| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Nursing |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Community Health Coordinator or Nursing Supervisor |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | Fresher or up to 3 years in community or public health nursing |
Community Health Nurse job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Community Health Nurse
Department: Nursing
Reports to: Community Health Coordinator or Nursing Supervisor
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Community Health Nurse takes healthcare to people in their homes and neighbourhoods. They run home visits, health check camps, immunisation drives and health education, and support maternal, child and chronic disease care in the community. The role works with families, schools and local groups rather than only inside a hospital. In an Indian setting, often with an NGO or a hospital outreach programme, the community health nurse identifies at-risk people, links them to care, keeps community health records, and promotes prevention and healthy habits.
Key responsibilities
- Conduct home visits to assess health needs and support patients in the community.
- Run health check camps, immunisation drives and screening in the community.
- Deliver health education on hygiene, nutrition, maternal and child health.
- Support maternal, child and chronic disease care outside the hospital.
- Identify at-risk individuals and link them to hospital or clinic care.
- Maintain community health records and follow up on referred cases.
- Work with schools, local groups and families on prevention and awareness.
- Support antenatal and postnatal follow-up for mothers in the community.
- Promote healthy habits and disease prevention in the community.
- Report community health data and needs to the coordinator.
Requirements
- B.Sc Nursing or GNM, or an ANM for basic roles
- Registration with the state nursing council
- Interest in public and community health
- Fresher or up to 3 years in community or public health nursing
KRAs and KPIs for a Community Health Nurse
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Home visits | Planned home visits and follow-ups completed each month |
| Camps and drives | Health camps and immunisation drives run to plan with target coverage |
| Health education | Health education sessions delivered to the community as planned |
| Referrals | At-risk individuals identified and referred to care in time |
| Records | Community health records kept complete and up to date |
| Follow-up | Referred and chronic cases followed up as per the plan |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Basic screening equipment, Immunisation supplies, Community health registers, Health education material, Mobile phone for follow-up.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Community Health Nurse, Community Health Coordinator, Public Health Officer
Interview questions for a Community Health Nurse
- How do you plan and run a health camp in a village or slum?
- How do you build trust with families during home visits?
- How do you identify people at risk and get them to care?
- How do you deliver health education that people actually follow?
- How do you keep community health records and follow-ups on track?
- How do you handle resistance to immunisation in a community?
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What does a community health nurse do?
A community health nurse takes healthcare to people in their homes and neighbourhoods. They run home visits, health camps, immunisation drives and health education, and support maternal, child and chronic disease care in the community. They identify at-risk people, link them to care, keep community health records, and promote prevention and healthy habits.
What is the difference between a community health nurse and a hospital staff nurse?
A community health nurse works mostly outside the hospital, in homes, camps and neighbourhoods, focusing on prevention, education and outreach. A hospital staff nurse gives bedside care to admitted patients inside the hospital. One takes care to the community, the other delivers care within the ward.
What qualifications do you need to become a community health nurse?
A B.Sc Nursing or GNM, or an ANM for basic roles, with registration with the state nursing council is the usual base. An interest in public and community health matters, since the work is outreach-focused. NGOs and hospital outreach programmes value communication skills and comfort working in homes and communities.