The student nurse is investigating different types of practice setting

The student nurse is investigating different types of practice settings. In looking at community health nursing, the student recognizes that it:

1. Is the same as public health nursing
2. Focuses on the incidence of disease
3. Requires graduate-level educational preparation
4. Includes direct care and services to subpopulations

ANSWER

ANS: 4
Community health nursing strives to safeguard and improve the health of populations in the community as well as providing direct care services to subpopulations within a community. Pub-lic health nursing is concerned with trends and patterns influencing the incidence of disease within populations. A community health nurse may be involved in direct client care for disease within a community. Public health nursing focuses on the needs of populations. Community health nursing has a broader focus, with an emphasis on the health of a community. The commu-nity health nurse merges public health knowledge with nursing theory. The community health nurse considers the needs of populations and is prepared to provide direct care services to sub-populations within a community. Nurses who become expert in community health practice may have advanced nursing degrees, yet the baccalaureate-prepared generalist also can become quite competent in formulating and applying population-focused assessments and interventions.