Final answer:
One of the essential services of public health that a public health nurse should participate in is informing, educating, and empowering people about health issues, which is crucial for disease prevention and health promotion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The public health nurse (PHN) plays a crucial role in the provision of the essential services of public health. Among the options provided, one that most accurately describes an essential service of public health is "Informing, educating, and empowering people about health issues." This involves activities like health education, data gathering, disease prevention interventions, and promoting health equity, which align with the CDC Foundation's definition of public health as the science of protecting and improving the health of communities.
The essence of this service is to facilitate the understanding and spread of knowledge on how diseases are transmitted and their effect on populations, aiming primarily at prevention. This educational component is a cornerstone for public health initiatives as it empowers individuals and communities to take charge of their health, understand the importance of immunizations, and effectively participate in community-based health strategies.
Other essential services include monitoring health status by completing community assessments and diagnosing and investigating health problems. However, it is the education and empowerment of the public that is pivotal in the prevention and management of diseases, injuries, and other health conditions that threaten human health.