How Being a Nurse Can Support the Local Community?

Nurses play a crucial role in global healthcare systems by supporting those in need throughout the community. Regardless of the specialization, at the end of the day, nurses tend to sick members of the community who are struggling in one way or another.

In a post-pandemic world, there’s never been a more suitable time to recognize the pivotal role that healthcare workers play in society. In what feels like only a hot minute ago, civilians in societies across the globe were fittingly praising healthcare workers as ‘heroes’ throughout the pandemic.

To this day, global health emergency or not, nurses perform sacred and selfless work in caring for the ill. The work of nurses may be strenuous and physically demanding. Nurses may also be challenged psychologically and emotionally, yet they continually prioritize the needs of their patients. The International Labour Organization has recognized nurses and midwives as the ‘backbone’ of any given healthcare system around the world.

Sentiments aside, an alarming projection made by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows an estimated 33% decrease in the number of healthcare workers by 2030. This is expected in predominantly lower and middle-income countries. To put this into perspective, this could involve a global shortage of 18 million healthcare workers by 2030.

What’s equally if not more concerning is that the WHO has identified that fifty-five countries with some of the world’s most fragile health systems already don’t have enough healthcare workers. If you’re considering pursuing a career in healthcare, there’s never been a more critical time to act.

The pandemic has highlighted the true plight of essential workers, including doctors and registered nurses (or RN’s). Consider online accelerated RN programs if you’ve already studied and are seeking flexible and convenient education options. Nurses also determine positive outcomes to the health of the broader community in expected and unexpected ways.

Vital Roles Nurses Play in Supporting the Local Community

#1. Advocates for patients

Nursing is considered one of the most ethical and trustworthy professions in the US. In 2020, nurses were voted number 1 most trustworthy profession, for the 18th year in a row. Patients instill trust in their nurses to convey their needs to their doctors.

The amount of trust involved between a patient and nurse may have to do with the fact that nurses usually spend more time with patients than do doctors. Especially for patients who are critically ill or possess disabilities, nurses are their helping hand that they often depend on to engage in everyday tasks like eating, washing and general mobility.

#2. Direct Caregiving

It goes without saying that nurses provide direct assistance to sick people throughout the community regardless of age, race, gender, ability and other points of difference. The COVID-19 pandemic is a prime example of a time when demand for caregiving skyrocketed across the globe and as a result healthcare workers – including nurses – wore a heavy burden of responsibility.

Considering the immense degree of empathy and selflessness involved, it’s not surprising that nurses tend to hold a close emotional association to their work.

#3. Rehabilitation

Coping with (particularly a sudden) onset of disease and illness is no easy feat. Recovering from the accompanying physical and emotional ramifications is another. Nurses walk patients through their rehabilitation process; helping the ill manage their illness effectively.

Nurses provide the necessary resources to get patients back to their functioning lives whether it involves living with a degree of illness and disease or not.

#4. Spreading Awareness of Good Health

A good nurse doesn’t just help the sick. A good nurse also sounds the alarm on the plurality of health and happiness. The necessity to prioritize health in order to lead a long and fulfilling life is encouraged through nurses’ actions and advice. For example, nurses may educate patients about the importance of healthy food and exercise practices.

The increasing amount of health promotion involved in nursing is a testament to their wider impact throughout the community. Community and primary care nurses are our compassionate caretakers and their roles have significantly evolved to include chronic disease management and general health coaching. Additionally, many nurses run community health-coaching programs, including programs tailored to groups such as school programs.

It’s important to remember that while nurses’ careers are focussed on the health and wellbeing of patients, nurses themselves can sometimes lose focus on their own wellbeing. Just like therapists who require their own therapists. Such instances can occur through overwork and burnout in the workplace. In response, a number of wellness programs and apps have been designed to keep a check on the physical and mental wellbeing of healthcare workers. These include activities such as annual walk and run events, conferences, yoga and nutrition sessions.

As the ‘backbone’ of healthcare systems, nurses play a weighted and crucial role in supporting the community. Nurses provide direct care to the sick, in what can often involve strenuous and physically demanding work. Psychological and emotional heavy lifting are also frequently involved.

Nurses also spread awareness of the importance of health, sometimes through outreach programs, and aid in the rehabilitation of patients. Nurses often also advocate on behalf of the patient, in ways that are often more intimate and involved than that of doctors. It’s therefore unsurprising that nurses are among the most trusted of medical professionals.

Kashif J. Piracha, MD, FACP, FASN, FNKF

Kashif J. Piracha, MD, is a Dual Board-Certified Physician in active clinical practice as a hospitalist at Methodist Willowbrook Hospit... [Read Full Bio]