Need A Public Health Nurse's Insight

[katy81]

i am currently in my public health class and we are to do a short interview with a public health/community nurse. i have called a few, but have not heard back from anyone and i was wondering if anyone on here could help me out? it's just three short questions to answer and then i write up a two page paper on your responses. if anyone can help i'd greatly appreciate it!! below are the questions:

[color=#333333]to what degree do you provide care to individuals, families or groups?

[color=#333333]how do you use data about the public or aggregates to target and plan for care?

[color=#333333]what current research findings do you use to strengthen evidence-based practice?

again, thank you for any help!!

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

Let me know if you need add'l info. Happy to help!

To what degree do you provide care to individuals, families or groups?

Many of us do provide direct client services regularly, but they are actually population-driven, preventive strategies intended to benefit the health of the community. For example, providing an immunization to one client actually protects the community from that disease. Our care is both population-based and aimed at prevention. The services we provide are intended to promote the health of the entire community.

How do you use data about the public or aggregates to target and plan for care?

Health departments engage in community health assessments periodically to identify service needs/gaps in the community. Our services, when the budget allows, are targeted towards those areas of need. For example, an assessment may reveal that there may be no resources in the community for an uninsured, pregnant patient to receive prenatal care at a reasonable cost. The health department may step in to fill that role.

What current research findings do you use to strengthen evidence-based practice?

I am constantly referring to the CDC and professional resources such as Medscape to stay up-to-date on current recommendations and guidelines, which are continuously evolving. Two examples: More data and updated guidelines are now available on the use of the IGRA (TB blood test) as an alternative to the traditional PPD/TST, and we have incorporated the use of this method to detect TB infection or disease. Immunization recommendations recently included clients under 60 who have diabetes as population that would benefit from Hep B vaccine. We implemented that recommendation immediately.