What a Public Health Nurse Expects of Her Chief—the Health Officer

Abstract

THE relationship between the health officer and the public health nurse is considered as that between an administrator and an executive. As a basis for discussion I have selected the functions for these two positions as outlined by Schell:'The administrator determines policy. His major function is to represent equally the rights of the owners, the employees, and the public, a responsibility which has come more and more into his hands with the constantly rising status of management as a profession, and the waning influence of the board of directors as an administrative force in business operation. He guides and controls the progress of the enterprise in its fight for existence and advancement. He decides what shall be done and, in large measure, his success lies in the quality of business judgment shown in these decisions. He coordinates and keeps in proper balance all of the factors of the enterprise which are necessary to success. Having provided the agencies and paths of action, he delegates the action to others. He holds the executive responsible for the work itself.An executive is one who is responsible for the execution of work performed by others. We look to him for accomplishment. We find him near the cutting edges of our industrial organizations where the main object is being approached. He is always close to the zone of action. Whether he be office manager in charge of clerks, district sales manager in charge of salesmen, or foreman in charge of workmen, his place is at the firing line. We may define the executive in still another way. He is the medium for the flow of orders and policies from the administrators to the employees.The functions as outlined indicate definite fields, adequate preparation, and, I believe, mutual respect for each other's ability. The administrator has a slight advantage in that he has often selected the executive.What then as public health nurses would we suggest to the health officer as standards for this selection? The National Organization for Public Health Nursing2 presents minimum standards to succeed those