NHS Scotland - the public health nurse

[Guest guest]

Came across this and wondered about the 'period of transition'.

Public Health Nurse

Public Health Nurses have previously been known as Health Visitors.

The reason for the name change is to reflect the changing role of the

health visitor.

A Public Health Nurse is a key member of the primary healthcare team.

Their job is to promote health and tackle inequality across all age

groups. Public Health Nurses help well people to stay well, and ill

people to come to terms with their illness.

The Public Health Nurse is a registered Nurse with special training

in the assessment of the health needs of individuals, families and

the community. Employment opportunities vary from reactive work with

parenting as its focus, to more proactive work as part of a team of

health workers.

One of the main responsibilities of a Public Health Nurse is to check

the development of babies through regular visits and clinic sessions.

They have links with parents before and after the birth, but the main

involvement occurs after the first 28 days of the baby's life. This

is when the Public Health Nurse takes over from the Midwife. Public

Health Nurses advise on normal child development, feeding, safety,

and how to play with and stimulate a child.

Public Health Nurses are also involved in running clinics and classes

Child Health Clinics, Well Baby Clinics, antenatal and postnatal

classes. These can be attached to a GP's surgery or can be separate

health clinics.

A lot of the work of the Public Health Nurse is based in the

community, visiting people (including older people and those with

disabilities) in their own homes. It involves advising on health

matters or managing complex situations like child abuse. They liaise

with other organisations such as the Housing Department, Social

Services and Citizens' Advice Bureaux.

A key role of Public Health Nurses is to help promote health care in

the community. They collect and use information about the health and

social problems of the local population, and devise the best ways of

meeting health needs. Health promotion activities may be aimed at

encouraging changes in diet and lifestyle.

Entry Requirements

A Public Health Nurse must first qualify as a registered Nurse. The

minimum age of entry to Nurse training is 17 years in Scotland. After

qualifying and gaining experience, a registered Nurse undergoes

further training to become a Public Health Nurse. The minimum entry

qualifications for Nurse training are five Standard Grades, with

preference given to candidates with two Highers.

Training

It is usual to complete at least two years working as a nurse before

training as a Public Health Nurse. Training normally lasts one

academic year half theory and half clinical-practice. This is

followed by a period of supervised work experience.

Career Prospects

The role of the Public Health Nurse is in a period of transition and

so it is difficult to outline a definitive career structure. However,

it seems likely that the role will be one in which the post holder

works as a member of a health workers team with their specific

responsibilities focusing on public health.

Further Information

For further information about a career as a Public Health Nurse,

please contact

The Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association (CPHVA)

NHS Education for Scotland