Discussion Question: Explain how your view of what a “patient” is has changed and expanded? What are some major differences between the assessment of a public health nurse and a clinical nurse? Your i
Response 1
When I started taking courses a patient was who ever came to me in the clinical setting with their presenting issues. Once I became a student again I could see patients everywhere and in the case of my teaching presentation I found patients within my immediate family. I believe that any individual on any given day can fall into a person receiving or registered to receive medical treatment, also known as a patient. I have also begun to see patients as individuals and not just a diagnosis that needs to be treated. We must start to read individuals and sculpt their treatment plans to set them up for the most successful outcomes they can achieve. I have also come to realize that I don’t only need to work with the patient directly in front of me to promote health, I also need to look at trends within my community to help build an overall healthier community.
A public health nurse assesses the health from a perspective of populations, not individuals (American Public Health Association, 2020). Clinical nurses’ asses the health of individuals health issues (American Public Health Association, 2020). Both public health nurses and clinical nurses aid in improving the overall health of a given population. Without public health nurses gather infection and disease trends on specific populated areas we would not have any idea what areas we should concentrate on to curb outbreaks. Without clinical nurses treating individuals we could have untreated people unknowingly spread illness. With public health nurses and clinical nurses doing their jobs it helps promote healthier habits and a healthier community.
Collaborations between public health nurses and clinical nurses are constantly ongoing through reporting of communicable diseases. Public health nurses keep communities aware of health trends within their communities through public reporting, while clinical nurses help the general public by providing general health information relating to individual’s health concerns. Communication and education are key ways that both public health nurses and clinical nurse help to keep their communities on track to be healthier. After taking community health nursing 1and community health nursing 2 I am much more appreciative of the contributions made by public health nurses. Without the dedication and caring put forth by public health nurses the most vulnerable patients would be overlooked and uncared for. I have realized that even though I am capable of presenting educational information to a larger audience I am much better communicating one on one as a clinical nurse.
References
American Public Health Association, 2020 https://www.apha.org/professional-
development/public-health-careermart/careers-in-public-health-newsletter/job-searching-
salaries-and-more/public-health-vs-clinical-health-professions-whats-the-difference
Response 2
As a nurse, I run into patients of all ages experiencing what could possibly be the worst day of their life. I view myself as one that provides patient-centered care focusing on the patient and respecting their concerns and ideas that surround their healthcare expectations. My view of what a patient is expands on a daily basis based on the experiences I have and the knowledge that I gain within the hospital setting and as a student. Patient-centered care encompasses focus, respect, empathy, and the ability to see the patient as an individual with specific needs.
Meeting the specific needs of a patient within the hospital setting incorporates a multidisciplinary team to be able to assist the patient to holistically reach optimum health before discharge. As a nurse studying community health, the role of the social worker has stood out as they are somewhat of an ambassador to the public health nurse. I observe the social workers looking more at how the patient will be able to maintain their health when they discharge into their community and how appropriate community resources can assist them.
The differences between a public health nurse and a clinical nurse are vast and yet similar at the same time. The individual patient-centered approach of clinical nursing is expanded to an epidemiological approach to population-focused nursing through community health status assessment and evaluation of the effects of contemporary issues and health policy on the public’s health (Moon, Henry, Connelly, & Kirsch, 2005). As a clinical nurse, I personally deal with the patient who is infected with Covid-19, is detoxing from alcohol, and the patient who is suffering from electrolyte imbalances. On the other hand, the public health nurse would be examining the aforementioned and would focus on how the quality of life can be improved for those in the community suffering from communicable disease, substance abuse, and malnutrition; I advocate for the health of my patient as a clinical nurse whereas the public health nurse advocates for the health of the public (Clark, 2015). As stated by Clark (2015), population health practice is conducted by following three core public health functions of assessment, policy development, and assurance and is aimed to better the health of the overall population. As I strive to make a positive influence on an individual the public health nurse will focus on how improving the health of the population by promoting health and preventing illness and injury will improve the health of a community.
References
Moon, M. W., Henry, J. K., Connelly, K., & Kirsch, P. (2005). Public health nurses for virginia’s future: A collaborative project to increase the number of nursing students choosing a career in public health nursing. American Journal of Public Health, 95(7), 1102-5. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/215092238?accountid=34574
Clark, M. J. (2015). Population and community health nursing (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
