Role of community health nurse as a change agent

To be a leader is to effect change in people’s behaviors. When nurses suggest that families adopt healthier communication patterns, they are asking them to change. Teaching parenting skills to teenagers is introducing a change. Promoting a community’s self-determination in choosing a safer environment requires that the individuals involved must change. Because community health nursing’s responsibility is to accomplish health goals and thus promote change, nurses cannot lead without introducing change into people’s lives. Therefore it becomes imperative for community health nurses to understand the nature of change, how people respond to it and how to effect change for improved community health. Nurses can assist community clients to develop the four power sources for themselves; using their position, capitalizing on personal characteristics, developing expertise and taking advantage of opportunities. To promote client’s self esteem, nurses can provide consistent affirmations, set clear expectations, encourage increasing responsibilities, model empowering behavior, facilitate client choices, and promote a sense of meaning and hope. If they are not act in a positive way the nurse may need to use persuasive or coercive power bases to protect them and the people affected by their actions.