Public health nursing (PHN) connects nursing practice with public health and social sciences to improve health across populations. This lesson introduces its purpose, scope, guiding values, and emphasis on prevention.
Public health nursing promotes and protects the health of populations by applying nursing, social, and public health knowledge for social betterment. Its focus is not defined by a particular workplace. Rather, PHN is defined by its population-health perspective and partnership with people and communities.
All flashcards
Population-based practice
Practice that considers the health needs and outcomes of a group or community alongside the individuals and systems within it.
Upstream determinants of health
Conditions in which people live, work, learn, play, and worship that shape health before clinical care is sought.
Shared governance
A state-local arrangement in which leadership may vary while authority is divided between levels of government.
Public health nurse's defining focus
Population health and partnership with people and communities, rather than a particular practice setting.
Federal funding pathway to local health departments
Federal funds most often go first to state health departments, which then distribute funds to local departments.
Quiz questions
In shared governance of public health departments, how is authority distributed?Answer: Leadership may be state or local, while authority is divided between them.
What is the typical legal relationship between a local health department and its state?Answer: The local department derives authority from the state and follows applicable state laws.
Why can federal grants limit a health department's flexibility?Answer: They are often directed toward specific diseases or programs.
For each $1 spent on public health interventions focused on diabetes and cardiovascular health, what health spending savings are reported?Answer: $5 in health spending is saved.
What distinguishes public health nursing from nursing defined mainly by its practice setting?Answer: A population-health focus and partnership with communities.
Based on Population Health for Nurses by Jessica Ochs, Sherry L. Roper, Susan M. Schwartz (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.