Community health is an increasingly important concept in healthcare that focuses on keeping communities as a whole healthy. Out of all the medical professionals involved in caring for patients, nurse practitioners are some of the most widespread and important caregivers. They deal directly with patients, and when directing their attention to a broader neighborhood instead of an individual patient, they can glean insights that allow them to provide effective care tailored directly to its members. From engaging with local stakeholders to participating in community organizations, here is a look at the important role nurse practitioners play in keeping people healthy.
What is community health?
The term “community health” refers to the overall health of a community. This is in contrast to other measures of health, which tend to place individual patients or patients dealing with similar diagnoses at the center. Collective health is just as important as individual health. Strong public health begins with healthy communities, which, in turn, begin with healthy individuals.
The authors of The Future of Public’s Health in the 21st Century clarify that the idea of community health refers to “healthy people in healthy communities”. Communities are multidimensional entities that are crucial to both the broader population as well as more insular groups of people. From serving as the cultural and physical backdrop for local progress to nurturing tomorrow’s leaders, they are the bread and butter of the United States.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) engage with, and collaborate within, the community in several ways. Their most impactful roles include:
- Working with community organizations
- Partnering with local stakeholders
- Tailoring healthcare services to meet their community’s needs
Here is a closer look at a nurse practitioner’s role in the communities they serve.
Community organizations
Community organizations are organizations that consist of community members working with other community members. A local community organization that focuses on bringing affordable books to young children, for example, typically consists of community leaders who reach out to area bookstores and libraries for help. Their efforts directly impact the community in question for the better.
NPs interact with community organizations such as community centers, local health clinics, nonprofit organizations, and schools to ensure that community members have the healthcare and education they need. Engaging with local organizations grants NPs insights into the specific health needs of the area in question. Some of the ways that NPs meet these needs include:
- Volunteering their time
- Providing health screenings
- Offering educational sessions
- Participating in community health fairs
The goal is to promote health awareness and establish preventative care practices.
Partnerships with local stakeholders
In addition to working directly with local organizations, NPs often enter into partnerships with local stakeholders. Local stakeholders are decision-makers in the community who are poised to help drive healthy transformations for the people who live there. By working directly with the individuals they try to help, stakeholders can make the difference between a successful health-related program and a failed attempt.
Potential stakeholders include social service agencies, public health departments, advocacy groups, hospitals, and physicians, along with other healthcare professionals and services. With these partnerships, NPs are more likely to access the resources and expertise they need to meet community health initiatives while coordinating the highest quality of care possible for their patients.
Some NPs might collaborate with local hospitals, for example, to provide follow-up care or work directly with public health providers to secure immunization programs. In all of these cases, the goal is to leverage local resources from community leaders in the healthcare industry, along with outside resources secured from local stakeholders, to improve community health. Whether working to find free counseling for patients struggling with their mental health, meet infant care needs with free baskets for new parents, or something else entirely, NPs make a huge difference in their local communities with this type of work.
Tailoring healthcare services to meet local community needs
The first step to becoming a competent care provider with the ability to tailor healthcare services to meet local community needs is securing the appropriate education. Research about the state practice environments to get an insight into the scope of practice. For example, when considering Tennessee, before selecting an educational program, check which practice category the state falls under, and look into the licensure requirements. Academic institutions such as Carson-Newman University offer comprehensive NP programs ranking high in Tennessee, that offer individualized support to graduates that can prepare them for state licensure. Their student-centric curriculum focuses on enhancing the advanced practice skills required of NPs through a combination of online coursework and Clinical placement.
NPs are trained to provide care that places patients at the center, which means that they take their knowledge about individual patients and their specific challenges and use it to provide the best care possible. This concept can be expanded beyond individual patients and applied to broader communities. In these cases, NPs will focus on acquiring knowledge about the community in question and adapting their care techniques, in addition to carrying out local outreach initiatives to better suit local residents.
Nurse practitioners play a key role in maintaining healthy communities
From taking part in community organizations to tailoring the care they provide to suit the community they serve, NPs are crucial to building and maintaining healthy communities. For those who want to make a difference in their local community, NP academic programs are a great starting point.
