PHILOSOPHY and THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

of COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING

Peter Aristotle C. Dela Cruz
URC Graduate School
Objectives:
At the end of the report, graduate students will be able to:

1. Understand the concept of Philosophy and Theoretical Framework
in relation to Community Health Nursing

2. Enumerate the different Philosophies for Community Health
Nursing Practice

3. Apply the Philosophical and theoretical Framework concepts to
actual Philippine Health Care Setting
Philosophy
set or system of beliefs that provides a basis and
guide for action
includes general beliefs, concepts, attitudes,
ethical considerations and guidelines, as well
as values that explain the way a life is lived, or
the manner in which an organization is run or
how a profession is practiced.
Theoretical Framework
refers to the basic structure of ideas, concepts, beliefs and
principles proposed or followed as the basic conduct of the
particular profession.
Being aware of the philosophy and theoretical
framework for practice of a profession makes the
action of practitioners well-directed, purposive and
systematic, and consequently productive and
effective.
PHILOSOPHY FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING PRACTICE
1. Nursing is a unique and distinct component of health care.
2. CHN subscribes to the philosophy of interdependence among the
health professions.
3. As a special field of nursing practice, CHN shares the humanistic
beliefs and values of the nursing profession.
4. CHN believes in the primacy of health as a goal and as essential
element that affects the quality of life of individuals, families,
groups and communities.
5. The goal of nursing is independence and self-reliance in health
care for the client/ patient- be it an individual, a family, a
group or the whole community.
PHILOSOPHY FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING PRACTICE
6. Nursing, in general, and CHN in particular, recognizes the
relationship of non-health interventions in the solution of
health problems.
7. To achieve the goal of community health, the nurse works
with, not for, individual clients/patients, families, specific
population groups and the community at large.
8. Nursing goals and standards of care should consider
constraints imposed by client, health agency and community
resources.
9. CHN practice is not a body or set of the same repeating tasks.
10. Nurses have the responsibility to keep their knowledge and skills
current and up-to-date according to developments in nursing,
public health and other related sciences.
The framework provides direction and guidelines
to the community health nurse in terms of who or
to whom she/he is giving care, who should receive
care in the face of limited time and resources, the
objectives of her/his actions and intervention
measures, and the how of providing care and
delivering nursing services.
The use and application of the philosophy and
theoretical framework for CHN practice would
bolster nursing as a profession, making a distinction
between professional nursing care and the care
provided by people and auxiliary health workers.