The health sector is unique and requires a systematic approach that begins from the lowest level of abstraction to the very highest levels of the society (Holden et al., 2015).
Individual health nursing: At the lowest of abstraction is the individual health. This encompasses the health as presented and visible across individuals in the society. It focuses on how each plays a role in managing their health and how well they respond to the environmental changes.
Family health nursing: Family health nursing encompasses the family as the client. The family as a unit determines the health manifested by the members of that family (Bekemeier et al., 2015). Such approaches at the primary level would include smoking cessation programs for individuals/family while at the secondary level it would include regular blood screening and tests to help identify any potential chronic illnesses. At the tertiary level, the advocacy for peer education for individuals by linking them to groups with similar problems would appropriately be a major role for the nurses (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2013).
Community health nursing: Community health nursing is more concerned about the behavioral influences of health within the notion that behaviors have a significant influence on health. In this case, the role of the community health nurse revolves around interaction with families and groups to promote health, disease prevention. Measures such as vaccination programs as primary prevention strategies, community health screening programs at the secondary level are notable approaches. Advocacy, lobbying and legislation of laws that improve the socioeconomic value of communities such as improved housing and sewerage are suitable at the tertiary level. The community health nurse perceives the community as the client (Holden et al., 2015).
Public health nursing: Public health on its part is a wider perspective that focuses on the issues revolving around social justice as it entails the health of the people. At the primary level, the inclusion of sporting programs within the school curriculum would essentially help addresses various health issues that affect children at an early; stage due to sedentary lifestyles (Joyce et al., 2015). On the other hand, at the secondary level within the public health settings, the introduction of public health screening programs would play a key role in the management of chronic illnesses. At the tertiary stage, the introduction of legislation to increase care access by disadvantaged groups would play a key role. This is through the provision of programs that help these groups to access care even within the limiting socioeconomic conditions (Knowles, 2015).
Issues that the community and public health nurse may be facing
A major challenge for these two roles is the fact that societies are highly disintegrated in the contemporary society, and the nurses serving within these roles find it hard to seek a common ground regarding policy making and lobbying (Duffy, McCullagh & Lee, 2015). On the other hand, the presence of community forces especially the food industries, the pharmaceutical firms, and other interested parties have more resources at their disposal in which they can influence the views and opinions at the community level to favor their products with little concern for health (DeMarco & Harkness, 2012).
References
Bekemeier, B., Walker Linderman, T., Kneipp, S., & Zahner, S. J. (2015). Updating the Definition and Role of Public Health Nursing to Advance and Guide the Specialty. Public Health Nursing, 32(1), 50-57.
DeMarco, R. F., & Harkness, G. A. (2012). Community and Public Health Nursing Evidence for Practice.
Duffy, S. A., McCullagh, M., & Lee, C. (2015). Future of Advanced Practice Public Health Nursing Education. Journal of Nursing Education, 54(2), 102.
Holden, R. J., Scott, A. M. M., Hoonakker, P. L., Hundt, A. S., & Carayon, P. (2015). Data collection challenges in community settings: Insights from two field studies of patients with chronic disease. Quality of Life Research,24(5), 1043-1055.
Joyce, B. L., O'Brien, K., Belew‐LaDue, B., Dorjee, T. K., & Smith, C. M. (2015). Revealing the Voices of Public Health Nurses by Exploring Their Lived Experience. Public Health Nursing, 32(2), 151-160.
Knowles, S. (2015). PA30 Why specialist community public health nurses should work in end of life care. BMJ supportive & palliative care, 5, A28-9.
Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2013). Public Health Nursing-Revised Reprint: Population-Centered Health Care in the Community. Elsevier Health Sciences.
