Public Health Nurses Focus on Community Health

Public health nursing is in the midst of a paradigm shift. As a result of the national movement toward population-based health care and a return to the core functions of public health, nurses at the Houston Department of Health and Human Services are focusing on the needs of populations rather than individuals.

The scope of practice for the public health nurse includes:

• providing key preventive health services in community-based settings to promote healthy lifestyles and to reduce the rate of infant mortality, cancer, injuries, stroke, heart attacks, childhood illnesses and the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases;
• screening and treating people for a wide range of health problems, including diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis, acute infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS, syphilis and gonorrhea;
• ordering and dispensing medications including birth control pills, antibiotics to prevent or cure tuberculosis and STDs;
• taking a leadership role in collaborating with community organizations to help plan and advocate for needed services; and
• training nursing staff for bioterrorism and disaster preparedness in order to collaborate with multiple community partners during times of disasters.

The department employs more than 200 public health nurses, located throughout the community. Nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses and clinic assistants comprise the nursing staff. They serve in areas throughout the department including family health services, immunizations, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, lead poisoning and case management services.

The three primary targets of service of public health nursing are the community, the family and the individual. In each of these areas, public health nurses provide the core public health functions of assessment, policy development and assurance. The primary concern of population-based public health is the health of the general public.

The department salutes its nursing staff because of their commitment to providing quality care to individuals and families throughout the communities in Houston.

EDITOR’S NOTE – Algia Hickenbotham currently directs public health nursing services at the Houston Department of Health and Human Servies, and has been employed with the department for 13 years. Hickenbotham along with the department’s director, Dr. Mary desVignes-Kendrick, would like to say "Thank You" to the entire nursing staff for their dedication to the profession and to the communities of Houston.

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/05_01_02/page_19.html