A community health nurse, also known as a public health nurse, makes the health needs of an entire population their priority. Whether treating an entire family or a single patient, community health nurses provide direct care, promote disease prevention, and advocate for underserved populations. They’re more than bedside caregivers; they’re leaders dedicated to promoting and improving health where people are born, grow, and live.
If you’re wondering, “how can I help my community as a nurse?” there’s perhaps no better way to serve the members of your community than by becoming a community health nurse. This role allows you to break down barriers to healthcare, support vulnerable populations, and create lasting change.
If you’re passionate about making a difference in your community, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) can help you transition into a rewarding career in community health nursing.
The American Public Health Association (APHA) defines public health nursing as “the practice of promoting and protecting the health of populations using knowledge from nursing, social, and public health sciences.” Community health nursing, a specialized area of public health nursing, focuses on improving health outcomes at the local level by working directly with individuals, families, and groups within a community.
Community health nurses provide for health needs by:
Although community health nurses are focused on the health needs of the entire population, they recognize that certain groups face more barriers to care than others. Health inequity is a complex problem influenced by social, cultural, economic, and historical factors. To address these disparities, community health nurses advocate for social justice by teaching, developing policies, and finding community-based solutions that help eliminate population health disparities.
You can reduce barriers to care by advocating for policies that increase healthcare access, leading programs to ensure equal access to health insurance, and addressing social determinants of health such as poverty, poor nutrition, and environmental hazards.
Community health nurses often work in areas where residents lack access to quality healthcare due to issues like inconsistent insurance coverage and limited resources. By addressing these disparities through community-based programs and prevention efforts, nurses help bridge the gap in healthcare access and improve overall public health.
Community health nurses are agents of change. They assess the needs of populations to improve health and healthcare for individual patients and community-wide health initiatives alike. They understand how social factors impact health and work to help diverse and underserved populations stay healthy.
Community health nurses promote prevention by educating at-risk groups on public health challenges, including:
By pursuing a career in community health nursing, you can work in a variety of settings to help at-risk groups receive preventative healthcare, including:
Vulnerable populations are often unable to speak out regarding the barriers separating them from health and wellness. As a community health nurse, you can give a voice to their struggles and provide the social, emotional, and healthcare support they need to avoid and overcome public health challenges.
If you’re still wondering how you can help your community in a healthcare role, we hope that we’ve provided you with the answer. Below, we break down the steps involved in becoming a community health nurse:
Before pursuing a career in community health nursing, you must first become a registered nurse. If you’re already an RN, you’re well on your way to advancing into community health nursing.
The next step is to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The University of Texas Permian Basin offers an online RN to BSN program that equips nurses with the foundational skills needed to excel in community health nursing. The program is designed to prepare you for nursing leadership, interprofessional collaboration, and promoting health within diverse communities.
During your BSN program at UT Permian Basin, you’ll dive into specific courses that are crucial for community health nursing, including:
These courses will give you the knowledge to understand the legal, ethical, cultural, socioeconomic, and global factors affecting health in communities.
Upon graduating from your BSN program, you’ll be ready to treat and prevent health issues in your community. UTPB’s program is specifically designed to prepare you for leadership roles in addressing public health challenges, allowing you to make a lasting impact on the health and wellness of your community.
Our online RN to BSN program is 100% online, requires no travel, and can be completed in an as little as eight months. In less than a year after enrolling, you can graduate from our online program and receive an additional Nurse Management Certificate from Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society. If you’re interested in taking a more active role in helping your community, enroll in UT Permian Basin’s online RN to BSN program and pursue a career as a community health nurse.
Learn more about UT Permian Basin’s online RN to BSN program.
Sources:
https://www.apha.org/-/media/files/pdf/membergroups/phn/nursingdefinition.ashx?la=en&hash=331DBEC4B79E0C0B8C644BF2BEA571249F8717A0
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500097
https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2011.0685
https://www.cdc.gov/psr/index.html
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