Chapter 3 - The Public Health Nurse
Definition of Terms
Public health nursing
- refers to the practice of nursing !n national and local government health
departments (which includes health centers and rural health units), and
public schools
Public health nurse
- refer to the nurses in the local/national health departments or public
schools whether their official position title is Public Health Nurse or Nurse or
school nurse
Duties and Responsibilities of Community Health Nurses
A. Public Health Nurses (PHN)?
B. Occupational Health Nurses (OHN)?
C. School Health Nurses
▪ Health advocacy
▪ Health and nutrition assessment
▪ Supervision of the health and safety of the school plant
▪ Treatment of common ailments and attending to emergency cases
▪ Referrals and follow-up of pupils and personnel
▪ Home visits
▪ Community outreach
▪ Recording and reporting of accomplishments
▪ Monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects
Qualifications and Functions of Public Health Nurses (PHN)
A. Management Function
▪ The nurse, in whatever setting and role, has been trained to lead and
manage
▪ Objectives set for work being done can only be achieved through the
execution of the five management functions of planning, organizing,
staffing, directing and controlling
▪ This function is performed when she organizes the "nursing service" of the
local health agency
▪ In areas where there are more nurses, the management function of the
nurse is more apparent in managing the nurses and their activities
▪ Another emerging and acknowledged management function of the PHN is
program management - this is a function where the PHN actually excels in
▪ As a program manager, she is responsible for the delivery of the package
of services provided by the program to the target clientele
B. Supervisory Function
▪ The PHN is the supervisor of the midwives and other auxiliary health
workers in the catchment area - this is in accordance with agency's policies
and in a manner that improves performance and promotes job satisfaction
▪ As a supervisor, she formulates a supervisory plan and conducts
supervisory visits using a supervisory checklist to implement the plan
Definition of Terms
Public health nursing
- refers to the practice of nursing !n national and local government health
departments (which includes health centers and rural health units), and
public schools
Public health nurse
- refer to the nurses in the local/national health departments or public
schools whether their official position title is Public Health Nurse or Nurse or
school nurse
Duties and Responsibilities of Community Health Nurses
A. Public Health Nurses (PHN)?
B. Occupational Health Nurses (OHN)?
C. School Health Nurses
▪ Health advocacy
▪ Health and nutrition assessment
▪ Supervision of the health and safety of the school plant
▪ Treatment of common ailments and attending to emergency cases
▪ Referrals and follow-up of pupils and personnel
▪ Home visits
▪ Community outreach
▪ Recording and reporting of accomplishments
▪ Monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects
Qualifications and Functions of Public Health Nurses (PHN)
A. Management Function
▪ The nurse, in whatever setting and role, has been trained to lead and
manage
▪ Objectives set for work being done can only be achieved through the
execution of the five management functions of planning, organizing,
staffing, directing and controlling
▪ This function is performed when she organizes the "nursing service" of the
local health agency
▪ In areas where there are more nurses, the management function of the
nurse is more apparent in managing the nurses and their activities
▪ Another emerging and acknowledged management function of the PHN is
program management - this is a function where the PHN actually excels in
▪ As a program manager, she is responsible for the delivery of the package
of services provided by the program to the target clientele
B. Supervisory Function
▪ The PHN is the supervisor of the midwives and other auxiliary health
workers in the catchment area - this is in accordance with agency's policies
and in a manner that improves performance and promotes job satisfaction
▪ As a supervisor, she formulates a supervisory plan and conducts
supervisory visits using a supervisory checklist to implement the plan
