12 Principles of Community Health Nursing

Community health nursing (CHN) carries public health work into homes and communities. These 12 principles govern how that practice runs.

1. The recognized needs of individuals, families, and communities anchor practice. You apply public health measures within the larger CHN effort, starting from what people actually need.

2. Know the agency's objectives and policies. Understanding the mission lets you direct your service toward the goals you are accountable for.

3. The family is the unit of service. A family's level of functioning depends on how well it handles its own problems, which makes it the most effective channel for CHN work.

4. Respect the client's values, customs, and beliefs. Care lands better when it fits the people receiving it. Services must stay available, sustainable, and affordable to all regardless of race, creed, color, or socioeconomic status.

5. Health education and counseling are core functions, not extras. They drive community discussion of the issues that affect people's health.

6. Collaborative relationships with coworkers and the health team get goals met. Each member should see how their work serves the whole effort.

7. Periodic, continuing evaluation tells you whether goals are being met. Involve clients in appraising their own program through consultations, observation, and accurate recording.

8. Continuing staff education keeps practice sound. Plan staff development around the professional interests and needs of the nurses delivering care.

9. Use indigenous and existing community resources. Linking with local resources, public and private, raises awareness of what care people need and what they are entitled to.

10. Active participation of the individual, family, and community drives program success. Encourage organized community groups to take part in activities that meet local needs.

11. Supervision by qualified CHN personnel guides the work. Good supervision develops employees' capacity for effective, efficient practice.

12. Accurate recording and reporting are the basis for evaluation. Records track progress, guide future action, feed studies and research, and stand as legal documents, so maintaining them is a vital responsibility.