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Overview of Public Health Nursing & Activities of the Community Health Nurse

Community – A group of people living together, sharing values, customs, and institutions that guide how they live.

 

Health (WHO) – Complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just absence of disease.

 

Community Health – Health programs and services organized for the whole community, not just individuals, done by government and private groups.

 

Community Health Nursing (CHN) – A branch of nursing that serves individuals, families, groups, and communities. It promotes health, prevents disease, provides care, and helps with recovery.

Basic Principles of CHN

  • The community is the patient, not just one person.

  • The family is the unit of care, because health issues often affect the whole family.

  • Levels of clientele:

    • Individual (a single person)

    • Family (basic unit of society)

    • Population group (those with common characteristics, e.g., children, elderly, workers)

    • Community (the entire group of people living in one area)

  • Clients are active partners, meaning they join in planning and decision-making.

  • CHN responds to social and technological changes (example: new diseases, new vaccines).

  • Achieved through multi-sectoral collaboration (schools, LGUs, NGOs, health workers).

  • Part of the health system and the larger human services system.

 

 

 

History in the Philippines

  • 1922 – First CHN course started (UP, PGH, Red Cross, etc.), due to growing health needs in cities and provinces.

  • 1957 (RA 1891) – Law created Rural Health Units (RHUs), which provide basic health services to communities.

 

Goals & Philosophy

  • Goal of Public Health (C.E. Winslow): To help people achieve their right to health and long life.

  • Philosophy (Margaret Shetland): Every person has worth and dignity, so health care must respect that.

Roles of a Community Health Nurse

  1. Planner/Programmer – Identifies health problems, makes health plans, and helps implement programs, especially if there’s no doctor.

  2. Health Educator/Trainer – Provides health information (talks, posters, counseling) on topics like breastfeeding, immunization, safe pregnancy.

  3. Community Organizer – Encourages people to join in solving their health problems and to become self-reliant.

  4. Coordinator of Services – Links families and communities to government and NGO programs (e.g., PhilHealth, DOH services).

  5. Provider of Nursing Care – Gives direct nursing care at home, school, clinic, or workplace. Involves the family in caring for the sick.

  6. Health Monitor – Visits homes, checks health status, detects early signs of problems, and keeps accurate records.

  7. Researcher – Collects data, conducts small studies or surveys to understand health needs.

  8. Statistician – Records, consolidates, and analyzes health data to guide planning.

  9. Change Agent – Encourages healthier lifestyles and practices, motivates the community to make positive changes.

Core Values of CHN

  1. Integrity – Be honest, respect confidentiality, build trust.

  2. Professionalism – Maintain high standards, show leadership, be responsible.

  3. Competence – Be skilled in conflict resolution, ethical decision-making, and adaptability.

  4. Commitment – Keep promises and fulfill duties to clients and community.

  5. Openness – Be transparent, accept feedback, and communicate clearly.

  6. Teamwork – Work well with colleagues, respect each member’s role, collaborate effectively.

  7. Patriotism – Show love for country by serving people and communities faithfully.

 

Culture & Health

  • Culture shapes health beliefs and practices. People may mix traditional beliefs with modern medicine.

  • Madeleine Leininger’s theory: Nurses must consider cultural diversity and provide care that respects the client’s cultural background.

Activities of a Community Health Nurse

  • Home visits – Observe living conditions, assess health, and give care.

  • School health – Health teaching, immunization, growth checks, first aid.

  • Environmental sanitation – Promote clean water, waste disposal, and hygiene.

  • Maternal & child health – Prenatal and postnatal care, immunization, family planning, growth monitoring.

  • Communicable disease control – Immunization, case-finding, treatment follow-up.

  • Non-communicable disease control – Health education, early detection (e.g., hypertension, diabetes).

  • Nutrition program – Feeding programs, counseling on proper diet, growth monitoring.

  • Health education – Campaigns using posters, lectures, home visits.

  • Emergency care – First aid and referral when needed.

  • Record-keeping & reporting – Documentation for program monitoring, evaluation, and planning.

The public health bag- it contains basic medications and articles which are necessary for giving care