Public health nursing within core public health functions: "back to the future".

This article defines the role of public health nursing within the core public health functions and health care reform. It discusses the process used in Washington State to define the core public health functions and the development of the Public Health Improvement Plan. It further articulates how the core functions work was built upon to develop a futuristic public health nursing model that incorporates population-based services. The article concludes by discussing some of the challenges and barriers to implementation of the model, yet assuring that public health nursing has a role in public health practice well into the 21st century.