Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Community Health Worker
What community health workers actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
Review the day’s client list with the care team. From there, the day usually includes conduct outreach and home visits, help people enroll in insurance, and schedule and remind about appointments. Most work full-time, with some evenings and weekends for events.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a community health worker working full time.
- Review the day’s client list with the care team.
- Visit a patient with diabetes at home.
- Help a family enroll in Medicaid.
- Staff a health fair booth.
- Arrange transportation for a dialysis patient.
- Call patients to remind them of appointments.
- Enter visit notes.
Where community health workers work
CHWs work in clinics, hospitals, health departments, nonprofits and out in the community.
Hours and schedule
Most work full-time, with some evenings and weekends for events.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Conduct outreach and home visits
- Help people enroll in insurance
- Schedule and remind about appointments
- Teach about chronic disease and prevention
- Connect people with social services
- Advocate for clients
- Collect data and report needs
Tools you’ll use every day
- Electronic health records
- Phones and tablets
- Educational materials
- Enrollment portals
- Blood pressure cuffs
- Resource directories
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Much faster-than-average growth
- Help your own community
- Quick entry
- Path into health careers
What’s hard
- Modest pay
- Emotional situations
- Driving and fieldwork
- Grant-funded jobs
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I want to help my community
- I build trust easily
- I speak a community language
- I like being out in the field
- I want to start quickly
- I care about health
Not sure? Take the free Community Health Worker fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Share your schedule for home visits
- Trust your instincts
- Follow infection control
- Protect privacy