The document outlines the various roles and functions of public health nurses, including clinician, health educator, coordinator, supervisor, leader, manager, and researcher. It emphasizes their responsibilities in delivering quality nursing services, promoting health education, and collaborating with other health professionals and organizations. Additionally, it highlights specialized fields such as community mental health nursing, occupational health nursing, and school health nursing.

1. ROLES AND FUNCTIONS
OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH
NURSE
By Rommel Luis C. Israel III

2. ROLES OF THE
COMMUNITY HEALTH
NURSE

3. 1. CLINICIAN OR HEALTH
CARE PROVIDER
• The Nurse utilizes the nursing process in the care
of the client in the home setting through home
visits and in public health care facilities;
• The Nurse conducts referral of patients to
appropriate levels of care when necessary

4. 2. HEALTH EDUCATOR
• The utilizes teaching skills to improve the health
knowledge, skills and attitude of the individual,
family and the community
• The Nurse conducts health information
campaigns to various groups for the purpose of
health promotion and disease prevention

5. 3. COORDINATOR AND
COLLABORATOR
• The establishes linkages and collaborative
relationships with other health professionals,
government agencies, the private sector, non-
government organizations and people’s
organizations to address health problems

6. 4. SUPERVISOR
• The Nurse monitors and supervises the
performance of midwives and other auxiliary
health workers;
• The Nurse also initiates the formulation of staff
development and training programs for midwives
and other auxiliary health workers as part of their
training function as supervisors

7. 5. LEADER AND
CHANGE AGENT
• The Nurse influences people to
participate in the overall process of
community development

8. 6. MANAGER
• The Nurse organizes the nursing service
component of the local health agency or local
government unit;
• Also, as program manager, the PHN is responsible
for the delivery of the package of services provided
by the health program to target clientele

9. 7. RESEARCHER
• The Nurse participates in the conduct of research
and utilizes research findings in practice

10. RESPONSIBILITIES OF
THE COMMUNITY HEALTH
NURSE

11. Be a part in developing an overall health plan, its implementation and
evaluation for communities.
Be
Provide quality nursing services to the four levels of clientele
Provide
Maintain coordination/linkages with other health team members, NGO/
government agencies in the provision of public health services
Maintain

12. Conduct researches
relevant to CHN services
to improve provision of
health care
Provide opportunities for
professional growth and
continuing education for
staff developmen

13. SPECIALIZED FIELDS
OF COMMUNITY
HEALTH NURSING

14. COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
• a unique clinical process which includes an
integration of concepts from nursing, mental
health, social psychology, psychology, community
networks, and the basic sciences

15. OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH NURSING
• the application of nursing principles
and procedures conserving the
health of workers in all occupation

16. SCHOOL
HEALTH
NURSING
• the application of
nursing theories and
principles in the care of
the school population

17. REFERENCES
• University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. (2020, August 20). The Role and
Responsibilities of a Public Health Nurse. University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.
https://www.usa.edu/blog/public-health-nurse/
• Guild, S. N. (2023, March 3). The role and responsibilities of a community nurse. Scottish
Nursing Guild. https://scottish-nursing-guild.com/blog/role-responsibilities-community-nurse/
• Community Health Nurse Roles and Functions - RNpedia. (2017, July 4). RNpedia.
https://www.rnpedia.com/nursing-notes/community-health-nursing-notes/community-health-
nurse-roles-functions/
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