Faith Community Nurses Key to Promoting Health in At-Risk Communities: An Integrative Review.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Public Health
• Community Health

Background:

• At-risk faith communities often face barriers to healthcare access and culturally sensitive health promotion.
• Faith community nurses (FCNs) are uniquely positioned to address these disparities.
• Integrating cultural congruence and spiritual connection is vital for effective health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify recommendations for implementing culturally congruent and spiritually connected health promotion strategies.
• To provide program guidance for FCNs working with at-risk faith communities.
• To explore the role of FCNs in bridging the gap between minority communities and the healthcare system.

Main Methods:

• An integrative literature review was conducted.
• Analysis of 48 articles meeting specific inclusion criteria.
• Identification of emergent themes and actionable recommendations.

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged from the literature.
• FCNs have a significant impact on health outcomes for at-risk populations.
• Culturally congruent and spiritually connected approaches are essential for effective health promotion.

Conclusions:

• FCNs can effectively promote health in at-risk faith communities through tailored, culturally sensitive interventions.
• Five recommended action steps offer practical guidance for FCNs.
• Strengthening the connection between minority communities and healthcare providers is a critical role for FCNs.