Nurses are one of the biggest advocates of health and wellness. Have you ever met one that wasn’t? Probably not. Working in a diverse field, as nurses, we encounter hundreds of patients of different backgrounds and health conditions, every day. While one nurse may care for a patient who has had consistent and good healthcare throughout his or her lifetime, another may care for an individual who has been unable, for personal or economic reasons, to receive medical care in over a decade.
Despite the individual and his or her background, the goal remains the same for nurses: providing and promoting health and wellness. In order to promote health and wellness on a larger scale, communities must come together. Whether we advocate to eliminate staff shortages or take a role in teaching health, nurses can play an integral role in this important process.
Here are some ways that nurses can stay active outside of the doctor’s office and spread their knowledge of public health, for the health of a community:
Teach
I believe that one of the greatest ways to improve the health of a community is by educating the public and unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen in the office. When a patient comes into the doctor’s office, we are often encouraged to get through an appointment as quickly as possible, due to staff shortages and the high volume of patients. As a nurse, this is one of my greatest pet peeves and the whole hurried process hardly seems fair, but I offer the best care I can and make sure that a patient feels well informed before he or she leaves.
Fortunately, in the past, I have had the opportunity to share my knowledge and my passion for nursing by teaching a few courses throughout the community. Even though I am not a public health nurse, I have assisted with childbirth education classes, showed elders how to properly monitor their blood pressure, and visited my daughter’s school to talk with students about making healthy choices. By educating patients, I am helping them feel more empowered and as a result, they are able to care for themselves and their loved ones.
Advocate
As a nurse and an educator, I must also be an advocate for patients and health, in general. I am often reminded that as a nurse, I have made a commitment to protect, promote, and optimize the health of all individuals (as defined by the American Nurses Association). Since a patient’s health is a result of his or her social, economic, and cultural environment, I encounter many individuals who deal with their health concerns differently. As a nurse, whether I’m in the office or in the community, it’s my job to communicate with individuals, simplify a complex situation, and make them feel comfortable and confident.
Often, I will visit with a community health nurse and discuss how we can continue to effectively educate individuals in the community. As an advocate, I have stepped up and spoken out on behalf of patients (in and outside of the office) who don’t have the resources, the understanding, or the ability to communicate their needs.
How Will You Help?
As nurses, we are always working hard, but I believe (and encourage) if every nurse took a little time out of his or her life away from the office to get involved in the community, the wellness and health of a community would improve.