Trends in Public Health Nursing *

The public health nurse has become an essential link in bringing the science of public health to the community. The significance of the development of this branch of the nursing profession is emphasized by a broadened objective, from the care of the sick poor in their homes to the present concept of community nursing, embracing those services which prevent and relieve sickness, prolong life, and promote good family living and sound emotional and physical growth. Passing through various stages of growth, specialization, in which the nurse confined her activity to intensive work in one field, and generalization, in which she carried many services simultaneously, have been contributions. The changing pattern of community organization, the amazing medical discoveries resulting in an increase in the expectation of life, more ageing people and long-term illnesses, the vast possibilities of rehabilitation of patients to active participation in community activities which would formerly have been considered impossible, all have an influence on the public health nursing program. Along with this changing pattern has come the introduction of other groups of workers to the field, such as the health educator, the physiotherapist, the psychiatric social worker, the nutritionist, followed by a recognition of the need for integration or coordination of effort which will relate the experiences and functions of these different groups to one another. Sound administration of any enterprise or service calls for a group of people working together with individual functions coordinated into a smoothly working whole, each group seeing itself as important, but not isolated, in the total program. However, each group needs to evaluate its own specific area in the light of the concept of modern health service so that it will have a prescribed basis upon which to relate its experience and function to other groups. The National Organization for Public Health Nursing has recognized the need for re-evaluating public health nursing functions. In its statement of Program and Function,3 public health nursing is defined as