Which statement best describes community-based nursing?

• A. It focuses on population-level health policy.
• B. It focuses on individuals and families in their homes or communities.
• C. It is delivered primarily in hospital settings.
• D. It is limited to data collection and surveillance.

Answer: (B)

Community-based nursing centers on delivering care to people where they live and function—inside homes, neighborhoods, schools, and community clinics. The nurse works with individuals and families to manage health conditions, prevent illness, and support healthy lifestyles through personalized, continuous care. This approach emphasizes education, self-management, and coordination of services across settings so care follows the person, not just the illness. It differs from hospital-based care, which happens in inpatient facilities, and from public health activities that target populations through policy, prevention at a broader level, and data surveillance. While gathering data and monitoring trends are important in public health, they aren’t the defining focus of community-based nursing. A practical example is a nurse conducting home visits to help a client with a chronic condition adhere to a treatment plan, teach self-care skills, and connect the family with community resources.