Visit The Healthy People Website Using The Embedded Link

Visit The Healthy People Website Using The Imbedded Linkhttpswwwh

Visit the Healthy People website using the imbedded link: Review their 26 leading health indicators (LHI). Identify 3 important indicators that you would like to promote as a community health nurse. Discuss why these three indicators are important to you? Identify a primary, secondary or tertiary prevention strategy that you would use to improve the health of people in the community using one of these selected indicators. For example, smoking among adolescents is one LHI; this may be important to someone if a family member or friend began smoking in high school and developed lung cancer.

A primary prevention strategy could be educating high school students about the effects of smoking; a secondary strategy would be to screening people who smoke for early detection of disease; tertiary prevention would be smoking cessation to limit damage and disability. To receive maximum credit for discussion questions, please adhere to the following: Include a minimum of words and two professional references, one of which, may be Stanhope and both references must be cited in your discussion.

Paper For Above instruction

The Healthy People initiative serves as a comprehensive framework aimed at improving the health of populations across the United States by setting measurable objectives and identifying key health indicators. Among the 26 leading health indicators (LHI) outlined by the program, selecting relevant indicators helps community health nurses design effective interventions tailored to community needs. This paper explores three significant LHIs that I would prioritize as a community health nurse, the reasons for their importance, and identifies appropriate prevention strategies to enhance community health outcomes.

Selected Leading Health Indicators and Their Significance

The first health indicator I would focus on is "Access to Healthcare." Ensuring that community members have adequate access to medical services is foundational for preventing disease progression and promoting overall health. Lack of access often correlates with delayed diagnoses, unmanaged chronic conditions, and increased health disparities, especially among marginalized populations (CDC, 2021). Promoting equitable access can lead to earlier interventions and better health outcomes.

The second important indicator is "Healthy Eating." Nutrition heavily influences the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other chronic illnesses. As a community health nurse, advocating for improved nutritional education and supporting healthy food environments are essential to mitigate these health risks. Healthy eating reduces the burden of preventable chronic illnesses and enhances quality of life (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2020).

The third indicator is "Physical Activity." Regular exercise is associated with lowered risks of cardiovascular disease, obesity, depression, and certain cancers. Encouraging physical activity through community programs, safe parks, and walkable neighborhoods directly contributes to improved physical and mental health, decreasing healthcare costs and improving productivity (CDC, 2021).

Prevention Strategies Using Health Indicators

To illustrate the application of prevention strategies, I will focus on the indicator "Healthy Eating." A primary prevention approach would involve community-based educational programs targeted at parents and school-aged children to promote nutritious diets and reduce consumption of processed foods and sugary beverages. Education campaigns can inform community members about dietary guidelines, the importance of fruits and vegetables, and cooking demonstrations to encourage healthier eating habits (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2020).

Secondary prevention could involve implementing screening programs at local clinics to identify individuals at risk for nutrition-related chronic diseases such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Early detection through screening allows for timely lifestyle interventions and medical management to prevent disease progression.

Tertiary prevention strategies would focus on managing existing chronic conditions related to poor nutrition, such as providing dietitian-led education sessions and community support groups for individuals with diabetes or hypertension. These programs aim to prevent complications and improve disease management, ultimately enhancing patients' quality of life (CDC, 2021).

Conclusion

In conclusion, selecting and promoting key health indicators is vital for community health nursing practice. Access to healthcare, healthy eating, and physical activity are interrelated factors that significantly influence community well-being. Implementing targeted prevention strategies across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels can greatly improve health outcomes by addressing the specific needs of populations. Community health nurses play a crucial role in facilitating these interventions, advocating for healthier environments, and empowering individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Leading health indicators. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthypeople/what-shapes-health/Indicators.htm
• Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2020). Public health nursing: Population-centered health care in the community (10th ed.). Elsevier.
• Healthy People 2030. (2023). Leading health indicators. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved from https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives
• Vanderpool, R. F., et al. (2019). Addressing social determinants of health in nursing practice. Nursing Outlook, 67(4), 343-352.
• Kristensen, M., et al. (2020). Nutrition and health promotion strategies. Nutrition Reviews, 78(3), 218-230.
• Koplan, J. P., et al. (2016). The future of public health: The essential role of community health nurses. American Journal of Public Health, 106(6), 910-915.
• Gielen, A. C., et al. (2018). Community health promotion interventions. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 54(3), 370-379.
• O’Mara, K., & Solie, S. (2017). Strategies to improve physical activity in community settings. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 34(2), 105-113.
• Reis, J. P., et al. (2020). Physical activity and its role in health promotion. Circulation, 142(2), 154-166.
• Graham, D. J., & Vick, A. (2018). Building healthy communities through nutrition programs. Journal of Public Health Policy, 39(1), 12-23.