What is the geopolitical community in which you live? Why is it geopolitical?
My geopolitical community is Turlock, California. There is a big agricultural industry here and people's sensibilities tend to lean conservatively, though there are small liberal pockets here and there. Often Turlock and Modesto (adjacent towns) are lumped together in terms of spacial community because a lot of people live in one and often work in the other. I live in Turlock but work in Modesto so I am involved in both communities socially and professionally.
What is a phenomenological community to which you belong? Why is it a phenomenological community?
My phenomenological community is very similar to my geopolitical one. If Modesto doesn't count as part of my spacial community because I don't live there, then I certainly feel like I'm a part of that community as well. There is also a significant Middle Eastern (specifically Assyrian) community in the Turlock/Modesto area and I certainly feel a part of them. While I was born and raised in the US my parents maintained a strong active cultural presence in our lives growing up.
What would some challenges and benefits be for community health nurses in providing care for different communities? For similar communities? For the same community? What are some possible solutions to the challenges?
Challenges to working in different communities would largely relate to communication and culture. Does the nurse speak the same language as the community in which he/she is working? That can be a big challenge to overcome. Also, practicing culturally competent care is another layer to add onto one's practice and can be difficult at times.
Ensuring that the nurse is not judgmental or condescending if practicing in a lower socioeconomic community than the one she is from is also important. We must treat all of our patients with respect and dignity. "Clinicians may also have to step outside of their usual therapeutic role to serve the client as an advocate" (Hope, Mocarski, Bautista, & Holt, 2016).
This is specifically referring to community health workers working with people who identify as transgender, but it can apply to any member of any community. Nurses must be flexible and use all the resources at their disposal. On the other hand, some communities may have limited resources, so the nurse must make do with what he has. A benefit to all this may be a feeling of fulfillment or satisfaction in overcoming a lot of these challenges.
Some possible solutions would be networking with outside resources or partially taking on that advocate or caseworker role (as long as the scope of the position allows) in ensuring the patients receive the best care possible.
When working in similar or the same community to one's own, some of the challenges may still be there in terms of resources, however, one may experience a sense of kinship with these communities that make the challenges seem less daunting. The language barrier is usually not an issue with these communities and the nurse will already understand the culture of the members living in his/her own community.
Hope, D. A., Mocarski, R., Bautista, C. L., & Holt, N. R. (2016). Culturally competent evidence-based behavioral health services for the transgender community: Progress and challenges. American Journal Of Orthopsychiatry, (4), 361.