History of Public Health
The History of Public Health and the Role of the Community/Public Health Nurse
Walden University
NURS 4010 Section 04, Family, Community, and Population-Based Care
10 / 21 / 2012
The History of Public Health and the Role of the Community/Public Health Nurse
Overview
Public health, a population-centered nursing had been in existence since the late 1880s under the guise of different names. The focus of public health nursing was on sanitation, communicable disease control, disease prevention and disability, and education. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the history of public health nursing and how it impacts the practice of nursing in the community.
History of Public Health Nursing
In the past, public health, which is population-centered nursing had different names. Names like visiting nurse, school nurse, district nurse, home health nurse, and occupational health nurse were all associated with public health. Nurses worked in communities to improve the health of the population. These challenging roles began in the late 1800s with a focus on sanitation, communicable disease control, disease prevention and disability, and health education. National interest to address public health issues increased in the mid nineteenth century to improve urban living conditions due to increasing outbreak of smallpox, yellow fever, cholera, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Florence Nightingale’s vision of trained nurses and nursing education model influenced the development of public health nursing to meet the urban health needs. Settlement houses were established later as neighborhood centers for health care, education, and social welfare programs. For instance, Lilian Wald, the first public health nurse, established the Henry Street settlement in New York which helped to influence the growth of community nursing. Today, this population-focused practice that emphasizes on health protection, health promotion and disease prevention are the
Walden University
NURS 4010 Section 04, Family, Community, and Population-Based Care
10 / 21 / 2012
The History of Public Health and the Role of the Community/Public Health Nurse
Overview
Public health, a population-centered nursing had been in existence since the late 1880s under the guise of different names. The focus of public health nursing was on sanitation, communicable disease control, disease prevention and disability, and education. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the history of public health nursing and how it impacts the practice of nursing in the community.
History of Public Health Nursing
In the past, public health, which is population-centered nursing had different names. Names like visiting nurse, school nurse, district nurse, home health nurse, and occupational health nurse were all associated with public health. Nurses worked in communities to improve the health of the population. These challenging roles began in the late 1800s with a focus on sanitation, communicable disease control, disease prevention and disability, and health education. National interest to address public health issues increased in the mid nineteenth century to improve urban living conditions due to increasing outbreak of smallpox, yellow fever, cholera, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Florence Nightingale’s vision of trained nurses and nursing education model influenced the development of public health nursing to meet the urban health needs. Settlement houses were established later as neighborhood centers for health care, education, and social welfare programs. For instance, Lilian Wald, the first public health nurse, established the Henry Street settlement in New York which helped to influence the growth of community nursing. Today, this population-focused practice that emphasizes on health protection, health promotion and disease prevention are the
References: Oberle, K. & Tenove, S. (2000). Ethical issues in public health nursing. Vol. 7, Issue 5, p 425-439. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost.delivery. Stanhope, M. & Lancaster, J. (2012). Public health nursing. Population-centered health care in the community. Imprint of Elsevier inc. Maryland Height, Missouri. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1994. National Public Health Performance Standards. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nphpsp/