The public health nursing role

an overview of future trends

Caraher, Martin MSc
McNab, Maggie MSc, RGN, RM, RHV

Date of acceptance: July 10 1996.
Martin Caraher MSc, is Principal Lecturer, Thames Valley University, Wolfson School of Nursing, London; and Maggie McNab MSc, RGN, RM, RHV, is Primary Care Co-ordinator, West London Health Promotion Agency, Southall, Middlesex.
This article has been subject to double-blind review.

Nursing Standard 10(51):p 44-48, September 11, 1996.

In this article, the authors consider the current state of public health nursing and the function it fulfils.Describing the development of the public health movement and the policies which inform current strategies, they suggest that a more appropriate role is needed for public health nursing to address the needs of the wider community rather than simply acting as a focus for the provision of general practice services.