Trying to keep an entire community healthy is a big job, but somebody has to do it. And that person could be you, if you decide to become a community health nurse. Unlike traditional nurses, community health nurses don’t worry about the health of just one person at a time, but entire communities at a time. This could include areas from small towns to entire countries – and everything in between. Although it’s a stressful job at times with massive amounts of responsibility, most community health nurses find it personally rewarding as well.

a field of nursing that is a blend of primary health care and nursing practice with public health nursing. The community health nurse conducts a continuing and comprehensive practice that is preventive, curative, and rehabilitative. The philosophy of care is based on the belief that care directed to the individual, the family, and the group contributes to the health care of the population as a whole. The community health nurse is not restricted to the care of a particular age or diagnostic group. Participation of all consumers of health care is encouraged in the development of community activities that contribute to the promotion of, education about, and maintenance of good health. These activities require comprehensive health programs that pay special attention to social and ecological influences and specific populations at risk.