Recognition of Family-Group Health Problems by Public Health Nurses

Abstract

Interviews with 28 staff nurses in a county health dept. showed that there is an association between perceiving family-group health problems and the giving of family-group service. This association was upheld when the following factors were correlated: length of experience in public health nursing, length of experience in the agency, length of experience after obtaining their California Public Health Nursing Certificate, and size of caseload. Lack of experience and a large caseload did not prevent nurses from giving family-group service, especially if they were group-oriented. In a field where the family is traditionally the unit of service, it was noted that problems of the family-group are not always recognized or served.