Definition of Community

According to:
a. Allender- a collection of people who interact with one another and whose common interests or
characteristics form the basis for a sense of unity and belonging.
b. Lunas and Janes- a group of people who share something in common and interact with one another,
who may exhibit a commitment with another and may share geographic boundary.
c. Clark- a group of people who share common interests, who interact with each other, and who
function collectively within a defined social structure to address common concerns.
d. Shuster and Geoppinger- a locality- based entity, composed of systems of formal organizations
reflecting society’s institutions informal groups and aggregates.
Two Main Types of Community (Maurer and Smith 2009)
Geopolitical Communities
- also called as territorial communities.
- Are most traditionally recognized.
- Defined or formed by both natural and man-made boundaries and include barangays, municipalities,
cities, provinces, regions, and nations.
Phenomenological Communities
- Also called as functional communities.
- Refers to relational, interactive groups, in which the place or setting is more abstract, and people
share a group perspective or identity based on culture, values, history, interest and goals.
Community Health Nursing
According to Jacobson:
- It is a learned practice discipline with the ultimate goal of contributing to the promotion of the
client's OLOF (Optimum Level of Functioning) through teaching and delivery of care.
Maglaya, et al
- The utilization of the nursing process in the different levels of clientele- individuals, families,
population groups, and communities, concerned with the promotion of health, prevention of
diseases and disability and rehabilitation.
Health
According to:
World Health Organization
- Health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of
a disease or infirmity.
- Murray- "a state of well-being in which the person is able to use purposeful, adaptive responses and
processes physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and socially.
Pender
- Actualization of inherent
- Goal directed behavior competence healthcare and satisfying relationship to others.
Factors Affecting Health
1. Political
- they have the power and authority to regulate the environment -safety, oppression
and people empowerment.
- Ex. Increase in crimes, lack of safety
2. Behavioral
- Certain habits that affect the individual’s health.
- Ex. Junk foods and smoking
3. Hereditary
- Transmission of genetically linked diseases.
4. Health Care delivery system
- primary health care
 - PHC (effective provision of health services) that are comm based, accessible,
acceptable, sustainable, and affordable.
5. Environmental influences
- Air, food, water waste, urban/rural, noise, radiation, pollution.
- Ex. Common disease r/t poor sanitation
6. Socioeconomic influences
- families from the lower income groups are the ones mostly served in. public health
services and by Community Health nurses.
Philosophy:
- According to Margaret Shetland, the philosophy of CHN is based on the worth and dignity of
MAN.
Concepts:
1. The focus of CHN is on health promotion
2. CHN practice is extended not only to the individual but also the whole family and community
3. CH nurses are generalists in terms of their practice through life's continuum
4. Contact with the client and family may continue over a long period of time.
5. The nature of CHN practice requires that the current knowledge derived from the biological and
social sciences, ecology, clinical nursing and community health organizations be utilized
6. Implicit in CHN practice is the utilization of the nursing process.
Goal:
- The ultimate goal of community health services is to raise the level of health of citizenry.
Objectives:
1. To participate in the development of an overall health plan for the community and in its
implementation and evaluation
2. To provide quality nursing services to individuals families and communities.
3. To coordinate nursing services with various members of the health team, community leaders and
significant others, government and non-government agencies/organization in achieving the aims of
public health services within the community
4. To participate, conduct researches and disseminate the results for the improvement of care