Current status of public health nursing in turkey, problems encountered and solution proposals

The aim of the study is to analyze the work environment and problems of public health nurses working within the primary health care system in Turkey, and propose solutions from a societal and nursing point of view. In the world, the need for quality work force in primary health care has increased due to the expansion of health care coverage today. Despite the fact that there are graduate and doctoral programs in Public Health Nursing Departments of universities in our country, nurses and nurse midwives working in community health centers and family health centers carry out the duties of public health nurses within Turkey’s healthcare system. The number of public health nurses employed in primary healthcare institutions is very low and insufficient. The conditions in these primary work environments affect public health nurses negatively in terms of physical, psychological and social aspects. It is necessary to improve the employee personal rights of public health nurses, reestablish the occupational identity of public health nursing, and improve the conditions for providing holistic health care.