Exploring Nursing Strategies to Engage Community in Cardiovascular Care

• Published in: Current cardiology reports Vol. 25; no. 10; pp. 1351 - 1359
• Main Authors: Scott, Jewel, Burrison, Stephanie, Barron, Mia, Logan, Ayaba, Magwood, Gayenell S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-10-2023
• Subjects: Cardiology; Cardiovascular Nursing; Communication; Diversity and Health Equity in Cardiology (AE Johnson; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Section Editor; Topical Collection on Diversity and Health Equity in Cardiology; Community engagement; Health equity; Nursing; Cardiovascular disease prevention; Community-based
• ISSN: 1523-3782; 1534-3170
• DOI: 10.1007/s11886-023-01949-9

Purpose of Review
This review aims to highlight some of the strategies nurses use to engage community members in cardiovascular care. We also elaborate on opportunities for improving community engagement.
Recent Findings
Community engagement occurs across a continuum of progressive levels of community involvement, impact, trust, and flow of communication. Successful community engagement has been shown to improve both patient-centered care and intervention design, implementation, and dissemination. Nurse strategies used for engaging community in cardiovascular care included more examples of outreach, consult, and involvement than collaboration and shared leadership.
Summary
More attention is needed toward strategies that embrace collaboration and enhance trusting relationships to advance to shared leadership. Nurses must intentionally work in partnership with communities to improve cardiovascular health for all. Furthermore, assessing meaningful community engagement is necessary to achieve the desired outcomes, including optimal cardiovascular health and thriving communities.