Public Health Nursing: Historical Roots and Current Practice

This report provides an overview of public health nursing, defining it as the practice of protecting and promoting population health through the application of knowledge from social, nursing, and public health sciences. It outlines key aspects of public health nursing, including assessing community health needs, developing intervention plans, implementing these plans efficiently, and evaluating their impact. The report also highlights the historical roots of public health nursing, emphasizing the contributions of Lilian Wald and Mary Brewester in addressing social and economic problems in the late 19th century. It further discusses historical events like the eradication of smallpox, improvements in maternal and child health, and increased vaccinations as significant milestones. The report concludes by underscoring the importance of ongoing research in shaping contemporary public health practices, referencing key literature on the subject.