Community Health Nursing

TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface...............................................................................I Acknowledgment..............................................................III Table of content................................................................IV List of figures.....................................................................X List of tables ....................................................................XI Abbreviations ..................................................................XII Unit one: Introduction to concepts of Community Health Nursing................................................................1 1.1. Introduction .....................................................1 1.2. Health ......................................................3 1.3. Health and wellness.........................................5 1.4. Health and illness ..........................................13 1.5. Health- illness continuum...............................14 1.6. Communing health practice...........................17 1.7. Community health nursing.............................18 1.8. Public health nursing......................................22 Review Questions......................................23 Unit two: Historical Development of Community Health Nursing .............................................................24 2.1. Introduction.................................................24 Review questions ................................199 Unit Fourteen: Home visiting and Home Health Service.200 14.1 Introduction............................................200 14.2 Purpose .................................................201 14.3 Factor influencing the growth of home health service....................................................202 14.4 Kinds of Home Care ..............................205 14.5 Principle of Home Visiting .....................205 14.6 Phases and Activities of Home Visiting .206 14.7 Areas/points to be assessed during home visiting....................................................207 14.8 Community health nursing bag..............207 14.9 Responsibilities of Community Health Nurses.....................................................210 Review questions ..........................................211 References .............................................................. 212 UNIT TWO HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING Learning Objectives On completion of this of this unit, students will be able to: • Describe the four stages of community health nursing development • Describe factors that influenced the growth of community health nursing 2.1. Introduction • Explain some of the roles of community health nursing • Summarize the settings of community health nursing Before one can fully grasp the nature of community health or define its practice, it is helpful to understand the roots and influencing factors that shaped its growth over time. Community health nursing is the product of centuries of responsiveness and growth. Its practice was adapted to accommodate the needs of a changing society, yet it has always maintained its initial goal of improved community health. Community health nursing development has been 24 Community Health Nursing influenced by changes in nursing, public health and society that is traced through several stages. In tracing the development of public health nursing, now it is clear that leadership role has been evident throughout its history. Nurses in this specialty have provided leadership in: planning and developing programs; shaping policy; administration; and the application of research to the community health. Four general stages mark the development of public health or community health nursing. • The early home care stage • The district nursing stage • The public health nursing stage • The community health nursing stage Early Home Care Stage (Before Mid 1800s) For many centuries female family members and friends attended the sick at home. The focus of this care was to reduce suffering and promote healing (Kalish and Kalish, 1986). The early roots of home care nursing began with religious and charitable groups. In England the Elizabethan poor law written in 1600, provided medical and nursing care to the poor and disabled. In Paris, St. Vincent DePaul started the sisters of charity in 1617, an 25 Community Health Nursing organization composed of laywomen dedicated to serving the poor and the needy. In its emphasis on preparing nurses and supervising care as well as determine causes and solutions for clients' problems their work laid a foundation for modern community health nursing (Bullough and Bullough, 1978). The set back of these services were: • Social approval following the reformation caused a decline in the number of religious orders with subsequent curtailing of nursing care for the sick and poor. • High maternal mortality rates prompted efforts to better prepare midwives and medical students. • Industrial revolution created additional problems; among them were epidemics, high infant mortality, occupational diseases, injuries and increasing mental illness both in Europe and America. This stage was in the midst of these deplorable conditions and response to them that Florence Nightingale () began her work. Much of the foundation for modern community health nursing practice was laid through Florence Nightingale's remarkable accomplishments. Nightingale’s concern for population at risk as well as her vision and successful efforts at health reform provided a model for community health nursing today. 2