Community Health Clinicians
Community Health Nurses of Canada (CHNC)
Community Health Nurses of Canada are expected to meet the requirements in knowledge, skills, and abilities as outlined in the 7 Standards of CHNC.
Take Action
Match the 7 standards of CHNC with the appropriate definition
Encourage clients and families dealing with chronic illnesses to participate in regular physical and social activities
Advocate for families caring for ill loved ones. Seek and provide resources to clients, and caregivers for higher levels of care
Collaborate with the client to adapt the care provided based on clients’ choices, their own personal skills, and the resources available
Provide ‘continuity of care’ and build trust with the client and their family leading to better health
Develop and distribute information for clients and families on identifying and reducing risk factors
Explore reasons for clients’ requests that affect ethical decision making by reaching out to the local health care team
Teach and support clients and their families to self manage goals of care in the home
Health Promotion
Prevention and Health Protection
Health Maintenance, Restoration and Palliation
Professional Relationships
Capacity Building
Access and Equity
Professional Responsibility and Accountability
Values and Beliefs
According to the Community Health Nurses (CHNs) of Canada, the community nurse values:
Caring
Principles of Primary Health Care
Multiple Ways of Knowing
Individual and Community Settings
Empowerment
Social Justice
Self-reflection
Reflect on the list above. How might you incorporate these values into your everyday practice as a CHN? Are there values and beliefs missing? What are they?
Primary Nurse
Sometimes community uses the primary nurse model of nursing care delivery to co-create with the client a plan of care. The primary nurse is responsible for maintaining continuity of care, developing a therapeutic relationship and is accountable to the client, client’s caregivers and the health care team.
Professional Autonomy
Although community nurses are part of a team, they are expected to maintain professional autonomy in their practice. Themes of practicing autonomously include:
- Having a holistic view
- Understanding your client
- Knowing that you know
- Taking initiative
Self-reflection
Reflect on how you might demonstrate autonomy in your practice.
Interdisciplinary Teams - Roles & Responsibilities
Interprofessional collaboration and partnership development are essential in community health nursing practice. The following videos describe different roles.
Take Action
Select the Interdisciplinary role below to watch the matching video interview.
Community Health Nurse (CHN)
Occupational Therapist (OT)
Physiotherapist (PT)
Registered Dietitan(RD)
Community Health Worker (CHW)
Case Manager (CM)
Interprofessional Collaboration
According to the Community Health Nurses (CHNs) of Canada, the community nurse values:
Take Action
Watch the video and reflect on the model of interprofessional collaboration. What are your strengths and areas for growth when it comes to collaborating with a team?
Interdisciplinary Partners in Care
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is committed in supporting integrated and coordinated primary/community care to assist the most responsible practitioners (MRP) and their clients. Care conferences bring physicians, nurse practitioners, VCH staff, clients and caregivers together to exchange information and collaborate on the care planning for clients.
The goal is to collaborate on providing a holistic approach to care, and assist in the development of a shared care plan that is co-created with clients. Verbal discussions are the most effective way to provide timely and appropriate care for the clients. Effective communication can potentially reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and builds lasting relationships with the clients and their MRP.
Though it is best to have face to face communication with the MRP, there are times when it may be necessary to communicate by fax to clarify or request specific orders or consults.
Take Action
Review the three resources and consider what other tools might support communication between Interdisciplinary Partners in Care.
Care Planning
Care planning is an integral part of client care. There are 10 recommendations on how to involve clients in planning their care. These are called the 10 C’s.
Take Action
Watch the video and decide which of the 10 C’s of care planning is often missed and why.