This study explores and describes the value of community health
nursing from the perspective of community health nurses. The
phenomenological method as defined by Colaizzi (1978) guided this exploration.
Eleven community health nurses from the health department of a large urban
center participated in the study. Each nurse held a baccalaureate degree in
nursing and had a minimum of two years of community health nursing
experience in preventive health care programs.
The researcher collected the data through a series of interviews. Each
nurse was interviewed at least twice. Interviews were taped and transcribed
verbatim. Interviews were analyzed to determine areas for clarification and
exploration, to discover themes, and to determine data saturation.
From continuous comparative analysis of the data, five themes emerged:
(1) the value of activities in community health nursing, (2) the value of the
purposes of community health nursing, (3) the value of prerequisites for
community health nursing, (4) the value of the visibility of community health
nursing, and (5) the value of community health nursing as the way to the
future in health care.
In the first theme, participants primarily valued multiple and varied
activities which enabled and empowered clients to make informed health care
decisions, choices, and actions. Subthemes included collaborative activities and
autonomy.
The second theme described the purposes of community health nursing
as they relate to various clients, the context of practice, and the holistic vision
of health.
The third theme described the value of certain prerequisites for
community health nursing. Participants identified two categories of
prerequisites - knowledge, and certain personal qualities and attitudes.
In the fourth theme, the value of the visibility of community health
nursing, subthemes included: awareness, valuing, and effective use of
community health nursing services by others, and political visibility.
In the fifth theme, community health nursing as the way to the future in
health care, subthemes included: the preventive focus and cost-effectiveness
bases of community health nursing, and the value of research.
The findings of this study have implications for community health
nursing practice, administration, education, and research. In nursing practice,
community health nursing roles and activities must be more clearly defined
and promoted so that the value of community health nursing can be more fully
realized. Administrators must support nursing staff and actively facilitate
effective community health nursing practice.
Nursing education must prepare professional nursing practitioners who
have the knowledge and the ability to successfully practice community health
nursing. All nurses must be encouraged In their education to appreciate the
value of community health nursing so that the quality and quantity of
community health care is facilitated in all nursing settings.
All aspects of professional nursing - practice, administration, education,
and research - must promote community health nursing research. Further
research is required into the value of community health nursing from a variety
of perspectives, such as the perspectives of nurses in other settings, clients,
and colleagues. Research into these perspectives will likely achieve a clearer
consensus of the value of community health nursing, and foster present and
future community health nursing endeavors. As a consequence, the health care
of Canadians could be addressed more effectively and efficiently.Applied Science, Faculty ofNursing, School ofGraduat