20 | CFHN
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MEDICAL ADVICE
About the author: Dr. Alison Young-Tan, an internal medicine/pediatrics physician, currently serves the community as medical director for the Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk).
N
ursing is a profession many people 
recognize, but few understand the 
specialized paths nurses can take. Public 
health nursing is one of those roles. To 
highlight this work, the Florida Department 
of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk) speaks 
with three of our Senior Community Nurses: 
Amy Thao, Katherine Pate, and Crystal 
Williams. With over 25 years of combined 
experience across clinics and the School 
Health program, they offer a glimpse into 
the heart of public health nursing.
WHAT MAKES PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING 
UNIQUE?
Pate believes the distinction lies in the scope, 
“Instead of waiting for illness to present in 
a clinic setting, public health nurses work 
proactively to prevent disease, promote 
wellness, and address root causes before 
they escalate.”
Thao shares her reflection on the mission 
behind the role, “Public health nursing is 
the art of improving the ‘big picture’ health 
issues, one individual at a time.”
Williams adds insights from the School 
Health program perspective, “School Health 
nurses develop care plans and train school 
staff so students with medical needs can 
stay safe at school.”
HOW PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING 
IMPROVES COMMUNITY HEALTH
As a nurse in the Lakeland Nurse Assessment 
Clinic (NAC), Thao sees how education can 
shape healthier futures. “My clients may see 
me as the nurse who provides pregnancy 
confirmations 
or 
sexually 
transmitted 
infection (STI) treatments,” she explained. 
“But I hope they leave my office with 
knowledge that empowers them to make 
the best decisions when it comes to prenatal 
care and STI prevention.” 
Extending the theme of education, Pate 
describes School Health as, “It’s often the 
first line of defense. Every time we educate 
students and staff on illness prevention, 
we reduce the spread of infections across 
schools and into the wider community.”
She further stated, “What makes our position 
impactful in Polk County is our connection 
to families and access to care. Many 
students rely on school health services as 
their only consistent health care touchpoint. 
By coordinating care, connecting families 
with resources, and advocating for student 
needs, we bridge gaps that might otherwise 
lead to untreated conditions or avoidable 
hospital visits.”
The work extends beyond clinics and schools, 
as Williams explained, “We support outreach 
events, clinics, and dental student training. 
We also deploy to special needs shelters 
during severe weather and coordinate with 
the epidemiology team to stay ready for 
disease outbreaks.”
A MOMENT THAT SHOWS THE IMPACT 
OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING
Thao recalls the trust of her clients, “There 
have been many times where pregnant 
women come in for pregnancy test 
confirmation appointments, not because 
they needed to confirm pregnancy, but 
because they were alone and didn’t know 
what to do next,” she said.
She continues, “Besides giving them prenatal 
education on ways to improve health during 
pregnancy, I provide them with guidance on 
how to find prenatal care and connect them 
with community resources such as Healthy 
Start, WIC, and United Way. Each time, I hear 
words of gratitude and relief from these 
clients.”
Pate highlights the impact of School Health 
outreach, “I have seen how important the 
role of health education is in preventing 
illness and protecting classrooms,” she said. 
Williams shares about the impact in schools, 
“I once identified that a student needed 
corrective treatment for scoliosis. I help 
bridge students’ medical needs with their 
education so they can learn without health 
issues interrupting school.”
WHY PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING MATTERS
For Pate, the motivation comes from the 
long‑term impact of prevention, “What 
motivates me is knowing that even small 
efforts can have a lasting impact on an entire 
community,” she said. “Public health nursing 
protects people before health issues arise.”
Thao’s commitment is both professional 
and personal, “Not only do I love being a 
nurse, the satisfaction of experiencing a 
better community for myself and my family 
motivates me to come into work every day,” 
she shared. “Public health is the important 
work of driving all health care services 
towards the common good and a healthier 
tomorrow for everyone.”
Williams closes with a reflection on service, 
“The variety of experiences in my tenure in 
community health nursing has grown me in 
unforeseeable ways. I may yet experience 
more, because my duty is about and for the 
people. Therefore, it is my pleasure to serve 
my community.”
On the Front Lines of 
Prevention: Polk’s  
Public Health Nurses 
Tackle the Root Causes
by DR. ALISON YOUNG-TAN

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