Search

Recent national initiatives in nursing and public health have emphasized the need for a robust public health nursing (PHN) workforce. In this article, we analyze the extent to which recent national enumeration surveys base their counts of this workforce on the definitions, scope, and standards for practice and practice competencies of the PHN nursing specialty. By and large, enumeration surveys continue to rely on practice setting to define the PHN workforce, which is an insufficient approach for meeting the goals of major nursing and public health initiatives. We make recommendations for the development of new standards for PHN enumeration to strengthen the broader public health infrastructure and evaluate PHN contributions to population-level outcomes. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(S3):S292–S297. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306782) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To examine public health nurse (PHN) intervention tailoring through the Colorado Nurse Support Program (NSP). Our 2 specific aims were to describe the NSP program and its outcomes and to determine the effects of modifying interventions on short- and long-term outcomes among NSP clients. Methods. In our retrospective causal investigation of 150 families in Colorado in 2018–2019, intervention effects were modeled via longitudinal modified treatment policy analyses. Results. Families served by PHNs improved in terms of knowledge, behavior, and status outcomes after receiving multidimensional, tailored home visiting interventions. Case management interventions provided in the first month of PHN home visits had lasting effects on behavior outcomes, and 2 additional case management interventions in the first month were estimated to have even more of an impact. Conclusions. Modern causal inference methods and real-world PHN data revealed a nuanced, fine-grained understanding of the real impact of tailored PHN interventions. Public Health Implications PHN programs such as the NSP and use of the Omaha System should be supported and extended to advance evaluations of intervention effectiveness and knowledge discovery and improve population health. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(S3):S306–S313. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306792) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers a practical guide for public health nurses on health coaching across the stages of vaccine readiness and action. Topics discussed include significant role of nurses and other public health workers conducting vaccination outreach in engendering trust in vaccines, definition of vaccine skepticism, and application of health coaching techniques to the stages of vaccine readiness and action framework.

The author discusses the family home visiting articles in the issue on intervention effectiveness knowledge for public health nurses (PHN) family home visiting practice. Topics include the role of PHNs in the era of extreme accountability and transparency for health care professionals, factor associated with expanding PHN family home visiting programs, and effectiveness of PHN family home visiting for a broad range of family home visiting groups and needs.

In case conferences, health care providers work together to identify and address patients' complex social and medical needs. Public health nurses from the local health department joined case conference teams at federally qualified health center primary care sites to foster cross-sector collaboration, integration, and mutual learning. Public health nurse participation resulted in frequent referrals to local health department services, greater awareness of public health capabilities, and potential policy interventions to address social determinants of health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the special issue of the journal on nursing and public health is presented which discusses the history of nursing aimed to protect, promote, and improve public health.

