Everything from the workload and schedule to the type of patients you care for may vary. That’s especially true when you compare rural and urban healthcare facilities.
Urban areas not only have more people than rural communities, but they’re also home to diverse populations. The higher population brings a complex range of environmental and social factors that affect healthcare. However, you can positively impact and serve urban communities as a nurse despite the fast pace.
This is true whether you simply advocate for your patients or push for administrative changes. Follow along as we explore how nurses can make a difference in urban communities.
Nursing as a Platform for Change
If you’ve ever wondered how to become a nurse, the simplest answer is that you must work hard and exude empathy. Of course, it takes a lot of work, but compassion is just as important as your education and certifications. That’s because nursing is a selfless profession, and some nurses go beyond the job description to help their communities.
This is especially necessary in urban communities, which sometimes face struggles regarding healthcare. Nurses in urban communities can serve those around them in several ways, such as:
1. Educate the People
Part of being a nurse is that you must educate your patients. Whether it be regarding medication, treatment plans, or self-care, teaching your patients can improve their lives. You can impact individuals and communities alike through education if you go the extra mile as a nurse.
Nurses can not only tell patients important things about their health, but they can also distribute key important health resources on a larger scale. For example, you can distribute pamphlets and brochures at community centers and other local staples. This is especially important during public health crises, when people may struggle to cut through the sea of information.
However, general health education is just as important. That includes information about diseases, preventable health conditions, pregnancy, and mental illness. The more the public is aware, the more easily they can protect themselves and seek treatment as needed.
2. Help Patients Navigate Healthcare
Navigating the healthcare system can be difficult, no matter where you’re from. However, some people in urban communities cannot easily access healthcare. Because of that, they may struggle to advocate for themselves and understand their options.
As a nurse, you can steer your patients in the right direction and ensure the best possible outcome. Not only do nurses monitor their patients’ vitals and assess them, but they also relay important health information to them. Experienced nurses know how to present information in an easily digestible way while keeping their patients’ emotions in mind.
After all, visiting hospitals and clinics can be stressful, so speaking to people in a polite, comforting way is essential. Nurses can pass information along to doctors and administrators to help their patients get the best possible care. You can help many people in your community if you steer your patients in the right direction and help them learn the system.
3. Advocate for Change
Many people in underserved, urban communities struggle to receive healthcare, food, housing, and transportation. As a nurse, you can use your knowledge, skills, and experience to advocate for people in such communities. Most cities have organizations and committees that create policies regarding housing, transportation, food access, and even healthcare.
People typically respect nurses for their selfless careers and social contributions. You can use that to your advantage and appeal to local boards and organizations to advocate for an underserved community. This may not happen overnight, but applying to a local committee is a great idea.
4. Push for Cultural Competence
Cultural competence is an essential part of nursing in today’s world. The United States is a melting pot full of diverse communities, all of which require fair healthcare. Sadly, many people have struggled to receive the best possible care because of cultural differences and language barriers.
Luckily, the healthcare community has pushed for cultural competence in nursing more than ever. Until it becomes universal, you must demonstrate and advocate for cultural competency in urban healthcare facilities. You can positively impact many people if you do your due diligence and learn as much as possible about the diverse cultures around you.
If possible, you can even speak to administrators and encourage them to push for staff-wide cultural competency. That way, you can trust that the people around you will understand and treat each patient as fairly as possible.
5. Provide Mobile Healthcare
You can treat patients in urban communities even if you’re not at a hospital or clinic. Mobile healthcare lets patients receive care without leaving their homes. This is important for people who have physical or even mental limitations that make leaving the house difficult.
Instead of letting such people go without care, you can treat them at their convenience. Sadly, many urban communities have unhoused people who need medical attention. Mobile healthcare is essential in urban communities with many underserved and unhoused people.
Keep in mind that not all hospitals offer mobile healthcare. However, you can use your position as a nurse to push for a mobile healthcare program. It may take a while, but it will pay off when you see the difference you made.
Nurses Can Change Communities From Within
Nursing comes with many responsibilities, and it can be a hard job. However, many nurses feel privileged when they see the positive impact they have on urban communities. Seeing such an impact requires a lot of hard work, as you must go the extra mile to advocate for your patients.
Sometimes, this entails creating community programs and educating the public in your free time. Even simply going the extra mile to help explain treatment plans and get them approved for your patients can help the community. Whether you create new programs or push for widespread cultural competence, you can make a difference as a nurse in an urban community.
