Evolution of Public Health Nursing Roles in the 20th Century

This essay examines the role of public health nursing throughout the 20th century, highlighting significant achievements such as the invention of vaccines, improved sanitation, and advancements in food processing. It compares these historical roles with contemporary standards, emphasizing the evolution towards improved access to care, holistic and culturally safe practices, and a focus on patient rights. The essay also reflects on historical photographs, noting differences in safety measures and equipment, and discusses how understanding the history of public health nursing influences current practices by providing context for addressing patient needs and improving healthcare quality. This resource is available on Desklib, a platform offering a wide range of study tools, including past papers and solved assignments, to support students' academic success.

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
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Name of the Student:
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Author Note:

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Describe the public health nursing role at different points in time throughout the twentieth
century.
The report published by the CDC confirms improving life expectancy of the general
population base by 25 years during the 20th century. Research studies and archives critically
depict ten major achievements in the field of public health that was reinforced in the 20th
century (Aschengrau & Seage, 2013). The beginning of the 20th century marked the invention
of the vaccines against infectious epidemics such as small pox, diphtheria and pertussis. The
invention of the vaccines and public promotion helped in significantly reduce the morbidity
and the mortality rate. In addition to this, improved public awareness about safety-belts and
safe-drinking helped in decreasing the mortality rate due to motor accidents by 90% (Baum,
2016). Also, improved sanitation measures helped in reducing the death rate due to
Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, Diarrhoea, Enteritis and HIV infection by a significant percentage.
The death rate due to cardiovascular diseases also reduced to half (Jones, 2014). The first half
of the 20th century witnessed the invention of improved food processing techniques such as
pasteurization and refrigeration that reduced the prevalence of foodborne infection. In
addition to this, the middle 20th century witnessed 90% decline in infant mortality and 99% in
the maternal mortality rate (West, 2014). Also, the latter half of the 20th century witnessed
improved family planning resulting in considerable gap between two child births and
reduction in the prevalence of tobacco use (Sphweb.bumc.bu.edu, 2019).
In what way are these roles similar or different from the standards of public health nursing;
community health nursing; or home care nursing in today’s contemporary society?
In response to the question, it can be stated that the vision and the mission for the
public health nurses or the community nurses have not changed with respect to that of the

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care professionals who belonged to the 20th century (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2015). However,
the role of nursing role has evolved in contemporary times and apart from focusing on
fostering positive public health outcome, the standard of practice now focus more on
improving access to care facilities for all segment of the population (West, 2014). Also,
contemporary nursing practice focuses on the importance of the rendering a holistic and
culturally safe care to the patients with a better understanding of the patient and maintenance
of an appropriate inter-professional communication. Typically, issues such as mental health,
HIV, obesity and chronic illness are better addressed with the principle of contemporary
nursing practice. In addition to this, contemporary nursing practice also advocates patient
rights so as to deliver care in the best interest of the patient.
Contemplate the various historical photos of this text. What are these photos telling you
about nursing and in particular public health nursing?
Comments: The Photograph shows that the care professionals are not equipped with gloves
and masks which predicts that the safety measures were not appropriate during the 20th

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century. Also, the weighing machine shown in the picture is an analogue weighing machine
that does not indicate appropriate body weight.
Comments: The second image shows overcrowding within the Emergency Unit and the use
of obsolete surgical tools.
How does knowing the history of public health nursing throughout the twentieth century
influence the work of public health nurses today?
The historical background of public health nursing critically helps the contemporary
nurses in understanding the nature of the diseases and the living conditions of the patients in
the past. On developing an understanding about the historical perspective of public health, the
care professionals are able to focus better on the patient needs and accordingly disseminate
the acquired knowledge to frame better standard nursing practice so as to alleviate the
standard of patient care and improve quality of healthcare facilities (Baum, 2016).

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References:
Aschengrau, A., & Seage, G. R. (2013). Essentials of epidemiology in public health. Jones &
Bartlett Publishers.pp.70-79
Baum, F. (2016). The new public health (No. Ed. 4). Oxford University Press.pp.90
Jones, H. (2014). Health and Society in Twentieth Century Britain. Routledge.00.88
Sphweb.bumc.bu.edu. (2019). Some Major Achievements of Public Health During the 20th
Century. Retrieved from
http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-Modules/PH/PublicHealthHistory/
publichealthhistory9.html
Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2015). Public health nursing-e-book: Population-centered
health care in the community. Elsevier Health Sciences.
West, J.F., 2014. Public health program planning logic model for community engaged Type 2
diabetes management and prevention. Evaluation and program planning, 42, pp.43-
49.