Objectives. I explored the underutilization of the community/public health nursing (C/PHN) credential by examining the individual characteristics of public health nurses, the value these nurses perceive for certification, the barriers,they perceive to obtaining or maintaining a C/PHN credential, and their credential status. Methods. I surveyed a national sample of 655 public health nurses regarding this more than 20-year-old credential. I analyzed variables related to perceived value, barriers, and characteristics of public health nurses. Results. The perceived value of credentialing did' not differ among public health nurses relative to whether they had ever had a C/PHN credential. The C/PHN credential, however, was obtained significantly more often by public health nurses in academic settings than by those working in practice settings. Conclusions. The C/PHN credential appears to be disproportionately underutilized and unknown to public health nurses in the practice community. Findings suggest, however, that utilization could be improved :by increasing the credential's visibility outside of academic environments and by establishing system-level changes that provide external recognition, such as salary increases and career advancement, for specialty credentials. (Am J Public Health. 2009;99: 944-949. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.150029) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A shift in the role of public health practice in the United States to population-focused care, together with demographic shifts increasing the diversity and age of the population, has created a need for a public health workforce more highly skilled in community and population-based practices. Despite this need, few changes have been made in the pattern of field placements for nursing students, in part because many public health nurses in population-focused roles are unfamiliar with models of successful student fieldwork in their areas. We describe the Public Health Nurses for Virginia's Future project, a successful project undertaken by nurse educators and public health leaders to increase the number of highly qualified graduates working in state and local health departments. INSETS: KEY FINDINGS;MODELS OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENT FIELDWORK ARISING.... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. This article describes a core public health nursing curriculum, part of a larger project designed to identify the skills needed by practicing public health workers if they are to successfully fill roles in the current and emerging public health system. Methods. Two focus groups of key informants, representing state and local public health nursing practice, public health nursing education, organizations interested in public health and nursing education, federal agencies, and academia, synthesized material from multiple sources and outlined the key content for a continuing education curriculum appropriate to the current public health nursing workforce. Results. The skills identified as most needed were those required for analyzing data, practicing epidemiology, measuring health status and organizational change, connecting people to organizations, bringing about change in organizations, building strength in diversity, conducting population-based intervention, building coalitions, strengthening environmental health, developing interdisciplinary teams, developing and advocating policy, evaluating programs, and devising approaches to quality improvement. Conclusions. Collaboration between public health nursing practice and education and partnerships with other public health agencies will be essential for public health nurses to achieve the required skills to enhance public health infrastructure. (Am d Public Health. 2000;90: 716-721) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The validity {sensitivity and specificity) of a preschool vision screening program was measured over a 3-year period to determine how well strabismus and significant refractive errors could be detected. Methods, Public health nurses were trained to administer tests of visual acuity, stereoacuity, and ocular alignment. Failure on any test, visual acuity of 6/9 or less, stereoacuity of less than 100 seconds of arc, or an apparent misalignment of the eyes resulted in referral to an eye care practitioner. An age-matched control was also referred. Analysis of practitioner reports used predefined study-based criteria for ocular abnormalities. Results. More than 1100 children were screened each year. The annually calculated prevalence of vision problems ranged between 10.5% and 13.8%. The estimated sensitivity varied from 60.4% to 70.9% (specificity, 69.6% to 79.9%). The yield indicated that a very high percentage of children with vision problems were identified for the first time. Conclusions. The validity of this screening is comparable to that of other school screenings. The limitations are predictable. Consideration should be given to replacing visual acuity tests with a rapid, objective measure of refractive error and ocular alignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. Florence Nightingale. in addition to her role in initiating nursing education programs, was also involved in developing nursing for the sick poor at home and in workhouses through her work for poor law and workhouse reform of the 1860s. Her writings on public health nursing--11 items that were written during a space of more than 30 years--emphasize the need for special training for public health nurses, the importance of sanitation and disease prevention through the nurse's teaching of the sick poor, and the demoralizing nature of poverty and pauperization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) was administered to 2,569 children live to seven months prior to starting kindergarten in September 1980 in a geographically well-defined community. The test was administered by trained public health nurses, At the end of the 1980-1981 school year. all 163 kindergarten teachers in the area completed a rating form for each child in their class. The rating form determined global ratings of: 1) learning abilities: 2) classroom behavior; 3) amount of special attention required: and 4) referrals to special education services outside the classroom. The specificity of the DDST in predicting kindergarten teacher ratings wan 99 per ¢ for all areas. Test sensitivity varied from 5 per ¢ to 10 per ¢ in detecting problems in the four areas. The predictive values or an positive test varied from 31 per ¢ for behavior problems to 62 per ¢ for extra attention required in the classroom. Negative test predictive values varied from 79 per ¢ to 93 per ¢. These results based on kindergarten teacher ratings suggest that, because of the low sensitivity and modest predictive value, the DDST may be relatively inefficient to use in a school entry screening program in a general community population of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of public health nurse postpartum home visits by comparing the health outcomes of 67 randomly selected mother-infant pairs who had received such services with 43 randomly selected mother-infant pairs who had not received them. Health outcome variables were mother's health and health services utilization, infant's health and health services utilization, and mother's parenting practices. Data were collected from birth certificates, health service records, and by home interviews and observations at six months postpartum. No significant differences were noted between home-visited and not-home-visited mother-infant pairs for the majority of health outcome variables, Major, differential health assets and liabilities between groups of Black and White mother-infant pairs were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of public health nurse postpartum home visits by comparing the health outcomes of 67 ramdomly selected mother-infant pairs who had received such services with 43 randomly selected mother-infant pairs who had not received them. Health outcome variables were mother's health and health services utilization, infant's health and health services utilization, and mother's parenting practices. Data were collected from birth certificates, health service records, and by home interviews and observations at six months postpartum. No significant differences were noted between home-visited and not-home-visited mother-infant pairs for the majority of health outcome variables. Major, differential health assets and liabilities between groups of Black and White mother-infant pairs were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of indigenous health aides in providing health care supervision and coordination for indigent families was assessed and compared with that of public health nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following report on health conditions in China has special value and interest. The author, a public health nurse, knows Chinese and had worked as a nurse in China during the period immediately preceding the establishment of the People's Republic. Moreover, her account covers several topics not covered in other reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This survey examines the knowledge and attitudes of public health nurses about family planning, and to determine their relationship to a number of factors. Differences were greatest for age than for other variables. Various questions for further study are raised since this survey is considered preliminary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A report is presented on a multiphasic screening program for preschool children in a rural area. It indicates new ways for public health nurses to serve this group of children, and illustrates an important and very practical contribution of personnel from states and local health departments to child health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Manitoba, Canada, a centralized, computerized childhood immunization monitoring system serves a population with insured medical coverage; each individual has a unique identification number. All physicians bill a single payer, and specific billing codes are used to identify immunizations given by physicians and by public health nurses. Together with dates of service, this information is used to construct immunizations-to-date and age-at-immunization profiles for individuals and groups. Reminders seeking missing information are built into the system and executed at strategic ages. The quality of input data has been assessed as high. The approach could be used readily by health maintenance organizations in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the status of public health nursing as an invisible profession, shows that the effectiveness of public health nursing has been documented, clarifies the contribution of public health nursing to population-based services, and proposes neighborhood-oriented nursing as the practice structure for the future. Public health nurses continue to be the biggest group of health professionals upholding the public health infrastructure in local communities. Although public health benefits the public, the practice competencies involved are subtle. A central tenet of practice, according to a qualitative analysis of narratives of expert public health nurses, is to promote family self care.

