Objective: The objective was to explore the experiences of Registered Nurses and Licensed Social Workers who work directly with Community Health Workers (CHWs) in health care. Design and Sample: A descriptive qualitative design was utilized. Six registered nurses participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were audiotaped. Content analysis consisted of identifying themes and patterns that emerged from the narratives.
Results: Three themes were identified, 1) the importance of role clarity, 2) relationship building, and 3) filling in gaps in care.
Conclusions: Nurses consider CHWs to be vital members of the health car team. CHWs’ extensive knowledge of community resources and their ability to provide culturally sensitive care has benefits for both patients and health professionals. The role of the CHW is evolving. Clear delineation roles is an important factor in the implementation of new health professions
