CENTRAL LUZON DOCTORS’ HOSPITAL

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, INC

Romulo Highway, San Pablo, Tarlac City
Tel No. (045) 982-5019/ 982-5052/ 982-0264 Fax No. (045) 982-0780/982-2757

DEPARTMENT OF NURSING

CHN
MODULE 1

COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING

■ The synthesis of nursing practice and public health practice applied to promoting and
preserving the health of population.
■ Considered to be broader and more general specialty area that encompasses
subspecialties that include public health nursing, school nursing, occupational health
nursing and other developing fields of practice, such as home health, hospice care, and
independent nurse practice.

Why Is Community Health Nursing Important?

⮚ important because there are members of society who do not have access to
healthcare. Nurses work in communities to reach people who need assistance with
treating medical conditions and maintaining their health.

Some reasons why community members may not seek out medical care include:
✔ They are unable to pay for healthcare.
✔ They have no insurance.
✔ They have no transportation.
✔ They are not able to physically travel to a physician's office or hospital.
✔ They lack knowledge of where to go for healthcare.

Health
⮚ Health is considered as the goal of public health in general and of community health
nursing in particular. Health has been defined as a state of complete physical, mental,
and social well-being and not merely the absence of a disease or infirmity (WHO,
1995).

Community
Where Do Community Health Nurses Work?
Community health nurses work in small towns, cities or rural areas. In addition, they are
employed in a variety of healthcare settings. You may find community health nurses in places
such as:
• Clinics
• Churches
• Community health centers
• Nonprofit organizations
• Private homes
• Schools

Public Health Nursing

⮚ refers to the practice of nursing in national and local government health departments
(which includes health centers and rural health units), and public schools. It is
community health nursing practiced in the public sector

Public health nursing is a systematic process by which:

1. The health and health care needs of a population are assessed in order to identify
subpopulations, families and individuals who would benefit from health promotion or
who are at risk of illness, injury, disability or premature death.
2. Plan for intervention is developed with the community to meet identified needs that take
into account available resources, the range of activities that contribute to health and the
prevention of illness injury, disability, and premature death.
The plan is implemented effectively, efficiently and equitably.
Contents of PHN Bag

✔ Paper lining
✔ Extra paper for making waste bag
✔ Plastic/linen lining
✔ Apron
✔ Hand towel
✔ Soap in a soap dish
✔ Thermometers (oral and rectal)
✔ 2 pairs of scissors (surgical and bandage)
✔ 2 pairs of forceps (curved and straight)
✔ Disposable syringes with needles (g. 23 & 25)
✔ Hypodermic needles (g. 19, 22, 23, 25)
✔ Sterile dressing
✔ Cotton balls
✔ Cord clamp
✔ Micropore plaster
✔ Tape measure
✔ 1 pair of sterile gloves
✔ Baby’s scale
✔ Alcohol lamp
✔ 2 test tubes
✔ Test tube holders
✔ Solutions of:
o Betadine
o 70% alcohol
o Zephiran solution
o Hydrogen peroxide
o Spirit of ammnonia
o Ophthalmic ointment
o Acetic acid
o Benedict’s solution
*BP apparatus and stethoscope are carried separately and are never placed in
the bag.