A report is presented on the provision of nursing service by public health nurses to workers in small plants. Major emphasis was on preventive medicine and health education. Further possibilities are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the history of public health nursing, noting its pioneer Lillian Wald and her role in defining the practice to include care for social and economic problems as well as sickness. The article describes efforts taken by Wald and her nursing partner Mary Brewster to help tenement dwellers in New York City and the history of the pair's Henry Street Nurses' Settlement. The associated Henry Street Visiting Nurse Service grew to provide services to the poor and immigrants across the city. A photograph of Henry Street visiting nurse Miss Pearson with a Chinese mother and her children is described.

The article discusses the concept of public health nursing from Lillian Wald to U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. When Wald visualized and created an entity called the public health nurse a century ago, she drew upon contemporary ideas that linked nursing, motherhood, social welfare and the public. As with many women reformers of her generation, Wald had faith in a social theory and practice that historians Seth Koven and Sonya Micheli have labeled maternalist as transforming motherhood from women's primary private responsibility into public policy. Wald's public health nurse was to be a bridge for patients not only to health care but also to full membership in the body politic.

The article discusses the importance of public health nursing in the U.S. In recent years, responsiveness has led public health nurses to take a more clinical, illness-oriented role rather than the traditional home and community-based preventive role. For more than 20 years health departments everywhere have been enticed into providing direct clinical care to people in their homes and clinics. Both public need and the revenue attached to these services have been the driving forces behind these changes. Public health nurses have been the human resource that has made these services a reality. These new assignments have diverted public health nurses from their major roles in assessment, surveillance, policy and health promotion and disease and injury prevention activities.

The article reports on the instructional program called "Preventive Health Care for the Aging (PHCA) Grand Rounds," in California, United States. The program, which is an interactive telephone conference created for public health nurses who provide leadership and professional services in local PHCA programs throughout the state is a collaboration between the University of California and the California Department of Health Services. It started out as a project of the California Geriatric Education Center, a consortium of the Los Angeles, San Francisco and Davis Campuses of the University of California.

The article reports on the historical background of Vermont Department of Health's International Travel Clinic and the community services being offered by the health facility. The clinic has its historical roots in the Yellow Fever Vaccine Clinic which was held monthly for many years and clients were seen in group sessions. The clinic sessions are associated with an introduction to international travel and review of the basic public health issues including vaccines. The clinics are being managed by public health nurses who stand under the orders of physician director.

The article offers information about the Saint Anthony Park Block Nurse Program that provides public health programs to meet the needs of the individual family and the needs of its own members in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Under the program, public health nurses assess the needs and provide professional nursing care for its client and family while professional volunteers provide counseling and emotional support to elderly person. The program avoids incentives to institutionalize clients or over-diagnose needs in order to obtain public reimbursement.

Abstract: The effect and cost of nursing follow-up services on school dental screening outcomes were investigated. Experimental and control groups were randomly assigned. A positive difference in dental visit rate occurred for all nurses, with the overall dentist visit-no visit, experimental-control odds ratio being 1.64 (95% CL = 1.15, 2.35). The service averaged 27.7 minutes and $8.92 per family contacted, suggesting that nursing follow-up increased dental care utilization after screening at low cost in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the education of parents for child rearing which has been a chief activity of public health nurses since the beginning of home visiting and well child clinics in the U.S. The program is designed to reduce death, disease, and disability and to add to the opportunity for a child to reach his full potential. The author also implies that the initiative of obtaining child development services remains a parental initiative.

This article profiles Eugenia Broughton, a public health nurse with the Berkeley County Health Department of South Carolina. Born in 1914, Broughton never married but devoted herself to the health care and education of people in the sparsely populated rural sector around Charleston. Broughton graduated in 1937 at the Charity Hospital of Savannah, Georgia. In 1948, postgraduate public health nurse training was completed by Broughton at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. The Berkeley County Health Department dedicated a building constructed by the South Carolina State Board of Public Health in recognition of her long service and devotion to better health in Berkeley County.