communities, concerned with the
promotion of health, prevention of
disease and disability and rehabilitation.”
-Maglaya, et al
 GOAL!!

“Raise the level of citizenry by helping

communities and families to cope with
the discontinuities in and threats to
health in such a way as to maximize
their potential for high-level wellness”
-Nisce, et al
STANDARDS OF PUBLIC HEALTH
NURSING IN THE PHILIPPINES
• The standards differentiated public health
nursing from community health nursing only
in one area: setting of work as dictated by
funding.
• The government is the employer of Public
Health Nurses both at the national and local
health agencies.
 Principles of CHN
The community is the patient in CHN, the family is the
unit of care and there are four levels of clientele:

individual, family, population group (those who share

common characteristics, developmental stages and
common exposure to health problems – e.g. children,
elderly), and the community.
 Principles of CHN

• In CHN, the client is considered as an

ACTIVE partner NOT PASSIVE recipient
of care.
• CHN practice is affected by
developments in health technology, in
particular, changes in
society, in general
• Thegoal of CHN is achieved through
multi-sectoral efforts.
• CHN is a part of health care system
and the larger human services system
Responsibilities of the Community Health Nurse

• Participates in developing an overall health plan,

its implementation and evaluation for
communities.
• Provide quality nursing services to the four levels
of clientele.
• Maintain coordination/linkages with other health
team members, NGO/government agencies in the
provision of public health services.
 Responsibilities of the Community
Health Nurse
• Initiates and conducts researches relevant to
CHN services to improve provision of health
care.
• Initiates and provides opportunities for
professional growth and continuing education
for staff development.
 References:
Beaglehole, R and Bonita, R (2010). What is Global Health. Global Health Action.
Taylor &
Francis Group. www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov.
Ten threats to global health 2019. World Health Organization (2020). www.who.int
Country Cooperation Strategy at a glance – Philippines. World Health Organization
(2018).
www.who.int
Field Health Service Information System Annual Report 2018
Human Population: Lesson Plans (2020). Population Reference Bureau, Washington,
DC.
www.prb.org