Community Nurse Role

A Community Nurse is an  registered nurse or a nurse practitioner  who is a member of a community (town, parish, or social organization)  with years of healthcare experience.  He or she  will not provide hands-on nursing care, but will assist community members in seeking additional care if needed, and in helping provide continuity of care. 

These nurses view the individual and the community in a holistic manner, and they bring their experience at the bedside and in the community to the position. Their assessment ability and knowledge about options for appropriate interventions help them to address complex problems. They are familiar with health care systems and have experience in working as part of a team. They understand the course of an illness, the functional consequences of that illness, and the impact on the individual and the family. They have a global familiarity with the community resources necessary to support the individual during a crisis. They also have the capacity to initiate interventions for the larger community as needed.

The nurse can do any of the following:

• health education
• health counseling
• referral agent/care coordination for vulnerable members of the community and their families
• health advocacy
• volunteer education/facilitation
• facilitate support groups
• care management
• medication reconciliation
• initiate advanced directives
• physical assessment
• goals of care discussion

The nurse does not do direct care (e.g., wound care, IV administration). Direct care needs for homebound individuals can be referred to the area home care agencies.