Purpose Of Assignment: To Orient Students To The Community

Purpose Assignment Is To Orient The Students To The Community Used F

The purpose of this assignment is to orient students to the community used for community health nursing, specifically focusing on a low-poverty community. The assessment requires a comprehensive examination of various aspects of the community to understand its environmental, social, economic, and health-related characteristics. The findings will be presented in a PowerPoint presentation covering all twelve points outlined below, each with key letter points.

Paper For Above instruction

The objective of this community assessment is to provide nursing students with a thorough understanding of a low-poverty community, enabling them to appreciate its unique characteristics and identify potential health challenges and resources. This comprehensive evaluation involves observing the community’s physical environment, social fabric, healthcare facilities, community resources, and social structures, with an emphasis on cultural, economic, and environmental factors affecting health.

1. Community Transit and Boundaries

Begin your journey by traveling through the community and observe whether you pass through different small communities. Note the differences in their physical and cultural makeup. Identify whether distinct boundaries exist—are there clear separations marked by physical barriers or recognizable neighborhood markers? Take note of sights, sounds, and smells that characterize each community, such as markets, industrial areas, or residential zones, to get a sense of daily life and environmental factors.

2. Observations upon Arrival in the Community

Upon arrival, focus on identifying evidence of minority cultures, such as ethnic businesses, signage, graffiti, clothing, and community events. Consider how these cultural elements influence the environment. Observe the demographic profile: Are elderly, children, and working-age males and females visible? Note indicators of unemployment or employment types, such as visible industries, shops, or public services. Reflect on what it would be like to live in this community, considering access to public transportation, proximity to supermarkets, housing types, rental versus ownership patterns, and the socioeconomic status of residents. Identify recreational facilities and religious institutions, and evaluate potential environmental hazards such as pollution, waste sites, or unsafe housing conditions.

3. Healthcare Facilities

Assess the availability of medical care, including doctors' clinics, hospitals, and specialized health services. Notice if healthcare providers reflect the ethnic makeup of the community through signage, staff, or services offered. Evaluate the accessibility of medical facilities—consider transportation and affordability factors.

4. Community Resources

Visit community centers, senior citizens' programs, chambers of commerce, and other local organizations. Inquire about their roles in community development and health promotion. Gather information about additional community resources such as food assistance, housing programs, and social services to understand the support network available to residents.

5. Community Interviews

Engage with adults in the community through street interviews or visits. Ask about their experiences living there, community strengths and weaknesses, employment opportunities, healthcare access, and residents' primary health concerns. Explore informal communication networks, like local gossip spots or community groups, and develop your own key questions to deepen understanding of local issues.

6. Economic Assessment of Local Stores

Visit small stores to compare prices of staples like eggs, milk, meat, sugar, and fresh produce, noting how these prices meet community needs. Then, compare with prices at nearby supermarkets. Observe the store clientele—are there signs of ethnic diversity, economic status, or occupation? Check if folk medicines or traditional remedies are sold, which can reveal cultural health practices.

7. Price Comparison of Baby Supplies

Compare prices for baby items such as different brands of newborn diapers, concentrated and powdered formulas, and ready-to-feed formulas at both small stores and supermarkets. This comparison provides insight into affordability and access to essential child care products.

8. Elderly and Homeless Populations

Reflect on what it might be like to be elderly or homeless in this community. Identify resources such as senior centers, homeless shelters, or outreach programs that cater to these populations. Consider barriers to access and strategies used to meet their needs.

9. Young Single Teenage Mothers

Evaluate community resources available to teenage mothers, such as support groups, daycare services, and healthcare. Consider social factors affecting their well-being and opportunities for education and employment.

10. Community Support for Vulnerable Groups

Identify social services, health programs, and community organizations that provide support for vulnerable groups identified above. Assess their availability and accessibility, and suggest improvements where gaps exist.

11. Community Power Structure and Public Health

Interview influential community members such as school principals, religious leaders, or service club members to understand the local power dynamics. Conduct street interviews to identify whose opinions hold sway. Recognize high-risk groups and potential public health issues, proposing solutions based on observed needs.

12. Community Education Needs

Identify potential target groups for health education such as mothers, seniors, or youth. Suggest relevant health topics, preventive measures, and intervention strategies tailored to the community’s needs.

Conclusion

This assessment provides a foundational understanding necessary for effective community health nursing practice. By systematically examining environmental, social, cultural, and health services aspects, nursing students can develop tailored interventions aimed at improving health outcomes and fostering community resilience in low-poverty settings.

References

• Barnes, C. (2021). Community health nursing: Promoting the health of populations. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
• Gowdy, P. (2019). Community assessment techniques. American Journal of Nursing, 119(4), 56-62.
• Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2020). Community & Public Health Nursing. Elsevier.
• The Public Health Agency. (2022). Community assessment toolkit. Government publications.
• Walker, P. (2018). Cultural competence in community health nursing. Nursing Clinics of North America, 53(2), 135-150.
• Green, L. W., & Kreuter, M. W. (2020). Health program planning: An educational approach. McGraw-Hill Education.
• CDC. (2021). Strategies for assessing community health needs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• World Health Organization. (2019). Community engagement for health improvement. WHO Publications.
• American Public Health Association. (2020). Addressing health disparities through community-based participatory research. APHA.
• Harper, G. W., & Goudge, J. (2022). Social determinants and health equity: Addressing the root causes. Social Science & Medicine, 294, 114653.