The nurse involved in health promotion assumes the usual roles commonly identified with the nursing profession. These include the roles of advocate, educator, coordinator of care, leader, provider of care, research user, and role model.
Nurses should view themselves as clinical practitioners as well as social activists who can bring about social change (Green and Daniel, 2002). The nurse who embraces health promotion approach to nursing care recognizes that the client is capable of initiating change and is competent in knowing self-needs.
In the role of proactive change agent, the nurse performs a thorough assessment of the client, family, and community.
Once strengths and weaknesses are identified, the proactive change agent nurse builds on those strengths, enhances existing resources, and fosters support systems that will enhance the client’s ability to change.
Giving nursing care takes a different form in the context of clients. It requires different skills to assess collective needs and tailor service accordingly. For e.g. a nurse might receive a referral to visit a family with a problem. The call is triggered by 11 year old son’s frequent absence from a misbehavior at school. Together the nurse and the family in consultation with other health professionals, design a plan of care that includes intervention for the whole family.
It is widely recognized that health teaching is part of good nursing care, and one of the major functions of the nurse. People are recognizing the value of health and are increasingly motivated to achieve higher levels of wellness.
The range of topics taught by nurses extends from personal health care to management of environmental health.

The issue of patient’s right is important in health care today. Every patient or client has a right to receive just, equal, and human treatment. By calling attention to inadequate or unjust care, the nurse can influence and facilitate change.
As an empowering agent, the nurse emphasizes the active role of the client by including the client in every aspect of care. The nurse empowers the client, the family, community, and other groups that may relate to client’s situation. This empowering process can be the impetus for improving the health of communities and the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.
The role of the nurse as a communicator involves communication with all who are involved in the care of the client. This collaborative, multidisciplinary approach requires that the nurse be skillful in communicating.
Health promotion and health education cannot be achieved without the power of the nurse as a communicator.
The role of the nurse can include being a consultant on a formal or informal basis.
In the role of consultant, the nurse assesses the problem situation, collects information, identifies the actual problem, and, in conjunction with the client, determines appropriate solutions.
The nurse seldom work or practice in isolation. Her work involves many other people including other nurses, physicians, social workers, nutritionists, physical therapists etc.. To collaborate means to work jointly with others in a common endeavour.
A working relationship between the nurse and the individuals, family, and community may determine the achievement of health care goals.

Nurses are increasingly becoming active leaders. when they guide decision making, stimulate interest in health promotion, direct a preventive program and influence health policy, they are assuming leadership roles.
Nurses need to practice their leadership responsibility and assert their right to share health decision.
The researcher role is an integral part of nursing practice. All nurses are researchers, investigation builds on the nursing process,
The nurse identifies the problem, collect and analyze data, suggest and evaluate possible solutions, select an appropriate solution, etc..
As role models, experienced nurses exemplify the highest ideals of nursing practice, and they command admiration, trust, and respect from all health care professionals and persons receiving care.