Community health focuses on the physical, mental, and social well-being of a community. Public/community health nurses have a rich history of service.

Events such as World War II, the HIV and AIDS epidemic, and the COVID-19 pandemic were greatly impacted by nursing and have shaped modern public/community health nursing practice. Nurses in public/community health work in interprofessional teams and collaborate with community partners and policymakers to address health disparities and promote equity.

community health — the physical, mental, and social well-being of a community; involves health promotion, risk reduction, and disease prevention. community — a group of people with at least one characteristic in common. contact tracing — identification of people who may have been exposed to a specific disease and are at risk for disease acquisition or spread. standards of practice — rules of conduct to which professionals are expected to adhere; support nurses’ decision making and delivery of care.