What is the Role of Community Health Nurse

Nurses are boon to patients because of their helping and empathetic nature. Their dedication towards healthcare and sense of whole-heartedness sets them apart. They work in a variety of settings: hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, and communities. Community health nursing is one of the many nursing specializations you can find. The role of community health nurse involved in overseeing the health and well-being of the individuals and groups within communities. It includes both clinical and non-clinical duties, like treating injuries and conducting research. They can wear multiple identities, including caregiver, collaborator, manager, leader and researcher and serve the people.

To become a community health nurse, one must complete high-school, get a B.Sc Nursing degree from a recognized institution, register with the official boards, and pursue specialized training. In this article, you can find complete information about the role of community health nurse and related details.

What is Community Health Nursing?

Community health nursing is one of the nursing specializations involved in promoting and preserving the health of individuals, families, and groups within a community. Instead of working in a clinical setting, they directly interact with the communities to prevent disease, educate about health practices, and improve overall well-being. The role of community health nurse spans from assessment of community needs, developing care plans to providing the services like health screenings and chronic disease management. They address the health issues in the society, reduce health disparities, and support underserved populations through outreach and education.

Where Community Health Nurses Work?

Below, we have listed the different settings, where community health nurses work:

• State and local health departments
• Educational settings like schools, colleges, and universities
• Community groups
• Advocacy groups
• Religious organizations
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Occupational health settings
• Shelters and transitional housing facilities

Also read: The Ethical Challenges Faced by Nurses and How to Overcome Them

7 Prominent Roles of Community Health Nurses

Community health nurses perform various roles like clinician, educator, manager, advocate, researcher, etc. Below, we have explained each role of community health nurse in the clearest manner, which helps you to choose the suitable path for you.

1. Clinician

As a clinician, community health nurses not only focused on the individuals and families, but groups and communities as well. They emphasised on holism, health promotion and protection, and skill development. Largely, they are focused on promoting well-being and seeking out clients to resolve the problem rather than waiting for them to arrive and tell. In a nutshell, they are providing clinical services to the communities, instead of performing it in hospitals or other clinical settings.

2. Educator

This role of a community health nurse focused on being a health teacher. It is significant since it can improve the public’s health consciousness, community-wider impact and inculcate the client’s self-education leading to the proper usage of health resources. This form of education within the community helps them to lead a healthy lifestyle and make informed choices. Thus, this teaching aspect of CHN must be illuminated in order to create a healthier community.

3. Manager

Manager, a role of community health nurse, directs and administers care by performing the set of activities. It involves assessment of the client needs, plan, organize and achieve the intended results. Also, progress needs to be tracked and monitored to find whether the results are achieved or not. From setting the goals and direction for the clients to organizing the relevant people to reach the desired objectives, they take care of all the managerial activities

4. Advocate

Every patient has the right to get a just, equal and humane treatment. However, current healthcare systems are not providing personalized and holistic services. In this situation, nurses act as an advocate for those clients who are poor and disadvantaged. They bring forth the causes to light and stand for them. It helps clients by making them independent and self-determined and regularizes the system to listen to the needs of clients. It is important for a CHN, playing an advocacy role to be assertive, taking risks, negotiating well and identifying resources and obtaining the results.

5. Collaborator

Collaborator, a role of community health nurse, involved in joining with others to cooperate and contribute as a partner. This leads to working in a common project, where others are involved, such as clients, teachers, social workers, physical therapists, nutritionists, psychologists, attorneys, and secretaries.

6. Leader

Community health nurses as a leader influence, direct and persuade others to positively influence the public’s health. It involves persuading and motivating people to make healthier choices, conducting effective two-way communication and resolving emerging conflicts. As a leader, CHN must focus on bringing all the people in harmony to achieve the desired objectives. Persuasion and coordination are the two-most important skills to effectively create the results one wants.

7. Researcher

As a researcher, a role of community health nurse systematically investigates and analyses the data to solve problems and improve the community’s health. Some CHN participates in collaborative research with other health professionals to achieve the intended research objectives. Essentially, CHN Researcher focused on collecting the data, analyzing it to find the solutions to the problem and make informed decisions.

How to Become a Community Health Nurse in India?

Find the brief steps to become a community health nurse in India, below:

• Step 1: Meet the Eligibility Criteria: Ensure to complete a 10 and +2 classes with Biology group.
• Step 2: Complete a Nursing program: Take a B.Sc Nursing degree or relevant program at a recognized institution and complete it.
• Step 3: Register with Nursing Council: After completing the course, you must register with the state nursing council as a registered nurse (RN).
• Step 4: Continue with specialized training:If you want, you can do a post-diploma degree, certification course in community health or Msc in community health nursing.
• Step 5: Apply for CHN Jobs: After attaining a solid knowledge and skills, you can apply for CHN jobs, through which you can be placed in community health care centres, NGOs, and school health programs.

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Conclusion

The role of Community health nurse comprises different hats but has only one focus - to improve the community’s health. It can either by advocating for the clients to receive their basic rights or educating them about healthier choices. It is important to undergo an education and specialized training to become a community health nurse. If you’re decided to become one of them, congratulations for you for making a meaningful impact on people’s lives.