Many nurses aspire to care for patients at the bedside in hospitals. However, community and public health nurses have a unique opportunity to make a larger impact. Maria, a recent nursing graduate, realized that many hospital patients' problems could have been prevented through early intervention. This led her to explore community health nursing roles, discovering a wide range of possibilities, including:

- Maternal and Child Healthcare nurses: provide home visits to new mothers, ensuring healthy baby starts and promoting child care skills.
- School nurses: teach children about healthy eating and conduct screenings for early health problems.
- Public Health nurses: assess community needs, track trends and diseases, and address public health concerns.
- Occupational Health nurses: promote workplace safety and identify health issues among employees.
- Visiting nurses: provide care to discharged patients, especially the elderly, in their homes for faster recovery.
- Hospice nurses: provide end-of-life care, ensuring a good death for patients according to their wishes.
- Community Health nurses: engage in advocacy and policy-level work to address community health issues.

Maria concluded that community and public health nurses have a greater opportunity to positively influence patients' lives by preventing problems before they arise. By working in the community, nurses can see the big picture and advocate for their patients. There are many interesting and rewarding jobs outside of the hospital, and community health nursing offers a chance to make a significant difference.