AbstractThe Interactive and Organizational Model of Community as Client is presented as a conceptual framework for the specialty of public health nursing. A descriptive study was undertaken that explored a construct of the model, community‐focused nursing. The study used a survey mailed to a stratified, random sample of directors of public health nursing (n= 145) in local health departments in an eight‐state region of the mid‐western United States. Seventy‐nine percent (n= 115) of the directors responded. The vast majority reported performance of community‐focused nursing functions. Implications for nursing‐model development, education and practice ar