NUR 103 
Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice
 Appendix B
 Guidelines for Community  Assessment 
 

Home Page

    Syllabus
    Unit One
    Unit Two
    Unit Three
    Unit Four
    Unit Five
    Unit Six

    Appendix

     Lab

    Clinical

Purpose
To foster a beginning understanding of the community as the context for health andfor healthcare,in order to prepare  nursing  students to meet local needs.

Objectives
1. To become familiar wih the process and strategies for assessing a community and the health services available to families.
2. To develop knowledge and skill in using a collaborative approach to assessment by working with peers, faculty, community representatives and health professionals and families in the community.
3. To identify how nurses might address nursing needs of families in the selected community.
4. To organize and present the information as a contribution to a comprehensive community assessment.

Procedure
1. Each clinical group will be assigned to one of the communities in the Oakton District.
2. The clinical group will meet initially to divide up the work and plan strategies for completing the community assessment.
3. The group members will complete their assigned part of the community assessment.
4. the group will meet several more times as needed to compile the information into one written report and to plan a 20 minute oral presentation of their community assessment.  All group members must  have a speaking part in the presentation.
5. The group will present their findings to the class and hand in one written report on September 6.  Fill out the written report on the  following sheets.  The presentation and the written report will be graded based on the established criteria.  Everyone in the group will receive the same grade.  The community assessment is worth 10% of the grade for the course NUR 103.

Part 1
1. Members of the group

2. Name of community and geographic boundries.

3. Major cultures and religions found inthe community.

Part 2
1. Drive around the community and observe the different neighborhoods and commercial districts.  What is the general appearance of the community?

2. List health hazards observed such as garbage and litter on streets and sidewalks, evidence of air pollution, water pollution, noise level, evidence of crime such as gang symbols, broken windows, burned  buildings, hazardous or broken playground equipment.

Part 3
1. Interview several residents of different ages in different parts of the community.  What health needs, problems, issues and concern were raised by the residents?  (summarize their responses)

2. Interview a health professional in the community such as a public health nurse, a school nurse or a physician or nurse in a clinic that serves the community.  What do they see as the major health needs or concerns of the people of the community?

Part 4 Family Scenarios
Directions: Assume that each of the following families lives in your assigned community.  Investigate the services that are available to meet theiri need in your assigned community.  If the needed service is not in your assigned community, look for it in the surrounding communities and list the closest agency that would be able to help the family.  On a separate piece of paper, list the names of the agencies and the approximate cost of the service.  Consider the income of the famility in choosing services and agencies.

1. Richard and Maria are 24 years old and have 1 child, Juan, age 3.  Maria is 4 months pregnant.  Their primary laguage is Spanish, but they speak a little English.  Richard works full time and Maria works part time on weekends.  The income is $18,000 and they have no health insurance.  Their needs are as follows:
A. free or sliding scale maternity care and well baby care with professionals who speak Spanish.  Immunizations for the children.
B. Early childhood education program for Juan.
C. Labor and delivery classes such as Lamaze classes for the the parents.
D. Oppotunities/areas for safe play for the children in the community.  They live in a small apartment with no yard.

2. Alice is a single mothe with 2 children, Sally who is 15 and Bob who is 7.  Alice works full time and the children are in school.  They have friends but no extended family in the area.  Alice was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and is being discharged from the hospital with a new colostomy.  She will be receiving chemotherapy as an outpatient.  The family has medical insurance and Alice is on a medical leave from her job as a personal manager. Their income is  $42,000.  Their needs are as follows:
A. Someone to help with the housework and to drive Alice to her chemotherapy appointments daily for 3 weeks.
B. A cancer support group for Alice
C. Further teaching for Alice concerning colostomy care.
D. Birth control education and testing for sexually transmitted diseasess for Sally.  She does not want to tell her mother about this and she does not want to go to the family pediatrician.
E. An after school program for Bob so he will not be home alone after Alice returns to work.

3. Patrick and Erin are 59 years old.  Their children live out of state.  Patrick works full time in a very stressful position as a policeman.  Erin has her own business. Patrick was recently diagnosed with heart disease and Erin has high blood pressure.  They are both obese and sedentary.  Patrick smokes cigarettes.   They live a comfortable life with an income of $125,000.  Their needs are as
follows:
A. Lifestyle education/support for both Patrick and Erin including heart healthy diet, exercise, and stress reduction.
B. Indoor and outdoor facilities for exercise
C. A smoking cessation program for Patrick
D. A clinic that provides mammography for Erin

4. Ron and June are 50 years old.  Their youngest child, Robert is a senior in high school and has been drinking beer and using marijuana more frequently.  The parents are very worried about him.  It has affected their marriage and they are reluctantly considering a divorce.  June's mother lives with them and has Alzheimer's Disease. She is becoming more confused and can no longer be left home alone.  The family has health insurance, but it includes very little converage for mental illness and substance abuse.  Jun'e mother is covered by Medicare.  The family has an income opf $50,000.  Their needs are as follows:
A. Counseling/substance abuse treatment/support group for Robert.
B. Marriage counseling for Ron and June
C. Adult Day Care and other support services for June's mother.

5. Jerzy and Ewa are both 78 years old.  They never had children and live in a small apartment.  Neither can drive so they rely on public transportation.  They find it very difficult to shop and prepare food.  They are lonely and would like to socialize more.  Thy survive on a small pension and have Medicare coverage for health care.  Their needs are as follows:
A. Nutritional meals at a low cost
B. Social opportunites especially with people of Polish descent if possible.
C. Health promotion eduction including topics relevant to  the elderly such as cancer screening tests, home safety, osteoporosis, medication safety, and vision and hearing  testing and treatment.
D. A pharmacy that will deliver prescribed medications.
*Explain how the fmaily would travel to each of the services that you choose.  Include the cost and the number of transfers needed if a bus or train is used

Part 5 Summary
1. What is the general health status of the environment and the people of the community?

2. What are the strengths of the community?

3. What are the weaknesses of the community?

4. List one service or agency that is needed by this community that nurse could provide.
 
 
 

 

                                              Community Assessment  Grading Criteria
 
 
 
Written Report possible
points
points earned
Part 1 Introduction 5
Part 2 Observations 5 ___
Part 3 Interviews 5 ___
Part 4 Family Scenerios ___
Family 1 10 ___
Family 2 10 ___
Family 3 10
Family 4 10
Family 5 10 ___
Part 5 Summary 10 ___
Oral Presentation ___
1. Comprehensive Coverage of Parts 1-5 20 ___
2. Creativity of Presentation 3 ___
3. Organized and within 20 minute time frame 2 ___
Total points 100 ___

 
 
 
 

 

........
Please direct general questions or comments about this page to its author: Kim Lubesnick, mikey@oakton.edu
Last update 07/24/01