NR 442 Week 1 Community Health Edapt Notes

NR 442 Week 1 Community Health Edapt Notes

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Chamberlain University

NR-442 Community Health Nursing

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Community Health Edapt Notes

Community Health Nursing: A Population-Centered Strategy

Community health nursing adopts a population-centered approach, involving the systematic planning, implementation, and evaluation of care for individuals across diverse settings and backgrounds. The central aim is to safeguard the health of communities by emphasizing the promotion and preservation of health for individuals, families, and collective groups. Unlike conventional healthcare models that address episodic illness, this discipline focuses on proactively identifying vulnerable populations and supporting their overall wellness. Disparities in health outcomes across the U.S. often stem from limited access to preventive care and socio-economic inequalities. According to the World Health Organization, health encompasses complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not simply the absence of disease (Nies & McEwen, 2019).

Public health encompasses a broad spectrum of elements, including sanitation, educational outreach about personal hygiene, preventive care practices, policy-making, and controlling infectious diseases. Leading causes of early mortality in the U.S. include heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory conditions, strokes, and unintentional injuries. Public health emphasizes collaborative efforts among individuals and communities to prevent illness and foster well-being (Nies & McEwen, 2019; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020).

Evolution and Components of Public Health

Public and community health nursing finds its roots in Florence Nightingale’s innovations, which employed statistical analysis and community evaluations to combat widespread health concerns. Her pioneering approach inspired the development of district nursing in England and shaped public health frameworks in the U.S. (Nies & McEwen, 2019). Social determinants such as access to care, socio-economic position, environmental conditions, and cultural practices remain central to the effective practice of community nursing today.

Table: Core Aspects of Public Health

Determinants of Health and Nursing Roles

A community’s health is shaped by a combination of personal, social, cultural, economic, and systemic factors. Nurses play an essential role in identifying these determinants and addressing how they influence morbidity and mortality. According to the CDC, around one million Americans die prematurely each year from leading causes of death, and approximately 40% of these deaths are avoidable through preventive strategies (CDC, 2014). Addressing modifiable risk factors and reducing disparities are critical to improving health outcomes.

Community health nurses assess and diagnose population health needs, participate in policy formulation, and promote equitable access to care. Their work supports the foundational objectives of Healthy People 2030, such as enhancing life quality, achieving equity, and preventing early death (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, n.d.).

Prevention Strategies in Community Nursing

Prevention is central to community health nursing and is categorized as primary, secondary, and tertiary:

• Primary prevention: Actions like vaccination and general wellness education.
• Secondary prevention: Early detection strategies, including disease screenings.
• Tertiary prevention: Disease management and reducing long-term effects, such as teaching chronic disease self-care.

Table: Elements of Public Health Nursing

Community vs. Population Health

Community health focuses on subpopulations within a specific region, while population health targets defined groups regardless of geographic location. Both fields utilize a scientific approach and address broader determinants of health through prevention at all levels.

Collaboration is critical, involving collective efforts from individuals and organizations. Coalition-building fosters strategic partnerships, and outreach programs help identify at-risk populations and guide them toward services.

Table: Distinctions Between Community and Population Health

Public Health Infrastructure and Global Goals

The pillars supporting population health include clinical care, public health systems, and policy development. These domains must work cohesively to support health outcomes. Public policies such as housing, education, and transportation indirectly influence community health.

In 2013, the Institute of Medicine highlighted that despite high U.S. healthcare expenditure, the country continues to fall short in areas like obesity, infant mortality, and cardiovascular disease. This underperformance emphasizes the need to address root causes of chronic disease and socio-environmental influences.

Globally, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), introduced by WHO, aim to reduce poverty and hunger, improve access to healthcare, and promote education and equity. These international goals align with U.S. efforts to close health gaps and ensure community well-being.

Intervention Models and Epidemiology

The Public Health Intervention Wheel, established by the Minnesota Department of Health, offers a model for implementing interventions across personal and societal levels. This model includes outreach, screening, disease investigation, and policy initiatives.

Epidemiology, the study of health-related patterns, informs health decisions through data collection and analysis. Its core functions include surveillance, field investigations, analytic studies, and evaluation. Epidemiological data is essential in guiding prevention strategies and shaping public health policies.

Table: Epidemiological Functions

Obesity in Children: A Public Health Case Study

Tertiary prevention for obese children includes continuous dietary counseling and screening for conditions like high cholesterol. Monitoring BMI more frequently than biannually is essential. Assessing the success of intervention programs involves evaluating BMI trends, physical activity participation, and school food offerings.

Table: Childhood Obesity Factors and Interventions

Community Health Assessment and Nursing Process

Community health nurses conduct assessments to identify risks and needs. These assessments may involve windshield surveys, interviews, and analysis of census data. Observations may highlight issues such as homelessness or substance use. Secondary data offers insights into chronic conditions or birth outcomes.

The nursing process includes defining the community, gathering data, forming diagnoses, and planning interventions. Prioritization of problems ensures efficient resource use. Effective collaboration with community stakeholders is key to implementing lasting change.

Table: Prevention Levels

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). Epidemiology and Public Health. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov.

American Public Health Association (APHA). (2020). Obesity Prevention Strategies. Retrieved from https://www.apha.org.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Control. Available at: https://www.who.int.

NR 442 Week 1 Community Health Edapt Notes

Ariosto, D., Billioux, A., & Conway, P. (2018). Population health: A guide for healthcare organizations and providers. New England Journal of Medicine, 379(11), 1055-1062.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020). Population health: Improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. CDC Report.

Institute of Medicine (IOM). (2013). U.S. health in international perspective: Shorter lives, poorer health. The National Academies Press.

Minnesota Department of Health Division of Community Health Services Public Health Nursing Section. (2001). Public Health Intervention Wheel.

NR 442 Week 1 Community Health Edapt Notes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). The leading causes of death in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm

NR 442 Week 1 Community Health Edapt Notes

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Public health and community nursing. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/publichealth/nursing.htm

Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2019). Community/public health nursing: Promoting the health of populations (7th ed.). Elsevier.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Healthy People 2030 framework. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2030