Which of the following is the most prominent feature of public health nursing?

• A. It involves providing home care to sick people who are not confined in the hospital
• B. Services are provided free of charge to people within the catchment area
• C. The public health nurse functions as part of a team providing a public health nursing service
• D. Public health nursing focuses on preventive, not curative services

Answer: (D)

Public health nursing is defined by its focus on preventing disease and promoting health at the population level. The most prominent feature is its preventive, not curative, orientation: major work involves health promotion, disease prevention, screening, early detection, and addressing social and environmental factors that influence health to keep communities healthy. While home-based care, providing services without charge, or working as part of a team are common aspects of PHN, they support the preventive mission rather than define it. By prioritizing prevention, PHN reduces the incidence of illness and the need for hospital-based care, which is why emphasis on preventive rather than curative services is the best answer.