Institute:Office of National Coordinator (ONC) Workforce Training Curriculum
Component:The Culture of Health Care
Unit:Nursing Care Processes
Lecture:Nursing routines and procedures including performing invasive procedures, administering medication, documenting procedures, and using technology
Slide content:Public Health Nursing Public health nurses Promote health within a community Help create public health policies Might work for clinic or health maintenance organization (HMO) Often work for government agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 9
Slide notes:Like ambulatory care nurses, public health nurses focus on health promotion and education. The difference is that public health nurses look at the health of an entire community or population. They look at how community health is affected by cultural, economic, and other forces, and they help create public policies to make the community healthier. An example would be working to pass a statewide law against smoking in restaurants. Public health nurses might also help assess how effective a health care system is. Some public health nurses are employed by clinics or health maintenance organizations where they work with individual patients and their families to educate them about community health needs, wellness, and prevention. Public health nurses may work for organizations at the county and state levels. Also, they may work for state or federal government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 9