This paper is a report of a research study to explore specialist community public health nurses’ views of their public health role. Three key objectives were set:
to identify what their public health role was;
to explore what the influences are on that role are;
to investigate what they felt the solutions were to enhance this aspect of their role.
The study design consisted of a small qualitative study that used three focus groups to collect data from practice teachers from health visiting, occupational health nursing and school nursing. The data was combined for thematic analysis of their responses to the three key topics identified. The results showed that the participants were somewhat knowledgeable about their role as public health nurses; were influenced by lack of resources, poor understanding from others of their role and tensions with managers and the wider team as to the importance of their public health role; and they offered solutions that included role clarity for effective skill mix, a shared vision for practice and debated the role of a specific public health nurse in the team. Recommendations for clear roles and responsibilities, clear protocols for assessing need and identifying priorities and performance management frameworks are offered.
ArmstrongRDoyleJLambCWatersE (2006) Multi-sectoral health promotion and public health: The role of evidence. Journal of Public Health28(2): 168–172.
3.
BaggottR (2005) From sickness to health? Public health in England. Public Money and ManagementAugust: 229–236.
4.
CareyM (1994) The group effect in focus groups: Planning, implementing and interpreting focus group research. MoreseJCritical Issues in Qualitative Research Methodology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
5.
CollaizziP (1978) Psychological research as the phenomenologists view it. ValleRKingMExistential Phenomenological Alternatives for Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
6.
Community Practitioners Visitor’s Association and Department of Health (2003) Liberating the Public Health Talents of Community Practitioners and Health Visitors. London: HMSO.
7.
CostelloJHaggartM (2003) Public Health and Society. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
8.
CoverdaleGELancasterK (2006) HNA: The theory practice gap recedes. Journal of Community Nursing20(08): 10–16.
9.
CoverdaleGETaylorDPElliottR (2004) Specialist Community Public Health Nursing Degree Course Handbook. Leeds: Leeds Metropolitan University.
10.
CroghanEJohnsonCAveyardP (2004) School Nurses: Policies, working practices, roles and value perceptions. Nursing and Health Care Management and Policy47(4): 377–385.
11.
CrossSBlockDLaVohnJReckingerDOlson KellerLStrohscheinSRippkeMSavikK (2006) Development of the public health nursing competency instrument. Public Health Nursing23(2): 108–114.
12.
DanielsonEKrogerus-ThermanISiverstonBSourtziP (2005) Nursing and public health in Europe – a new continuous education programme. International Nursing Review52: 32–38.
13.
DeBellDTomkinsAS (2006) Discovering the Future of School Nursing. The Evidence Base. London: Amicus, CPHVA.
14.
Department of HealthMaking a Difference: A Consultation Paper1998London: HMSO.
15.
Department of HealthSaving Lives – Our Healthier Nation1999aLondon: The Stationery Office.
16.
Department of HealthMaking a Difference: Strengthening the Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Contributions to Health and Healthcare1999bLondon: The Stationery Office.
17.
Department of HealthThe NHS Plan - a Plan for Investment, a Plan for Reform2000London: HMSO.
18.
Department of HealthReport of the Chief Medical Officer's Project to Strengthen the Public Health Function2001London: HMSO.
19.
Department of HealthLiberating the Talents: How PCT’s and Nurses can Deliver the NHS Plan2002London: HMSO.
20.
Department of HealthLiberating the Public Health Talents of Community Practitioners and Health Visitors2003London: HMSO.
21.
Department of HealthChoosing Health-Making Healthier Choices Easier2004aLondon: HMSO.
22.
Department of HealthSecuring Good Health for the Whole Population, Final Report2004bLondon: HMSO.
23.
Department of HealthThe Chief Nursing Officer’s Review of the Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Contribution to Vulnerable Children and Young People2004cLondon: Department of Health.
24.
Department of HealthOur Health, Our Care, Our Say2006aLondon: HMSO.
25.
Department of HealthSchool Nurse Practice Development Resource Pack revised edition2006bLondon: HMSO.
26.
Department of HealthEssence of Care for Health Promotion2006cLondon: HMSO.
27.
Department of HealthFacing the Future: A Review of the Role of Health Visitor’s2007Available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/cno.
28.
Department of Health and Social SecurityInequalities in Health: Report of a Research Working Group Chaired by Sir Douglas Black1980London: Department of Health and Social Security.
29.
EllistonKWilkinsonJ (2006) Supporting public health practitioners. Primary Health Care16(6): 18–20.
30.
ElliottLCrombieIKIrvineLCantrellJTaylorJ (2004) The effectiveness of public health nursing: The problems and solutions in carrying out a review of systematic reviews. Journal of Advanced Nursing45(2): 117–125.
31.
FarquharC (1999) Are focus groups suitable for sensitive topics?. BarbourRSKitchingJDeveloping Focus Group Research: Politics, Theory and Practice. London: Sage.
32.
Fisher RobertsonJ (2004) Does advanced community/public health nursing practice have a future?. Public Health Nursing21(5): 495–500.
33.
Fuller TD, Edwards JN, Sairudee Vorakitphokatorn and Santhat Sermsri (1993) Using focus groups to adapt survey instruments to new populations: Experience from a developing country. In: Morgan DL (ed.) Successful Focus Groups: Advancing the State of the Art. Sage: Newbury Park.
34.
GrumbachKMillerJMertzEFinnochioL (2004) How much public health in public health nursing practice?. Public Health Nursing21(3): 266–276.
35.
HollowayI (1997) Basic Concepts for Qualitative Research. Oxford: Blackwell Science.
36.
HooperJLongworthP (1998) Health Needs Assessment in Primary Health Care Workbook, Version 2. London: National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence.
37.
KeleherH (2000) Repeating history? Public and community health nursing in Australia. Nursing Enquiry7(4): 258–265.
38.
KemmJ (2006) The limitations of ‘evidence-based’ public health. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice12(3): 319–324.
39.
KitzingerJ (1995) Qualitative research: Introducing focus groups. British Medical Journal3(11): 299–302.
40.
McMurrayRCheaterF (2004) Vision, permission and action: A bottom up perspective on the management of public health nursing. Journal of Nursing Management12: 43–50.
41.
National Institute for Clinical ExcellenceHealth Needs Assessment – A Practical Guide2005Health Development Agency. Available at: http://www.nice.org.uk.
42.
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)Standards of proficiency for Specialist Community Public Health Nurses2004London: Nursing and Midwifery Council.
43.
PlewsCBillinghamKRoweA (2000) Public health nursing: Barriers and opportunities. Health and Social Care in the Community8(2): 138–146.
ScrivenAOrmeJ(2001) Health Promotion: Professional Perspectives, 2nd edn. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
46.
World Health OrganisationOttawa Charter for Health Promotion. In: First International Conference in Health Promotion, Ottawa1986Copenhagen: World Health Organisation.
47.
YamashitaMMiyajiFAkimotoR (2005) The public health nursing role in rural Japan. Public Health Nursing22(2): 156–165.
48.
Young L (2006) Who will train community nurses? Primary Health Care 16(6): 3.
