C919 Community Health Course: Enhancing Nursing Skills for Better Outcomes

C919 Community Health Course: Enhancing Nursing Skills for Better Outcomes

Student Name

Western Governors University

C919 Facilitation of Context-Based Student Centered Learning

Prof. Name:

Date

Course Overview

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to public and community health nursing with a strong emphasis on population-focused care. Using the population-based nursing process as its foundation, the course equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to assess, plan, and implement health interventions for vulnerable and diverse populations. Students explore how interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships with public and private organizations contribute to improving community health outcomes. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, risk reduction, disease prevention, and chronic disease management within real-world community settings. Through evidence-based active learning strategies, students develop critical thinking skills and gain practical experience applicable to professional nursing practice.

Weekly Course Modules, Key Concepts, and Learning Strategies

The table below summarizes weekly modules, learning outcomes, and instructional strategies while integrating scholarly sources using APA format.

Introduction to Community Health

Community health nursing has evolved significantly, transitioning from a task-oriented role to a leadership-focused profession emphasizing prevention, advocacy, and population wellness. Community health nurses play a vital role in identifying health disparities and mobilizing resources to address them.

Have you ever been an advocate in your community? Advocacy is a fundamental component of community health nursing and can include activities such as promoting access to healthcare services, participating in health education initiatives, influencing public policy, and supporting vulnerable groups. By engaging in advocacy, nurses contribute to health equity and social justice within communities (Oermann et al., 2018).

Community Assessment and Planning

Community assessment is a systematic process that enables nurses to identify health needs, strengths, and resources within a population. By applying the nursing process—assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation—students learn to synthesize data from multiple sources. Observational activities, such as community walkthroughs or public transportation assessments, provide insight into environmental, social, and economic determinants of health. These experiences enhance students’ ability to design evidence-based interventions tailored to community-specific needs.

Epidemiology, Communicable Diseases, and Global Health

Epidemiology serves as a cornerstone of community health by examining disease patterns, causes, and risk factors within populations. Students gain foundational knowledge in incidence, prevalence, and disease transmission while focusing on communicable diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Through service-learning experiences in community clinics, students develop a deeper understanding of how social, cultural, and economic factors influence global and local health outcomes.

Promoting Population-Based Health

Population-based health promotion requires a lifespan approach that considers developmental stages and age-specific health risks. Students analyze demographic data to identify priority health needs and design appropriate wellness interventions. Simulation-based learning allows students to practice communication, assessment, and education skills in a controlled environment, reinforcing clinical judgment and professional confidence.

Social Determinants of Health: Planning for a Diverse Community

Social determinants of health, including income, education, housing, and cultural background, significantly impact health outcomes. Community health nurses must adopt a holistic perspective when addressing these factors. By conducting interviews with individuals from diverse backgrounds, students compare how socioeconomic conditions influence access to care and health decision-making. This analysis fosters cultural competence and informs equitable healthcare planning.

Healthcare Systems and Policies

Understanding healthcare systems and policies is essential for effective community health practice. Students examine the roles of local and state governments in healthcare financing, regulation, and service delivery. Discussions highlight how socioeconomic status affects health access and outcomes. The flipped classroom model encourages active engagement and peer-to-peer learning, reinforcing policy literacy and critical analysis skills.

Health Promotion of the Population

Health promotion efforts address complex issues such as substance abuse, interpersonal violence, and communicable diseases. These challenges require multifaceted interventions that combine education, prevention, and community collaboration. Guest speakers provide real-world perspectives, while group discussions allow students to critically evaluate strategies that promote safer, healthier communities.

Disaster Management and Community Violence

Disaster preparedness and response are critical components of community health nursing. Students analyze factors that contribute to natural and human-made disasters and explore the nurse’s role during mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery phases. Simulation-based disaster drills strengthen teamwork, leadership, and decision-making skills while preparing students for real-life emergency situations.

References

Oermann, M. H., De Gagne, J. C., & Phillips, B. C. (2018). Teaching in nursing and the role of the educator: The complete guide to best practice in teaching, evaluation, and curriculum development (2nd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.