Community Nurse Roles Research Paper (Essay Sample)

Community Nurse Roles Research Paper Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Professor’s Name Course Date Community Nurse Roles Research Paper The purpose of the paper is to provide an in-depth analysis of a selected public/community health nurse role as outlined in the Stanhope and Lancaster (2022) course text. The particular roles and responsibilities of the nurses vary based on the healthcare system, the community’s needs, and the availability of resources. The Program Manager in public health nursing is the role chosen; hence, the paper will dwell on educational background, licensing, and certification requirements. The paper will also discuss the patient population served, highlighting the significant role with the focus on the projected future needs, and outlining the role's professional duties. Educational Background, Licensing, Certification Required and Experience Needed For The Role Becoming a Program Manager in public health nursing is an essential aspect of the field of nursing. The professional role requires a solid background and foundation in nursing education, with qualifications like a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). However, the individual has to demonstrate expertise in community health through certification as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) (DeMarco & Healey-Walsh, 2023). The professional must be licensed to operate legally as a Program Manager in public health nursing. The individual should pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). In public health nursing, the professionals must complete their certification exams and be expected to have several years of experience. Experience as a registered nurse is an essential consideration in Program Manager in public health nursing. The Patient Population Served Including The Setting/Environment The Program Manager in public health nursing is expected to serve a diverse patient population that involves the entire community across the lifespan (DeMarco & Healey-Walsh, 2023). The population can vary based on the patient’s health needs. In addition, the focus is also based on the goal of health programs that the healthcare professional manages. For instance, a program may involve maternal and child health in the community; hence, the Program Manager in public health nurse will target the infants, children, and mothers who are pregnant and lactating in the community. The Program Manager in such health programs will handle a specific patient population targeted. The approximate number of patients/clients a Program Manager in public health nursing can handle will depend on the scale and scope of the health programs. In some situations, the health programs may target the entire community individuals across the lifespan, while others may target even national or international levels. The professional nurse’s ability and strategies can influence the program’s effectiveness, hence achieving the targeted goals. The Program Manager will serve populations, including those with chronic diseases, maternal and child health, and community wellness, therefore serving in both community and population settings. The Program Manager operates in diverse settings, including community health centers, public health departments, schools and educational institutions, and community-based organizations. The nurse’s role extends beyond clinical settings since the services provided are essential in community settings across the lifespan. Despite serving in different areas, the main environment for serving the population is the community itself. Professional Duties Public health nursing professionals serve different roles; hence, they design, implement, and evaluate health programs that align with the needs and public health goals (Steinman et al., 2023). The professionals must coordinate and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to achieve desired goals. The interprofessional team may include nutritionists and dietitians, health educators, policymakers, and epidemiologists who will help address the social determinants of health (Levesque et al., 2022). The individuals collaborate with the social health workers to address community issues. Every healthcare provider is significant in collaborating with the Program Manager in public health nursing since they help achieve desired program goals. Policymakers may also be included in advocating for allocating resources to support the target population. Collaboration is a crucial aspect of the success of the public health programs. Furthermore, the community leaders and organizations are essential, especially when the Program Manager builds relationships with the leaders in the community. Collaboration is an effective approach that facilitates the program's success in community settings since it will be culturally competent to meet the community's diverse needs (Wong et al., 2022). The Program Manager is expected to address the needs of the target population holistically, hence broader social, economic, and ecological aspects that influence the community health. Collaboration with healthcare professionals and other individuals in the community, including leaders and policymakers, is crucial in facilitating successful health programs. Importance Of The Role and Projected Need For The Future Based on the future projection, in the coming 5 to 10 years, the role of Program Manager in public health nursing will be more significant due to the evolving challenges in society. There will be a growing focus on more preventive care and interventions that align with the community’s health needs, which significantly require the roles of the Program Manager to ensure positive change. The Program Manager will advocate for population health and address the health disparities common in the community. They will be instrumental in tailoring the communities’ needs and interventions that address the unique issues faced by the diverse population. The shift of the society and healthcare system towards preventive care is pivotal for the Program Managers since they will play roles in implementing initiatives that prevent diseases and promote healthy behaviors in the community. In the coming future, the projected needs of the population will be escalating due to a high rate of aging popu...