Which of the following professionals is considered a health visitor?

A health visitor is a specially trained professional who works primarily with families, particularly during the early years of a child's life. Their role focuses on promoting health, well-being, and development, providing essential support and guidance to parents, and ensuring children receive the necessary health screenings and vaccinations.

The choice of a school nurse, while they do play an important role in children's health within the school setting, typically focuses on immediate health needs and schooling rather than the broader community health promotion that a health visitor engages in.

In contrast, social workers provide support for children and families dealing with family issues, child welfare, and protection but do not primarily focus on health issues in the preventive and developmental way that health visitors do. A GP, or general practitioner, addresses health issues and provides medical care but does not specifically focus on the preventative health monitoring and family outreach that characterizes the health visitor's responsibilities. Educational psychologists primarily deal with learning processes and educational assessments rather than direct health care or family support.

Thus, the role of the school nurse aligns most closely with some aspects of health visiting, though it does not encompass the full depth of the health visitor's scope, making it the choice that could be mistakenly identified as a health visitor while understanding the distinction is crucial.