UNIT I. OVERVIEW OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING IN THE PHILIPPINES Flashcards
is one of the major fields of nursing in the Philippines; the
other is hospital nursing. We generally use the terms community health nursing and public
health nursing, and community health nurse and public health nurse interchangeably.
Community Health Nursing
Those
who work in rural health units (RHUs) or health centers are community health nurses and
are officially called_____. Occupational health nurses (company
nurses) and school health nurses are classified as .
public health nurses (PHNs) ; community health nurses
Public health systems are operating within a context of ongoing changes, which
exert several pressures on the public health system.
These changes include
- Shifts in demographic and epidemiological trends in diseases, including the
emergence and re-emergence of new diseases and the prevalence of risk and
protective factors - New technologies for health care, communication, and information
- Existing and emerging environmental hazards some associated with
globalization - Health reforms
gives us an idea of the health situation in the
communities where nurses work. Because of the different conditions prevailing in these
communities, their health picture expectedly varies. The local health situation, therefore,
needs to be established for each province, city, and municipality.
national health situation
implemented through FOURmula ONE and operationalized in the national objectives for health 2005 to 2010 spell out the program imperatives of the health sector. All of these are in line with the millennium development goal and the medium-term development plan of the country
health sector reform agenda (HSRA)
State of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence
of disease or infirmity.
Health
relating to living together in organized groups or similar close
aggregates
Social
connotes community vitality and is a result of positive interaction
among groups within the community with an emphasis on health promotion and illness
prevention
Social health
’ refers to a positive rather than neutral state, framing health as a positive
aspiration
‘Wellbeing
Factors affecting health
- Income and social status
- Education
- Physical environment
- Employment and working conditions
- Social support networks
- Culture
- Genetics
- Personal behavior and coping skills
- Health services
- Gender
Indicators of health and illness
- Mortality and morbidity data
- Life expectancy
- Infant mortality
- Maternal mortality
- Age-adjusted death rates
- Disease incidence rates
(C.E. Winslow) is the science and art of (1) preventing disease, (2)
prolonging life, and (3) promoting health and efficiency through organized community
effort for;
1. Sanitation of the environment
2. Control of communicable infections
3. Education of the individual in personal hygiene
4. Organization of medical and nursing services for the early diagnosis and preventive
treatment of disease and
5. Development of the social machinery
Public health
The purpose of public health
is to improve the health of the public by promoting
healthy lifestyles, preventing disease and injury, and protecting the health of
communities.
Core public health functions
a. Assessment
b. Policy development
c. Assurance
is dedicated to the common attainment of the highest level of physical
mental and social well-being and longevity (Hanlon).
Public health
defined Community Health Nursing
as “the synthesis of nursing practice and public health practice applied to promoting and
preserving the health of populations”. This viewpoint noted that a community health nurse
directs care to individuals, families, or groups; this care, in turn, contributes to the health of
the total population.
American Nurses Association (ANA)
is considered to be a broader and more
general specialty area that encompasses subspecialties that include public health nursing,
school nursing, occupational health nursing, and other developing fields of practice such as
home health and independent nurse practice
Community health nursing
The philosophy of community health nursing is based on
the Worth and Dignity
of Man (Shetland
Field of Community Health Nursing in the Philippines
a. School Nursing
b. Occupational Health Nursing
Type of Public Health Nursing that focuses on the promotion of health and wellness
of the pupil/students, teaching and non-teaching personnel of the school.
School Nursing
The duties and
responsibilities of the school Nurse include the following:
- Health Advocacy
- Health and nutrition assessment –vision and hearing
- Supervision of the health and safety of the school plant
- Treatment of common ailments
- Referral and follow-up of pupils and personnel
- Home visits
- Community outreach like community assembly
- Recording and reporting of accomplishments
- Monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects
Functions of School Nurse
- School Health and Nutrition Survey
- Putting up a Functional School Clinic
- Health Assessment
- Standard Vision testing for School Children
- Ear examination
- Height and Weight Measurement and Nutritional status Determination
- Medical referrals
- Attendance to emergency cases
- Student Health Counseling
- Home Visitation
In the Philippines, the health of the people in the workplace is another important focus
for community health nursing practice, it is in the work setting that many individuals spend a
quarter to almost a third of their working lives each working person faces certain conditions
and develop certain patterns on the job that affect their health.
Occupational Health Nursing
has frequently been described as the synthesis of public health
nursing practice
Public Health Nursing