The Goderich Signal-Star, 1975-11-27, Page 13°
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ThePubllc'HealtbNursemalso conductadult clinics in the board room of the assessment
office. J oanne Jasper of the Health Unit takes the bloo.d pressure �f Mrs. Ursula Hebertat
the clinic held last week. For many senior citizens the service is an invaluable one. (staff
photo) '
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obertrlj
128 YEAR -48
°
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1975
What does a public health nurse do?
'
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ccues for the. ��0���������S:he .���� nee
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in`�� ���NN�N�� Huron������ ������N� ages ' ���� ���� ..
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Public" health
ea}
tb °
care
i.
s
playing an increasingly
important role in our society
despite the fact that in many
cases its operations and
prominence are low key and
seldom recognized.
But most people have come
in contact with public health
and its services cannot be
undermined. Some will relate
to it as the time, mom made
them wash their ears as the
nurse checked them at
pre-
school clinic, or the elderly
person discharged from the
hospital will rechombnr,the
friendly uursowho came just
Prankish
youngsters will fondly recall
feigning illness so the nurse
would send them home to
watch a world series game on
ufall afternoon.
Although the duties of the
public hea}th nurse may not
have changed in many
respects over the years their
'invulveuootiuothoravenuoa
One of the more pleasantPublic Health Nurse t
s
visiting with the small fry ,at the public schools in the area.
Myra Henry discusses health care with Stephen MacDonald
and Alexander y Coliborne Central
Wendy Hoernig looks on. (staff photo)
ha
increased.
F
,
nu,
,c
nb"Uy
Joanne Jasper and Myra
Henry, the fruits of their
labor are most difficult to
convey. Their impact on ,the
community is geU quite
subtle and the rewards are
often intangible for both the
nurse and the Community.
In that sense, to reduce the
role, of the public nurse to
simple tern -is would avoid the
efforts, and accomplishments
oYthe unit, Emphuaiehas now
shifted to theommunity with
primary goals of educationanVorovcndou.
The shift to education and
d
m
prevention has ;also had a
major impact on the role of
the* public health nurse. The
diversification of the job has
created anew challenge with
development, w of new and
innovative' prOgrams such 'as
nurse. attachment programs,
hospital liaison and nurse
prucUonorprograma:
One of the many rnapon'
•aihi\iuoo of the nurse is
working with various
apencioa•such as the
hUd,nn'u Aid Society. The
.nnoung will generally focus,on u health problem with the
secondary aim oyestablishing
h professional 're|otionahip
with the agency to ac-
complish mutual goals. Such
contact mayinvolve a
request for financial
..pmnmtanc9 for a.school
A.equitiog glasses -hr at-
tempting to achieve other
such goals with~umulti-
problem Tamity.
ulti'prnb|emrunUv.
A public 'nUrse'o.'specific
itinerary generally includes
v|yitm, child health
clinics', adult clinics; home
care visits for |de \
atients and new moters and
, hospital visits.
Most of thp school time of
the nurses is; scheduled for
the' mornings and each nurse
may accommodate from
three to six schools and must;
schedule her time between
each one. The school, work
may involve checking the
• progress of a child with
longstanding health problems
and assuming an educational
role in providing pamphlets
. and films to teachers as well
, as some classroom teaching
oh health aspects,
Horne visits and adult and
youth clinics are given major
.-.priorities in the afternoon.
Home visits may include new
mothers who have recently
returned home from hospital
ith their first child. The visit
teacher'gives the nurse the op
'
n«rtunuy to assess the
mother's knowledge, pnd
capabilities and provides the
'mother with the opportunity
. to discuss problems or con -
PtibVu Health Nurse Myra Henry Discusseshealth concerns
with Crystal Crowley and'her slaughter Patricia at a child
health clinic. The.clinics are offered every third Thursday of
the month and such services as vision and hcaring testing and
,immunization are offered by the nurses and the staff. (stafphoto)
f
°,
cerns
wi
tbth,nu
nurse.
Hospital visits, particularly
to .new postnatal patients,
involve discussions of
plans foliowing dischargee and
make p.atient aware of health
unit services available. Thd
also act as a liaison. in
providing home care ser-
vices.
ervicuo.
The two major avenues of
responsibility for 'the public,
health nurse are homecare
and ,xrn+^un\cu^!" disease
.referrals, The nurses
responsibility in homecare
involves acting as liaison
between the hospital, the
community and the homecare
administrator. When services
are required with cnnn-
municubb dixebaeo such as
venereal. 'disease and
hepatitis, they obviously take
priority over other scheduled
work.
Considering the roles .and
goals, of the public health
nurse, those of education and
prevectiun, they can often
seem idealistic and unob-
tainable. The work is
demunding, challenging and
its frustrations and rewards
more than often go unnoticed.
So it's, not so surprising to
'hear someone ask, "What
does a public health nurse do
anyway?''
4
Joanne J checks over the �ut-patientlist with Kay Blacker at Alexandra Marine and
General Hospital. The public Health Nurses also 'm home care service to
di'schurged patients which includes home visits' or setting up nurse home care.
-
Members oyth**Huoldn Unit also work with other agencies to provide supportiveoerv|ces
to families and individuals. Children's Aid Society case worker. Stewart
discusses a YurnUroymuutuu|concern with Mrs. Henry. (staff photo) • —
=
The Public Healtb Nurse 'also provides home v(sitmu|onrser'
vio»n to new mothers to discuss any proh|ofnythat .mmuy be
"
encountered. Myra Henry talks vvith Mrs.. Gary Nicholson
Ain't ��Lori.
��hreo-�me�(m(aff photo)