How Can You Get Involved in Community Health Nursing?

• Looking to use your nursing skills and knowledge to serve your community?
• Community health nursing is great opportunity, and there are so many routes you can take!
• Interested in learning more about the community health nursing role? Nursing CE Central has got you covered!

During times of severe illness, catastrophe, pandemics and more, communities have relied on nurses for hundreds of years. 

Community health nursing, also known as public health nursing, works to improve the overall health and wellbeing of a population as well as decrease the spreading of disease.  

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The American Public Health Association (APHA) defines public health (or community health) nursing as, “the practice of promoting and protecting the health of populations using knowledge from nursing, social, and public health sciences.” 

Following, the ANA outlines a few areas of interest within the community health nursing field; these include immunizations, infection prevention, environmental health, and opioid crisis response. 

Of course, there are various other opportunities within this field, so be sure to do your research if there is a particular area that interests you! 

Where Would I Work?

Online nursing community, EveryNurse, highlights that anyone looking to pursue a career in community health nursing will have great chances of finding a career almost anywhere! Check it out: 

• Healthcare facilities (i.e. hospitals, trauma centers, private practices etc.) 
• Government health agencies 
• Schools 
• Non-profit organizations 
• Community health centers 
• Research facilities  

What Does a Community Health Nurse Do? 

According to Rasmussen University, community health nurses work in advocacy, policy development and planning. Community health nurses are also involved in community-building, health promotion and policy reforms that promote the overall health of a population.  

This scope of practice seems to be very broad, therefore the roles and responsibilities will vary based on their location of employment.  

Some community health nurses may provide immunizations, general screenings, or medication administration while also working on developing education, population research and exploring health outcomes of their community.  

Are You a People Person? 

Community health nursing allows nurses to work in a group setting, interacting with people within their communities, raising awareness to stop the spread of preventable disease and illnesses.  

Education is a massive part of a community nurse’s role.  

They are well versed in educating the public on topics such as family planning, STD prevention, domestic violence, child development, self-care, and nutrition, and so much more! 

If this sounds like something you would like to do, you should check out the jobs available for community health nursing in your area; it may be more rewarding than you think! 

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