Running head: COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE ROLE REFLECTION 1

Community Health Nurse Role Reflection

Lynda Chase

Ferris State University

 Abstract

There are numerous roles that nurses can assume in the community setting. This paper

will reflect the roles of the nurse with direct contact serving at risk populations in the

community, a nurse manager that organizes projects behind the scenes, and the main focus of the

nurse working as a change agent to facilitate local, state or national policies. This paper’s main

focus is to spotlight on nursing and how they provide resources and assistance to obese high

school students and how this is an epidemic both locally and throughout the United States.
 Nurses have critical roles throughout the community. Nurses are teachers and patient

advocates. According to Harkness and DeMarco “Eliminating health disparities is a combined

effort of health professionals in all settings, but community and public health nurses deal directly

with these issues, often on a personal basis” (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012, p. 19). As community

health nurses we need to enoucourage making the right choice regarding nutrition. This would

improve their overall health beginning at an early age to help minimize the complications of

obesity later in life. Harkness and DeMarco state that “Services are provided to individual

clients and families as a means of improving the health of the population (Harkness & DeMarco,

2012, p. 9).

According to the data collected on the Michigan Department of Community Health website it

states that “The percentage of overweight adolescents in Michigan has remained fairly steady

with the percentage of adolescents in the United States, climbing above the national average in

2007 and dropping below the national average in 2009 (Michigan Department of Community

Health, 2011). As healthcare providers we need to take action not only in our community but at

a higher level. We need to include lawmakers in our fight against childhood obesity.

Community nurses play a large role in influencing not only their own community but reaching

out to other nearby communities as well. One of the key factors is that the community nurse has

direct contact with the population in need. People in the community have a resource that can

guide them to better health. This type of nurse typically works in the schools and in public

settings such as a clinic. The action plans for these healthcare workers are driven by local, state,

and federal guidelines.

The role of the nurse manager includes effective communication and effective decision

making. This may take part in a community such as organizing a health fair to educate our youth
on proper nutrition or on a larger scale coordinating healthy meals for children whose parents are

not able to be at home to provide breakfast prior to the child leaving for school. They may also

seek out funds to support this project.

I believe we not only need to educate our community on childhood obesity but our lawmakers.

Michigan is on the high side of the national average for childhood obesity. There are many

organizations that provide lobbyists to voice the concerns of the community.

In 2011 Michigan’s governor directed the Michigan Department of community Health, “To

incorporate information about body mass index into the Michigan Care Improvement Registry

(MCIR), which tracks childhood immunization records. This rule change allows health care

providers to report height and weight measurements on the registry, with the goal of increasing

obesity screening rates and improving treatment of childhood obesity, which is significantly

under-diagnosed in children. Another goal is to improve the quality of pediatric obesity care by

highlighting the need for an annual screening of body mass index, which correlates with future

obesity, hypertension, and diabetes” (National Conference of State Legislature, 2012). Granted

that the schools are where the biggest contact can be made to our children, I still believe that

education needs to start in the home. That being said, nurses need to be involved with local

chapters of organizations and also with our legislators to promote policies. According to the

American Nurses Association standards of professional performance one of the responsibilities is

to function as part of the team and a professional responsibilities is policies (Ferris State

University –Nursing 2010).

To influence change within the community the nurse would have to have an impact on

change. The community would have to know, like, and trust you for them to believe in your

vision. If the community does not possess these beliefs, barriers will be created. Being able to
communicate the rationale for your decision is important to the community. Disparities may

affect the children in this population (grades 9-12) because they would like immediate

gratification. They’re not willing to put forth the effort to drive this change, even though it may

be detrimental to their health.

The community health nurse can have numerous roles and responsibilities. They may be

giving direct patient care or they may be on the steps of the Whitehouse lobbying for a specific

cause or policy. The student would have a difficult time with the role of a change agent. I have

experienced this and it’s a challenging role. Policies and laws are lobbied for years on end with

the end result of not even making it to the legislators. This process is long and grueling. The

student must present with a positive attitude, great organizational skills, and communication

skills that can influence everyone. This student would be appropriate for the nurse leader role or

a manager in the community setting. Solid skills of management and collaboration with not

only staff but clients, is a must. The student may be challenged with this population because

many of them are not committed to improving their health.

Community nurses have a large scope of practice in which they may influence a population.

To solve or at least improve the obesity issues with this population is going to take a combined

effort of not only the community nurse, but parents and lawmakers alike.
 References

Ferris State University - Nursing. (2010). Standards of Professional Nursing Practice.

Retrieved from http://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/colleges/alliedhe/Nursing/Standards-of-

Professional-Nursing-Practice.htm

Harkness, G.A. & DeMarco, R.F. (2012). Community and Public Health Nursing.

Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Michigan Department of Community Health. (2011). Critical health indicators. Retrieved

from http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-2944_5327_47055---,00.html

National Conference of State Legislature. (2012). Childhood Obesity – 2011 Update of

Legislative Policy Options. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/issues-

research/health/childhood-obesity-2011.aspx#Nutrition_Education