Role Of Public Health Nurses Research Articles

Guiding Mothers' Management of Health Problems of Very Low Birth‐Weight Infants

Explore the feasibility, usefulness, and outcomes of a pilot program to support mothers in developing competencies for managing health problems of their very low birth-weight (VLBW) infants in partnership with the primary care clinician (PCC). In a randomized study, mothers who received guided participation (GP) and printed guidelines for managing VLBW infant health problems were compared with mothers who received only the guidelines and standard care (GL group). All mothers (GP = 20; GL = 11) were at least 18 years old and English speaking. Infants were all VLBW (< or =1,500 g). GP began during the infant's neonatal intensive care unit stay and continued with public health nurses (PHNs) and a family service clinician through the infant's first 4 postterm months. Intervention feasibility and usefulness were assessed with maternal and clinician feedback. Outcomes included maternal and clinician appraisal of mothers' use of clinical resources and mothers' perceptions of primary-care quality and the family-PCC relationship. Intervention feasibility and usefulness were supported. GP and GL groups did not differ significantly on outcomes. Findings indicate a longer intervention period, GP organized by infant problem episodes, and enhancement of the PHN role in the context of interdisciplinary and interagency collaboration.

Avian influenza: risk, preparedness and the roles of public health nurses in Hong Kong

This paper provides an overview of the Hong Kong government's influenza preparedness plan and the key roles of public health nurses in that plan. The part played by Hong Kong public health nurses in the management of the avian influenza outbreak in Hong Kong in 1997 and the sudden acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003, together with the capacity-building work they are now undertaking in preparing for an influenza pandemic, highlight their crucial role in public health. Recent strengthening of public health infrastructure in Hong Kong and heightened public awareness of public health issues have facilitated more proactive and effective public health nursing activities.

Feeding Better Food Habits in Mid‐20th‐Century America

Public health nursing work has always involved education about nutrition and food habits. Nurses serve as interpreters of scientific and medical knowledge and as agents of behavioral change among the individuals and groups for whom they provide care. For public health nurses in mid-20th-century America, this meant direct involvement in many aspects of family life at home. Meal preparation and the eating patterns of family members were two areas into which most public health nurses had access. This brief history provides an introduction to some of the issues confronting American public health nurses at mid-century. Examining the content of articles related to nutrition in families around mid-century yields evidence about the role of the nurse, the state of the art in nutritional knowledge, and opinions and prejudices related to eating habits prevalent at the time. These glimpses into concerns expressed in the original Public Health Nursing journal may enhance understanding of the role of public health nurses in preventing diet-related disorders and form the basis for additional historical research.

The Role of Public Health Nurses in Bioterrorism Preparedness

Public health nurses have a central function in the public health system. Nurses conduct disease surveillance, which is an important first step in recognizing diseases caused by bioterrorist agents. Unfortunately, the current public health infrastructure and expectations for public health nurses are not clearly defined and therefore pose serious difficulties for conducting disease surveillance. Increased surveillance activities for bioterrorism preparedness add more responsibilities to the work of public health nurses. A qualitative study on disease surveillance was conducted with public health officials at regional and local levels, working in a variety of urban and rural settings in one large public health region in Texas. Data analysis was supported by qualitative research software, The Ethnograph. The study found that the nurses working at the local level were extremely dedicated to serving their communities, had formed informal partnerships that are essential for disease surveillance, and effectively used informal communication channels to obtain critical surveillance information. The study revealed that nurses had unmet needs and experienced multiple barriers to conducting disease surveillance. The study's findings could have implications for public policy and nursing leadership. Defining the structure of the public health system and the scope of public health nurses' responsibilities will serve as the cornerstone for improvement of bioterrorism preparedness.

The role of public health nursing in emergency preparedness and response.

Public health services are vital to homeland security and defense, and nurses make up the majority of public health care workers. This article identifies issues in preparing for bioterrorism and describes the role of public health nurses in bioterrorism preparedness.

Disaster Management and Response

1. The Changing Face of Nursing Practice: Homeland Security Challenges to Health Care Delivery (Boatright, McGlown) 2. Disaster Nursing Competencies (Bond, Beaton) 3. Care of the Victim of Bioterrorism During Aeromedical Evaluation (Cieslak, Herrold) 4. Historical Lessons Learned from Third World Disasters (Davies) 5. The Impact of the Disaster Experience on Culture, Self and Identity: A Need for Increased Awareness Among Healthcare Professionals (Deeny, McFetridge) 6. Mass Casualty Triage: Field Considerations in WMD Events (Hembree) 7. Antidote Therapy for Hazardous Materials (Lehmann, Weber) 8. Care of the Patient Exposed to Biological Agents (Ricciardi) 9. Role of Public Health Nurses in Emergency Preparedness and Response (Rowney) 10. Competency Development and How Competencies can be Integrated into the Basic Nursing Curriculum (Stanley) 11. Preparing Hospital-Based Nurses for Radiation Emergencies: Clinical Response and Systems Preparedness (Veenema) 12. A National Curriculum in Emergency Preparedness for Nurses (Weiner) 13. Pediatrics in Disasters (Hohenhaus)

