Community Health Nursing

Community Health Nursing: Definitions: 1) World Health Organization: a. Special field of nursing that combines skills of nursing public health… b. Function as part of total public health program for: i. Promotion of health ii. Improvement of condition iii.Rehabilitation of illness and disability Jacobsen a. Learned practice discipline with ultimate goal of contributing as individuals to promote client’s optimum level of functioning through teaching and delivery of care Dr. Ruth B. Freeman a. CHN is a unique blend of nursing and public health practice aimed at developing and enhancing health capabilities of people. It is involved in entire spectrum of health services for the community Tinkham and Voorhies, 1972 a. CHN is a field of nursing in which family and communities are patients b. Unique blend of nursing and public health practice woven into human service c. “The hallmark of CHN is that it is population or aggregate-focused.”

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Philosophy of CHN Dr. Margaret Shetland: “Philosophy is based on the worth and dignity of man.” Ultimate Goal “To raise level of health of the citizenry.” Objectives of CHN 1) 2) 3) participate… conduct researches… coordinate…

Concepts of CHN • • • • • emphasis on importance of “greatest good for the greatest number” assessing health needs, planning, implementing and evaluating impact of health services on population group priority of health promotive and disease preventive strategies over curative interventions tools for measuring and analyzing community health problems application of principles of management and organization of the delivery of health services to the community

Basic Principles of Community Health Nursing

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family is the unit of care, community is the patient and the four levels of clientele of CHN are: ○ individual ○ family ○ group ○ community goal of improving community health involves multidisciplinary effort CHN works not for individual patient, family, group or community. The