Community Health Nurse
A community can be described as a group of individuals that possess a common attribute or interest and living together within a geographical boundary or territory.
community health nursing was defined by WHO Expert committee on Nursing as that special field of nursing which combines the skills of nursing, public health and certain phases f social assistance and functions as part of the total public health program for the promotion of health, the improvement of conditions in the social and physical environment, rehabilitation of illness and disability.
The goal of community health nursing is to raise the health standard of the citizenry by assisting individual families and communities as a whole to cope with threats to healthy living in a way as to maximize their potential for good and healthy living. Community health nursing is predicated on the recognition of the needs of individuals, families, groups and communities. It is the duty of the community health nurse to fully comprehend the totality of the objectives and policies of the community health agency she represents.
Community nursing care encompasses the care provided to individuals, families and groups wherever they live, work and play or go to school. Community based nursing is a philosophy of care which comprised of collaboration, continuity of care, client and family responsibility for self-care and preventive health. Community nursing has its focus on individual and family-oriented care. A partnership is developed with clients. Am awareness is also created on the impact of the influence of the community on health and the care of individuals and families. Community nursing is applicable to all nurses that practice nursing outside the confines of the hospital. They are involved in activities such as case management, patient education and advocacy for families and individuals. (WHO, 2010)
Role in planning
The community health nurse can serve as a liaison between the community and health authorities in the area of planning by coordinating with other health programs such as environmental sanitation, health education, dental health and mental health. Because of closeness to the community, the community health nurse is able to provide information on the health needs of the community and by so doing, participate in designing health programs and formulating health policies for the government and other health agencies for onward implementation in the community. (WHO, 2010)
The community health nurse also collaborates with members of other professions and organizations and stakeholders in the community. The collaboration is ultimately towards the greater good of the community population as a whole. Moreover, the community health nurse must be equipped with up to date community health nursing knowledge and skills which are essential for the development of partnership with the representatives of the community, members of allied professions and stakeholders of community health as a whole(WHO, 2010)
Role in implementation
The community health nurse practices the promotion and protection of the health of the entire community. This is done by utilizing her academic knowledge and the community's experimental knowledge to provide solutions for the health problems of the community. The interventions and programs must address the health conditions, risks, problems and resources in the community. (Senger 1998) The interventions must also be taking into cognizance the culture of the community so that such interventions are readily acceptable to the people of the community. The community health nurse is responsible for assessing the health conditions of the community, including health risks and problems to find out the health care demands of the people of the community. in doing this, such factors as the health problems and risks, the lifestyle and behavior of the community inhabitants, components of the environment that affect health and the availability and accessibility of health care services and care utilized. The community health nurse is also responsible for determining the social capital of the community, the community culture and identification of resources as key ingredients in the community health care system. (Senger 1998)
Role in evaluation
A community health nurse should have basic skills in epidemiology. With this working knowledge, the community health nurse would be able to determine the trend of health related parameters. This would enable the nurse to determine the impact of health programs and policies on the community. (WHO, 2010) The nurse would be able to objectively say, if the programs have been a success or otherwise and adjustments are made based on the data recorded. In conducting evaluation, information is shared among stakeholders to increase awareness about health risks and problems in the community. (Senger 1998) Also, assessment process is conducted concurrently with other functions throughout the course of the interventions and programs. Assessment also involves the identification of the health care demands of the community in terms of individuals, families, groups and the community as a whole. Collection of information which is up to date about the perspectives and experiences of the people of the community is also part of the job description of the community health nurse.
In conclusion, the role of the community health nurse in the planning, implementation and evaluation of health services in a community is strategic in the provision of effective community health services to the community.
References
Cindy, Senger (1998).Community Based and Public Health Nursing. Colleagues in Caring: South Dakota Consortium
Enrico, Santos & Henry, Santos (2004). Community Health Nursing. University of Makati.
WHO (2010). A framework for Community Health Nursing education. World Health Organization Regional Office for South-East Asia.
