Through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People
2010 project, 10 essential public health services were established for public health
professionals to focus effectively on community priorities (see http://www.healthy
people.gov/). The leading health indicators in a community are preventable risk factors
that are responsible for the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States.
Healthy People 2010 also offers resources to health professionals in association with
each health indicator.
Nurses play a vital role in public health because of growing opportunities for the
expansion of nursing roles in public health, the need for nurses in ongoing community
assessment, planning for emergency responses, and community education (Plews,
Billingham, & Rowe, 2000).