Thank you to Diana Baptiste, DNP, RN, CNE, FPCNA, FAAN, Brenda Owusu, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, PhD, MHS, FPCNA, FAAN, FAHA for authoring this important article on nurse community outreach.

Nurses specializing in cardiovascular disease (CVD)¹ management serve as the frontline healthcare providers for patients, including in outreach settings where many patients may receive their first diagnosis or referral for follow-up care.^2,3 Even in these settings, nurses are uniquely positioned to greatly influence patient behavior, and adherence to treatments and therapeutic lifestyle changes. Cardiovascular nurses in community outreach play an important role in how they connect with patients and families.  As nurses interact with community members, it’s vital to consider the potential barriers and facilitators to achieving optimal cardiovascular health (CVH), taking into consideration each person’s unique background and environment.^1,4

 CVD remains the leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 100 million Americans living with some form of the disease.^5,6 Underrepresented and socially at-risk populations are disproportionately affected by CVD, especially Black Americans and Latin American communities.⁴ Cardiovascular nurses must be dedicated to targeting health disparities and attentive to the impact of CVD on vulnerable populations. They must also recognize the need for improved CVH screening and the importance of promoting community awareness through community outreach and engagement.³

Community-based Outreach

Community-based outreach programs are an important way to help individuals increase their knowledge and awareness of CVD and its risk factors.⁴ In 2022, The American Heart Association updated its CVD risk reduction strategies, moving from Life’s Simple 7, which addressed both modifiable and non-modifiable CVD risks (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, overweight/obesity, and diet)^7,8, to Life’s Essential 8, which adds sleep hygiene as an eighth predictor for CVD disease.⁷ These guidelines serve as a blueprint for assessment, treatment, evaluation, and clinical education.

Moreover, nurses can use these guidelines to effectively design and develop community-based research programs that increase engagement between nurses and community members and directly address their individual and community needs. Cardiovascular nurses should consider planning and implementing a CVD community outreach program, particularly if it includes information about community referrals and resources that address one or more of the following health issues:

• Mental health concerns, including isolation, depression and anxiety
• Exacerbation of possible underlying conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic conditions
• Barriers related to social determinants of health (such as health care access, transportation, food, and/or housing security)
• Digital access and literacy for telehealth appointments^1,4

Community Engagement

While recognizing barriers is essential, it’s equally crucial to acknowledge the catalysts and facilitators that promote positive CVH outcomes. Building trust with community members is vital for effective community engagement.^2,3 Nurses must recognize that their interactions with community members will shape the course of the community outreach program and be a key driver of success.

Effectively engaging community members to ensure they can receive information and use it to improve health outcomes requires thoughtful and inclusive planning, open and respectful communication during outreach interactions, and connections to resources for participants’ follow-up.

Community engagement revolves around building relationships, and the connections between researchers and community representatives can be depicted as occurring along a care continuum.⁹ Community engagement fosters broader participation and involves community members in decision-making, creating a sense of belonging where individuals actively contribute to shared goals.^2,9 This collaborative process enhances the cardiovascular nurses’ confidence, knowledge, and application of skills in screening and education about CVD risk reduction, which ultimately leads to optimal health outcomes for community members.¹⁰

Fostering Trust and Collaboration for Healthier Communities

 Community-based outreach is part of PCNA’s core endeavors to play a leading role in identifying and implementing cardiovascular risk reduction strategies. For cardiovascular nurses, working within underserved and underrepresented communities is essential to improving public health outcomes.

Cardiovascular nurses can utilize the principles outlined in Life’s Essential 8 and the PCNA Screening Toolkits to develop and execute effective community engagement and outreach programs that address the specific needs of these populations.¹¹ Such programs not only increase awareness and knowledge of CVD and its risk factors but also provide crucial support in navigating social determinants of health, mental health concerns, and digital literacy for telehealth.²

Ultimately, the success of these outreach initiatives depends on nurses’ ability to build trust and form meaningful relationships with community members. Effective community engagement requires a continuous and collaborative effort, ensuring that interventions are culturally sensitive, accessible, and impactful.

By recognizing both the barriers and facilitators to achieving optimal cardiovascular health, cardiovascular nurses can significantly contribute to reducing health disparities and improving the overall health and well-being of vulnerable populations.¹¹  Through dedicated community outreach, PCNA and its members can lead the way in fostering healthier communities and advancing the field of cardiovascular nursing.

Related Resources

• CVD Screening and Awareness Event Toolkit – Use this screening toolkit to plan your next cardiovascular-related screening event. This toolkit includes:
  • Detailed event planning guide
  • Procedure checklist and timeline
  • Sample clinical forms
  • Promotional flyers and other event materials

References

1. Powell-Wiley TM, Baumer Y, Baah FO, et al. Social determinants of cardiovascular disease. Circulation research. 2022;130(5):782-799.
2. Powell-Wiley TM. Centering Patient Voices Through Community Engagement in Cardiovascular Research. Circulation. Jan 10 2023;147(2):105-107. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.122.061112
3. Gibbons GH, Pérez-Stable EJ. Harnessing the Power of Community-Engaged Research. American Public Health Association; 2024. p. S7-S11.
4. Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al. 2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. Sep 10 2019;74(10):e177-e232. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.03.010
5. Virani SS, Newby LK, Arnold SV, et al. 2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. Aug 29 2023;148(9):e9-e119. doi:10.1161/cir.0000000000001168
6. Martin SS, Aday AW, Almarzooq ZI, et al. 2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2024;149(8):e347-e913. doi:doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001209
7. Lloyd-Jones DM, Allen NB, Anderson CAM, et al. Life’s Essential 8: Updating and Enhancing the American Heart Association’s Construct of Cardiovascular Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2022;146(5):e18-e43. doi:doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001078
8. Lloyd-Jones DM, Hong Y, Labarthe D, et al. Defining and Setting National Goals for Cardiovascular Health Promotion and Disease Reduction. Circulation. 2010;121(4):586-613. doi:doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.192703
9. London JK, Haapanen KA, Backus A, Mack SM, Lindsey M, Andrade K. Aligning Community-Engaged Research to Context. Int J Environ Res Public Health. Feb 13 2020;17(4)doi:10.3390/ijerph17041187
10. Collins SE, Clifasefi SL, Stanton J, et al. Community-based participatory research (CBPR): Towards equitable involvement of community in psychology research. Am Psychol. Oct 2018;73(7):884-898. doi:10.1037/amp0000167
11. De Weger E, Van Vooren N, Luijkx KG, Baan CA, Drewes HW. Achieving successful community engagement: a rapid realist review. BMC Health Services Research. 2018/04/13 2018;18(1):285. doi:10.1186/s12913-018-3090-1