The book takes an “aggregate” approach to Community Health (also called Public Health) by looking at the collective health of “aggregate populations” or, more simply, “groups.” The aggregate approach challenges nurses to promote and protect the health of communities and populations, while still maintaining the care of the individual.
The book focuses on public health concerns including health promotion and protection, provides strong nursing application coverage, and addresses timely issues such as disaster nursing, urban clients, and clients with disabilities/chronic illness. This edition retains popular features such as “Stop and Think” boxes, levels of prevention displays, and Using the Nursing Process and includes new features such as Evidence: The Bridge to Practice, Healthy People 2010, Student Voices, and appendices of communicable diseases.