Foundations in Public Health Nursing

Question 1

Define public health

Answer 1

• What we do collectively to ensure the conditions in which people can be healthy
• Focus on prevention and protection
• “We” = encompasses many professionals
• “Conditions” = access to care, environmental conditions, other SDOH

Question 2

Define public health nursing

Answer 2

• Synthesis of nursing theory and public health theory applied to promoting and preserving health of populations
• Population-based lens
• Focus on preventing disease and disability; promoting and protecting health of the community as a whole

Question 3

Describe the Quad Council

Answer 3

• Alliance of 4 member organizations that address nursing and public health issues
• Members: Public Health Nursing section of American public Health Association, Association of State and Territorial Directors of Public Health Nursing, Association of Community Health Nurse Educators, National Association of School Nurses
• Published Scope and Standards of Public Health Nursing Practice and Core Competencies

Question 4

Understand the components of population-based practice

Answer 4

• Focus on entire population (collection of individuals who have one or more common characteristics)
• Grounded in assessment of population’s health status
• Considers broad determinants of health
• Emphasizes all levels of prevention
• Intervenes with communities, systems, individuals, families

Question 5

Explain how social ecological model and health impact pyramid serve as frameworks for working in public health

Answer 5

• Social Ecological Model: Individual (knowledge/skill) is influenced by Interpersonal (families/friends), Organizational (organization and institution), Community (relationships btw organizations), and Public Policy (national/state/local laws)
• Health Impact Pyramid: Socioeconomic Factors, Changing Context to make individuals’ default decisions healthy, Long-lasting protective interventions, Clinical interventions, Counseling and education. Individual effort needed increases toward top of pyramid and population impact increases toward bottom of pyramid

Question 6

List and define the 3 core public health functions

Answer 6

• Assessment: systematically collecting data on population, monitoring health status of population, making health information available (monitor health, diagnose and investigate)
• Policy Development and Planning: provide leadership in developing policies that support the health of the population (inform, educate, empower, mobilize community partnerships, develop policies)
• Assurance: ensuring essential community-oriented health services are available (enforce laws, link to/provide care, assure competent workforce, evaluate, research)

Question 7

List and define the levels of prevention

Answer 7

• Primary: prevention of initial occurrence of disease/illness (vaccination, hand hygiene)
• Secondary: early detection of disease and treatment with goal of limiting severity and adverse events (screening)
• Tertiary: maximization of recovery after illness or injury (rehab)