The Public Health Nursing Role in Rural Japan

The objective of this study was to describe the activities of the public health nurses in the local community. The setting was a small rural town in central Japan. The design was a descriptive study based on informant interviews supplemented by participant observation. The sample consisted of five public health nurses, four health care workers in other fields, and seven clients, all living in the same town. Each participant was interviewed individually. Interviews focused on the participants' understanding of what public health nurses actually do. Semistructured interview guides for each group of participants served as a framework to elicit participants' views on the activities of the public health nurses. Analysis of interview transcripts indicated that commitment was a core concept in the role of the public health nurses. Linked to this central theme were three constructs describing their work: identifying the real needs of clients, responding appropriately and promptly, and establishing trust relationships. The interviews indicated considerable public support for collaborative activities involving public health nurses, other health care workers, and community members. Implications for public health nurses' expanded role in Japan in relation to other health care professionals are addressed.

Study on Roles of Public Health Nurses in the development of Drug-related Services at Public Health Centers

Study on Roles of Public Health Nurses in the development of Drug-related Services at Public Health Centers

A theory of maternal engagement with public health nurses and family visitors

Home visiting by public health nurses and family visitors is promoted as an important intervention for enhancing parent and child development. Mothers of children at-risk for developmental delays tend to be the most difficult to access and engage, and commonly drop out of home visiting programmes prematurely. This paper reports a study developing a theory that describes the process by which mothers of children at-risk engage with public health nurses and family visitors in a blended home visiting programme. Grounded theory was used to guide the collection, recording, organization and analysis of the data. A purposeful sample of 20 mothers receiving public health nurse and family visitor home visits were recruited from a public health unit in Canada. Data were collected through client record reviews and 29 in-depth interviews that explored participants' experiences, beliefs and expectations about engagement. Data collection and analysis continued until all categories were saturated. Mothers felt vulnerable and frequently powerless when they allowed the service providers into their home. Mothers with children at-risk engage with public health nurses and family visitors through a basic social process of limiting family vulnerability, which has three phases: (1) overcoming fear; (2) building trust; and (3) seeking mutuality. The personal characteristics, values, experiences and actions of the public health nurse, family visitor and mother influence the speed at which each phase is successfully negotiated and the ability to develop a connected relationship. Public health nurses working with families at risk need to identify client fears and perceptions related to home visiting, and to explain the role of public health nurses and family visitors to all family members. Given the importance that mothers place on the development of an interpersonal relationship, it is important for home visitors continually to assess the quality of their relationships with clients.

The Characteristic Role of Public Health Nurses in the Process of Care Management for Patients with Intractable Disease in the Nervous System

The Characteristic Role of Public Health Nurses in the Process of Care Management for Patients with Intractable Disease in the Nervous System

Creating a Mentoring Partnership Model

The purpose of this project was to increase the number of students participating in public health nursing experiences at Vermont Department of Health through creation of a mentoring partnership model. The model targeted preceptor needs, including roles and responsibilities when working with students; educational needs of faculty, particularly related to evolving roles of public health nurses; and creation of additional clinical opportunities for students. Outcomes included improved working relationships among students, faculty, and public health mentors as measured by narrative evaluative comments of project participants; a 150% increase in the number of students participating in public health nursing clinical experiences; expanded involvement of Vermont Department of Health district offices and central office, with the addition of two new clinical sites and increased numbers of students in sites used prior to this project. Guidelines for preceptors working with students were also developed.

Educating mothers: the wisconsin bureau of maternal and child health

Health-care providers, social reformers, educators, and politicians were joined in a concerted effort to improve maternal and child health in the USA in the inter-war period. Identifying the critical role of mothers in this endeavor, their campaigns were designed to educate women in ‘modern,’ appropriate childcare practices predicated on middle-class standards for urban families with the financial and medical resources to carry out such health-care prescriptions. Mothers who could not afford a private physician were urged to visit clinics emerging in American cities. Few historians have examined in any great depth the day-to-day issues faced by mothers or the role of public health nurses in these extensive campaigns. Most particularly, the experiences of rural mothers are only now receiving much attention. This article analyzes the work of public health nurses employed by the Department of Maternal and Child Health in the state of Wisconsin, who endeavored to bring modern science and medicine to mothers. Yet, at the same time they were forced to cope with local and national politics and with the strictures of the US medical system, namely, the separation of ‘public health’ and ‘private medicine’ in which medical treatment remained in the hands of private physicians and the activities of public health nurses were limited to health education. Their writings show nurses struggling both with the problems of rural poverty and with the constraints of public health within contemporary gender relations.

