Final answer:
Public health nurses focus on the community as their client, actively seek out those in need of their services, and optimize resources. They concentrate on prevention, epidemiology, and addressing health disparities rather than primarily managing diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics of public health nurses include a comprehensive approach to healthcare, where they see the community as their client. They are proactive in their efforts by actively identifying and reaching out to individuals who could benefit from their services. Furthermore, they are adept at optimizing available resources to promote health and prevent disease within communities.
While they do engage in disease management, their primary focus is not on individual healthcare but on preventive health, understanding disease transmission, and managing the impact of health disparities linked to socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic factors. This involves epidemiologists collecting data, tracking diseases, and developing strategies in coordination with public organizations like the CDC to improve public health policies and outcomes.