The Community Health Nursing Program is a special practice of nursing with a unique body of knowledge, requiring a distinct expertise. The Nursing Program supports the delivery of wholistic programs and services within the community, for Elders, families, groups, & individuals. CHNs assess, plan, implement and evaluate health plans to improve and/or maintain the health of the individual/family/community. CHNs will see clients in the clinic and in their home depending on the needs and ability of community members.
Community health nurses (CHN) deliver community-based intervention programs, and these include:
Immunization Programs:
- Community Health Nurses assist in the delivery of immunizations. Infants/children are due for vaccines at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and 4- to 6-years of age.
- School vaccine clinics for grade 6 and 8.
- Flu vaccine clinics
- Prenatal vaccines
- Adult vaccines
- Covid-19 vaccines
- Any other vaccines required for an individual according to needs.
Communicable disease control:
- Testing, follow up and treatment of Sexually transmitted infections (STI) and sexually transmitted blood born infections (STBBIs)
- Harm reduction program, assessment, and referrals.
- Vaccine preventable illness follow-up and prevention (influenza, whooping cough, covid-19, and many more).
- Follow up on animal bites
Prenatal and postnatal:
- Prenatal, postnatal and their partners are invited regularly to evaluate their needs and assist with physician appointments, ultrasound and prenatal required lab work is completed.
- Required referrals are made to – mental health, substance use, dieticians, Jordan’s principle, mental health team and more.
- Prenatal class planning and delivery.
- Prenatal vaccinations are complete.
- Meeting with pre-natal regularly for prenatal assessments and one on one education.
- Meeting with post-natal for first postnatal assessment, assisting postnatal with follow up appointments with physicians, lab work if required, breastfeeding assistance, formula education, after baby birth control planning and assisting with planning for transportation.
- Infant assessment which includes – weight, height, colour, feeds, appropriate soiled diapers, physician appointments are confirmed, infant education, referrals, care giver/parents’ concerns are addressed and more as determined by the assessment.
Case Management:
- Individual centered care planning with the client, family, and other health care team members to help identify barriers and health needs of the individual/family asking for services.
Consultation with other health professionals:
- Requests for Jordan’s Principle letters to support the needs of individuals/families.
- Consult with the primary care provider for delivery of care.
- Consult with pharmacy to assist the client to meet their needs and assist with proper medication delivery.
- Referrals to other health care providers as needed by the client.
Participate in community teams.
- Occupation Health and Safety Meetings
- Emergency Preparedness Planning
Education:
- This can be individual or as a group. Education on diagnosis, medication, using medical equipment, glucometer, blood pressure machines etc.