Public Health Nursing

Public Health Nursing is a field of nursing studies that seeks the prevention of diseases, prolonging of life and promotion of healthy living. It is concerned with the assessment, diagnosis, implementation and evaluation of interventions towards the improvement of general health of the community.

These are done through efforts and interventions that target the society, organizations, public and private communities. The course entails the overall wellbeing of the society by advocating for healthy living.

The term community health nursing can be used to refer to this field of medical health practice. It targets the improvement of the whole community welfare in regard to the health. The role that the nurses in this field play is known as primary prevention. It entails the prevention of diseases, injury, disability and avoidance of premature death.

They can work as environmental health specialists, health educators, epidemiologists, physicians, and nutritionist. They work with local communities to help formulate ways of dealing with the community through projects for elimination of problems which face the society. This is because health is one of the causes of poverty which hinders development.

Most of the time the health education offered by the nurses are carried out in homes, workplaces, and other community arrangements. They assist the community to apply the education offered to them through the monitoring and evaluation of the progress made by the community.

Some of the issues that the community seeks to do away with are excessive tobacco use, improper diet, diseases, exercise, sexual practices and cleanliness among others. Public Health Nursing seeks to change individual lifestyles and guide the society towards the choices they make in relation to healthy living.