The Nurses in the Organization
This section refers to the so-called Public Health Nurses in the Philippines designated with the positions as either Nurses II or Nurses III.
A. Qualifications of a Public Health Nurse
For a professional of the health field to be considered as Nurse II and Nurse III in a Philippines set-up, he or she must be a graduate of the degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from a reputable and officially registered nursing school. Then, he or she must pass the government licensure exam given by the Board of Nurses through the government agency Professional Regulations Commission. Thus, Nurse II and Nurse III must be Registered Nurses (RN)
B. Roles and Functions of Public Health Nurse
A Public Health Nurse working with the government has several functions. These functions are enumerated as follows:
Planner/Programmer
As a planner or programmer, he/she identifies needs, priorities and problems of individuals, families and community. He/she formulates nursing components of health plans, especially in areas where public health doctors are not available for the task. Then, a public health nurse interprets and implements the nursing plans, program policies, memoranda and circulars designed for a specific purpose.
Other than being a planner or programmer, a public health nurse is also to give technical assistance to rural midwives in formulating health objectives for a certain rural area.
Provider of Nursing Care
A public health nurse is to provide nursing care to the sick and disabled. Not only that, but a public health nurse develops the family of the sick and disables member for the sustenance of the health care. The main function for this role is to provide continuity of care to achieve wellness or improve the health status of the sick and disabled person.
Manager/Supervisor
As a manager or supervisor, a public health nurse is to formulate individual, family, group and community centered care plans, and interprets and implements program policies, memoranda and circulars set by the government for the benefit of the people. Not only that, but a public health nurse organizes workforce for the implementation of these programs, and harnesses all resources available for the delivery of health care at local levels.
Requisitions, allocations and distribution of materials such as medicines, medical supplies, records and reports equipment is also a function of the public health nurse.
Then a public health nurse makes a supervisory visit and meeting to different rural health midwives (RHMs) to evaluate their work performance and effectiveness.
Community Organizer
A public health nurse is responsible for motivating and enhancing community participation in terms of planning, organizing, implementing and evaluating health programs and services. For a public health nurse to be effective in this role, he/she must actively participate in community development activities in order to get direct feedback from the people.
Coordinator of Services
A public health nurse coordinates with both Government Organizations (GO) and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) for the delivery health-related services to individuals, families and community. He/she also coordinates that all health programs, including environmental sanitation, health education, dental health and mental health are all in consensus.
Trainer/Health Educator/Counselor
As a trainor a public health nurse identifies and provides the exact training for RHMs, Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and hilots in the community for a more efficacy in the render of health services to people in the community. The training is not only limited to lecture set-up, but as well as training affiliations and learning experiences to better enhance the skills of his/her trainees.
A public health nurse can as well as act as a counselor by providing pre and post consultation conferences for clinic patients. Example of which is pre-marital counseling.
And as a health educator, a public health nurse is tasked to organize orientation/training to concerned health groups, and participates in the development and distribution of Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials for specific projects/programs. He/she is also to tap media resources for the purpose of disseminating health education to people.
Health Monitor
A public health nurse is to use systematic and objective observation and other forms of data gathering to detect any possible deviations of health of individuals, families and community.
Role Model
As a public health nurse, one must be a role model in the community, setting good examples of healthful living to the public/community to encourage people to practice a healthful living as well.
Change Agent
A public health nurse motivates changes in health behavior of individuals, families, group and community including lifestyle in order to promote and maintain health.
Recorder/Reporter/Statistician
As a recorder and reporter, a public health nurse prepares and submits required reports and records for documentation purposes and records and reports all of these documents adequately, accurately and completely.
As a statistician, a public health nurse reviews, validates, consolidates, analyzes and interprets all records and reports, and reduces these to data presentation such as statistical charts and figures that are easily comprehensible by anyone.
Researcher
A public health nurse participates/assists in the conducts of survey studies and researches on nursing and health related subjects. He/she coordinates with GO and NGO in the implementation of studies/research.
