Community/Public Health Nursing 6th Edition by Mary Nies ,Melanie McEwen

Edition 6ISBN: 978-0323188197

Community/Public Health Nursing 6th Edition by Mary Nies ,Melanie McEwen

Edition 6ISBN: 978-0323188197

Exercise 2

Whereas most public health practitioners are attuned to the leading indicators or dominant trends in data, vital statistics or census data can suggest the existence of small "hidden pockets" of people with special needs. One nurse initially assessed her community as in being an upper-middle-class bracket. She was surprised to find 20 families living below the poverty level and 3 families living without running water. Although these 20 families made up far less than 1% of the community population, they nevertheless necessitated the attention of the community health nurse. Some may view a focus on such a minority segment as insignificant and in conflict with the "Rule of Utility," which posits "the greatest good for the greatest number." However, community health nursing practice combines principles of beneficence and social justice with utilitarianism, and thus, small vulnerable segments of the community are considered legitimate clients of community health nursing. Indeed, social justice not only "gives moral privilege to the needs of the most vulnerable," but also suggests the amelioration of conditions that create social and economic disparities (Boutain, 2012). Furthermore, nurses recognize that this "hidden pocket" is a small piece of the total community and, as such, contributes to its overall health. By attending to these families' health needs, the nurse positively affects the health of the whole.

Explanation

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