title: Public health nursing: the generalist in a specialized environment.
abstract: In implementing a generalist model of public health nursing (the Comprehensive Multi-level Nursing Practice Model) in a rural county health department, a research team encountered critical challenges. The framework for the model was a philosophy of public health nursing practice and action research to support the public health nurse generalist role. Challenges in implementing the model stemmed from conflicts between the research team and the health department that were rooted in philosophical differences about how to implement care and the nature of nursing and the public health nursing role. Key factors were the subtle forces operating in the public health environment that constrain the public health nurse generalist role. Based on conflicts that arose in implementing the model, implications for public health nursing practice are in opportunities to influence policy at health department and other levels and responsibility for assuring professional practice.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, 1700 Red River, Austin, TX 78701, USA. kmay@mail.nur.utexas.edu
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Linda R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Sandra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ferketich
authors.forename: Joyce A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Verran
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003256:Community Participation; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D017058:Mexican Americans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013038:Specialization