Public health nurse perceptions of evolving work and how work is managed: A qualitative study

To explore public health nurse (PHN) perspectives of their evolving work and how public health nurse work is managed in a Canadian health region.

Professional and public health organisations describe public health nurse practice roles as population-focused work. Health care management directs public health nurse work to achieve specific goals.

In this qualitative study, data were collected during focus groups with 42 public health nurse participants in one health region. Focus group data were analysed for meanings and themes.

Public health nurses perceived increasing immunizations and limited resources for public health nurse work meant that population-focused care for the public was rationed or missing. Participants perceived the health care organisation directed, managed and assigned public health nurse specialist work; however, public health nurses managed their client-focused practice with knowledge, reasoning and support from colleagues.

Evolving visible public health nurse work was managed by health organisational management directives to increase immunizations and disease control. Public health nurses managed their evolving visible and invisible work supported by their knowledge, practice values and public health nurse colleagues.

Nursing management must lead and communicate the vision supporting better health, better population-focused care and health outcomes to public health nurse and stakeholders, while reviewing resources needed to optimize public health nursing and improve population health.