What are the core functions of public health nursing?

The core functions of public health nursing are best represented by assessment, policy development, and assurance. These functions are foundational to the practice of public health nursing, focusing on the health of entire populations rather than just individual patients.

Assessment involves systematically collecting data about the health of populations, which helps identify health problems and needs within communities. This includes monitoring health status to understand trends and detect potential health threats.

Policy development refers to the process of developing strategies to improve public health, based on the data gathered during the assessment phase. Public health nurses engage in creating policies that promote health and prevent disease, ensuring that health strategies are rooted in the specific needs of the community.

Assurance is the function that involves ensuring that necessary health services are provided to populations. This may include linking people to needed personal health services or ensuring that public health agencies provide services to meet the community's needs.

While other options, such as direct patient care, research, and education, are important aspects of nursing practice, they do not encompass the overarching framework of public health nursing as effectively as the trio of assessment, policy development, and assurance. These three functions collectively ensure a comprehensive approach to improving community health, making option B the correct choice.