Educating mothers: the wisconsin bureau of maternal and child health

Abstract Health-care providers, social reformers, educators, and politicians were joined in a concerted effort to improve maternal and child health in the USA in the inter-war period. Identifying the critical role of mothers in this endeavor, their campaigns were designed to educate women in ‘modern,’ appropriate childcare practices predicated on middle-class standards for urban families with the financial and medical resources to carry out such health-care prescriptions. Mothers who could not afford a private physician were urged to visit clinics emerging in American cities. Few historians have examined in any great depth the day-to-day issues faced by mothers or the role of public health nurses in these extensive campaigns. Most particularly, the experiences of rural mothers are only now receiving much attention. This article analyzes the work of public health nurses employed by the Department of Maternal and Child Health in the state of Wisconsin, who endeavored to bring modern science and medicine to mothers. Yet, at the same time they were forced to cope with local and national politics and with the strictures of the US medical system, namely, the separation of ‘public health’ and ‘private medicine’ in which medical treatment remained in the hands of private physicians and the activities of public health nurses were limited to health education. Their writings show nurses struggling both with the problems of rural poverty and with the constraints of public health within contemporary gender relations.

The public health problem of acute respiratory illness in childcare.

Acute respiratory illness continues to be a significant problem for children attending childcare. The problems for the child are in terms of prevalence, incidence, and quality of life. Additional costs relate to parental absence from work and loss of earnings. This paper reports on the literature, and notes that little research has been undertaken to determine whether there are long-term risks or benefits to experiencing acute respiratory illness in early childhood. Research to date is presented, and the role of public health nurses is discussed in relation to how they might assist in reducing the incidence/prevalence of acute respiratory illness in children attending childcare.

A Study on Developing Strategies for Expanding the Roles of Public Health Nurses

【Purpose: This study was to identify activities and related problems on health promotion of public health nurses, and to investigate basic data proposed to revise strategies of Health Promotion Nurse Specialists (HPNS). Method: The subjects of this study were 787 public health nurses sampled by clustering of the entire nation of Korea. Data were collected by focus group studies and cross-sectional survey during April to October of 1999. Results: 13.3% of public health nurses took responsibility for health promotion projects and 45.9% were involved in health promotion work with in home care or other routine activities. Also, the factors public health nurses perceived as barriers to implement activities for health promotion were time limitation, lack of ability for planning projects, insufficient time for specialties, inadequate understanding about health promotion project. Conclusion: According to the study, they need to have special education and further technical support. These results have important implications for the establishment for the role of Health Promotion Nurse Specialist. Also, in developing systems and curriculums for Health Promotion Nurse Specialist, the major factors described above need to be considered carefully.】

地域保健法施行後の業務実態からみた保健所保健婦の役割と課題

地域保健法施行後の業務実態からみた保健所保健婦の役割と課題

The Role of Public Health Nurses in Service Delivery to Youth with Mental Disabilities

BACKGROUND: The mental health needs of children and adolescents are not being adequately addressed. OBJECTIVES: To describe the roles of public health nurses in the care of children and adolescents with mental disabilities and to explore incentives and barriers to expansion of the role in the care of this population. METHODS: Directors of nursing of public health agencies and executive directors of mental health agencies in Ohio responded to a mailed survey. RESULTS: The majority of respondents reported that public health nurses currently work with youth with mental disabilities, primarily in the roles of referral and providing physical health care. Both groups of directors saw potential for increasing roles-provided public health nurses received education and consultation. Both groups reported that barriers to expanding public health nurses' roles were the organization and funding of mental and public health systems. CONCLUSION: Although better utilization of public health nurses could improve children's health care and make more efficient use of scarce specialty mental health resources, financial and organizational barriers present significant challenges to collaboration.

The role of public health nurses in service delivery to youth with mental disabilities*1

Background : The mental health needs of children and adolescents are not being adequately addressed. Objectives : To describe the roles of public health nurses in the care of children and adolescents with mental disabilities and to explore incentives and barriers to expansion of the role in the care of this population. Methods : Directors of nursing of public health agencies and executive directors of mental health agencies in Ohio responded to a mailed survey. Results : The majority of respondents reported that public health nurses currently work with youth with mental disabilities, primarily in the roles of referral and providing physical health care. Both groups of directors saw potential for increasing roles—provided public health nurses received education and consultation. Both groups reported that barriers to expanding public health nurses' roles were the organization and funding of mental and public health systems. Conclusion : Although better utilization of public health nurses could improve children's health care and make more efficient use of scarce specialty mental health resources, financial and organizational barriers present significant challenges to collaboration.

Public health nursing in Japan: new opportunities for health promotion.

Major changes are taking place in public health nursing in Japan. These include significant developments in employment, education, and roles of public health nurses (PHNs). Demographic and economic factors have prompted the Japanese government to focus health service delivery on community-based care, particularly for the growing elderly population. Public health nurses are redefining their roles and are assuming important functions in planning, implementing, and evaluating community health programs for the elderly. Japanese PHNs are using a variety of health promotion strategies to initiate change at the local level. This article presents two case studies to highlight the leadership role of PHNs in creating new services that foster healthy communities.

Factors Related to the Continuity of Self Help Group Activities and a Role of Public Health Nurses

Factors Related to the Continuity of Self Help Group Activities and a Role of Public Health Nurses