They can be found across a variety of settings and in virtually every country. Together with midwives, they offer great opportunity in their numbers. In addition to availability, nursing as a discipline has a unique history and culture that is congruent with what one might desire in a public health workforce. Nurses and midwives offer another advantage because of their presence in the community. They do much of their formal and informal work within reach of people where they live, work, learn and play.
People look to nurses and midwives for help and advice.
This offers a tremendous advantage in developing community health programs. Culturally appropriate intervention is an important ingredient to effective and equitable services. This requires a workforce that represents the entire spectrum of peoples to be served, and nurses and midwives are found in practically every ethnic and racial group. Actively engaging them in public health will go a long way toward meeting the health needs of all people. Also, nurses and midwives are a political and social force.