False Dawn: The Rise and Decline of Public Health Nursing

False Dawn: The Rise and Decline of Public Health Nursing by Karen Buhler Wilkersons is the definitive work on the creation, work, successes, and failures of public health nursing in the United States. It explores why a movement that became a significant vehicle for delivering comprehensive health care failed to reach its potential, detailing the "rise and fall" narrative of public health nursing.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 216 pages
\n Publication date: 30 January 2021
\n Publisher: Rutgers University Press
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Since its initial publication in 1989 by Garland Publishing, Karen Buhler Wilkersons False Dawn: The Rise and Decline of Public Health Nursing remains the definitive work on the creation, work, successes, and failures of public health nursing in the United States. False Dawn explores and answers the provocative question: why did a movement that became a significant vehicle for the delivery of comprehensive health care to individuals and families fail to reach its potential? Through carefully researched chapters, Wilkerson details what she herself called the "rise and fall" narrative of public health nursing: rising to great heights in its patients' homes in the struggle to control infectious diseases, assimilate immigrants, and tame urban areas -- only to flounder during the later growth of hospitals, significant immigration restrictions, and the emergence of chronic diseases as endemic in American society.

The book provides a comprehensive history of public health nursing, tracing its origins from the early 20th century to the present day. It discusses the key milestones and achievements of public health nursing, such as the development of community health centers, the establishment of public health schools, and the implementation of public health policies and programs.

However, the book also highlights the challenges and setbacks that public health nursing faced throughout its history. It explores the factors that contributed to the decline of public health nursing, such as budget cuts, the rise of managed care, and the shifting focus of healthcare away from the community.

One of the most significant themes of False Dawn is the role of public health nursing in addressing social and economic inequality. Wilkerson argues that public health nursing was uniquely positioned to address the health needs of marginalized and underserved populations, but that it often faced barriers to achieving its goals.

For example, public health nurses worked tirelessly to control infectious diseases and promote health education in low-income communities, but they often faced resistance from healthcare providers and policymakers who were more interested in pursuing profits than improving health outcomes.

Another theme of False Dawn is the changing landscape of healthcare and the impact it has had on public health nursing. Wilkerson argues that the growth of hospitals and the emergence of chronic diseases as endemic in American society have led to a shift in the focus of public health nursing away from the community and towards the hospital.

This has resulted in a decline in the number of public health nurses and a loss of the unique skills and expertise that they bring to the healthcare system.

Despite these challenges, False Dawn remains a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history and future of public health nursing. It provides a detailed and nuanced account of the movement's successes and failures, and it offers insights into the factors that have contributed to its decline and resurgence.

In conclusion, Karen Buhler Wilkersons False Dawn: The Rise and Decline of Public Health Nursing is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and future of public health nursing. It provides a comprehensive and insightful account of the movement's creation, work, successes, and failures, and it offers valuable insights into the factors that have shaped its trajectory.

\n Weight: 234g\n
Dimension: 228 x 153 x 19 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781978808720\n \n