Lillian Wald and the Pioneering Work of Public Health Nursing

The practice of public health nursing and Henry Street Settlement are credited to Lillian Wald.

As a young nurse, Lillian Wald was deeply affected by the poor living conditions and health disparities she observed among immigrant communities in New York City. In 1893, she co-founded the Henry Street Settlement, a community center that provided various social services to impoverished families.

One of the notable innovations introduced by Wald and the Henry Street Settlement was the Visiting Nurse Service (VNS). Through the VNS, specially trained nurses made home visits to provide healthcare and education to people who lacked access to proper medical care. This marked the beginning of public health nursing, which emphasized preventive care, health education, and community outreach. Wald's leadership and advocacy for public health nursing greatly contributed to its establishment as a recognized field of nursing practice.