Final answer:
In changing behaviors like poor hand washing and unsafe sex practices, Public Health Nurses act as educators, responsible for imparting knowledge and facilitating disease prevention while respecting cultural diversity and personal views.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Public Health Nurse (PHN) aims to change behaviors related to poor hand washing skills and unsafe sex practices. In this role, the nurse is functioning primarily as an educator. As an educator, PHNs are responsible for providing health care education and disease prevention strategies that may challenge their personal beliefs and cultural norms. This may include teaching about the spread of HIV and encouraging behavioral changes that reduce the risk of infection, while respecting the diverse personal views of their patients.
It is essential for PHNs to promote practical disease prevention methods, like proper hand washing, as illustrated in the CDC's five steps, and safe sex practices through approaches that may involve distribution of free condoms or needle exchange programs.