How can community health workers (CHWs) support community health nursing efforts?

Community health workers (CHWs) play a vital role in supporting community health nursing efforts primarily through their function as liaisons between healthcare providers and the community. This involves facilitating communication and trust between individuals and healthcare services, helping to bridge the gap that often exists due to barriers like language, culture, or access. CHWs can effectively convey community needs and concerns to healthcare professionals while also ensuring that community members understand the resources available to them.

By acting in this liaison capacity, CHWs help to promote health literacy, increase utilization of health services, and enhance the overall effectiveness of public health initiatives. This relationship fosters collaboration and empowers communities to take an active role in their health, making it an essential aspect of community health nursing.

In contrast, while providing medical treatment and diagnosis, performing administrative tasks, and managing health insurance claims are important functions in healthcare, they are typically outside the scope of what CHWs are trained and designated to do. Their primary strength lies in community engagement and support, not in direct clinical services or administrative responsibilities.