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Public Health Nursing

Community Partner
Serving as a voice for all, public health nurses work in partnership with consumers, local organizations and other health care professionals to look at the total needs of an individual or community. This means they are working, hand-in-hand, with community members focusing on the strengths in a community, developing solutions, and overcoming obstacle. From beginning to end, these highly-specialized nurses link communities with care for improved community health.

Problem Solver
Public health nurses are part of the first -line of defense against disease and illness. Using proven practices, strategies are developed for improving health conditions by examining the overall health needs of families in communities. Strategically, these health professionals find, track and treat diseases before becoming a crisis. In a time of disease outbreak, like measles or hepatitis, public health nurses are ready to immunize anyone who has been exposed to a life-threatening disease.

Care Coordinator
For improving health outcomes. Public health nurses link clients and their families with supports and services that meet individual needs. A connection forms between the client and nurse which helps to assure continued participation in care and treatment. The results are powerful-teen pregnancy and infant mortality are reduced. Pregnancy outcomes improve and babies are born healthier. Individuals are in better control of high blood pressure or diabetes.

Health Educator
Whether it's in a school conducting classes on tobacco-prevention or in a mobile van reaching those who cannot come to a clinic, public health nurses are providing prevention education on becoming healthier, staying healthy and having control over one's health. With some issues like HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases, these caregivers go beyond traditional education and become gentle listeners and counselors. They teach new parents skills to become better mothers and fathers.

Florida public health nurses fulfill a unique role in promoting healthier communities. For more than 100 years, these health professionals have seen to it that people with special needs or limited access to health care receive vital preventive and health care guidance. Today more than 2,500 public health nurses work in counties across the state. You will find them taking a stand and actively working with communities as a supporter for the health needs of all.