Community Health Nursing

Primary prevention refers to the interventions that are implemented to reduce disease incidence by reducing the exposure to a risk factor for a disease (Pandve, 2014). Primary prevention aims at instituting interventions that protect an individual or a community at the susceptibility stage from contracting a disease (Pandve, 2014). Interventions in primary prevention can include such the removal of the risk factor, improving the health determinants of the individuals or communities, sensitization and health education or immunizations. Examples of primary prevention; Treating drinking water, promoting good nutritional practices, administering a pneumococcal vaccine to a child among others. Secondary prevention is a stage in prevention that targets the subclinical stage of disease progression and aims at identifying the disease at its earliest stage of onset to reverse its progression or slow the disease progress (Pandve, 2014).

The community health nurse on identifying health needs has the responsibility to refer/link the community with healthcare teams in the hospital and other care facilities (Adib-Hajbaghery, 2013). The nurse has a responsibility to develop research in the community to identify any shifting health issues or needs in the community. Research forms an evidence-based basis for community interventions and directs community health care. Issues facing community health nurses One of the key issues facing community nurse practice today is the dilemma in the professional standards of practice for nurses in the community. Nursing practice adheres to ethical principles are difficult to apply in community health such as in identifying the right application of patient autonomy in a community setting in case the patient’s decision poses a danger to the community, for example, a patient who declines to take anti-tuberculosis medications.