Objective: To examine the development and challenges of public health nursing education in China during the period of the Republic of China (1912-1949).
Methods: This study utilized a historical research design that combined a social framework and a policy framework to explore the early history of public health nursing education in China. Historical data were collected from periodicals, newspapers, archives, books and other sources.
Results: Public health was integrated into the nursing school curriculum for the first time during the period of the Republic of China, and health facilities and nursing schools conducted early explorations of public health nurse training. However, public health nursing education faced difficulties in terms of the curriculum, personnel training, and the localization of education.
Conclusions: The achievements and difficulties associated with public health nursing education in China during the period of the Republic of China provide a historical reference for the integration of public health into current basic nursing education and the compatibility between the training of public health nurses and practical needs. Comparative studies of early public health nursing education across countries are expected to offer a better understanding of current public health nursing education.
Keywords: China; nursing education; nursing history; public health nurse; public health nursing.
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