KAY OLSON, RN MNWASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF NURSING

Teaching Community Assessments

Teaching Objectives

Perform assessments at the individual/family, community & systems levels.

Synthesize evidence-based data from research findings & professional literature.

Propose and/or initiate nursing interventions using Community Health Nursing concepts and models.

Core Functions & 10 Essential Services

Monitor health status to identify and solve community health problems.

Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community.

Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues.

Mobilize community partnerships and action to identify and solve health problems.

Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts.

Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety.

Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable.

Assure competent public and personal health care workforce.

Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services.

Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems.

Community Health

Defining Community Community: Group of people having common

personal/environmental characteristics

Geopolitical: Defined or formed by natural or manmade boundaries.

Phenominological: Relational, interactive groups based on: Culture Values History Interests Goals

Teach Both

Windshield Survey Choose a geographical

area to assess. Example – Benton City,

Central Richland, 2 mile radius of elementary school, etc.

Population Project Phenominological:

Relational, interactive groups based on: Culture Values History Interests Goals

Example: Migrant Farm Workers, Office Workers, Seventh Day Adventist

Population Project

Literature Research/Annotated BibliographyDemographics

National – State – Local Numbers related to population

Example: Total numbers,ethnicity,education level, employed, gender, etc.

Both help the students learn about the population, or identify determinants of health or risk factors.

Population Project

Key informant Interviews Develop Questions

Members of population, Healthcare Providers, support persons (families, co-workers, school staff, etc.)

Conduct Interviews Each student required to do at least two interviews.

Population Project

Goals of project

Identify needs of population

Develop policies or interventions to address identified needs

Assurance that intervention is effective

Windshield Survey

Assigned/select geographical area Drive area and complete assessment through

“windshield” Use Likert Scale to rate buildings, services, facilities,

etc. Reflect and consider :

Social class General impression of community Consider current inadequacies and whether/how these

are being addressed, and by whom

Plan of Action

Population Project 6 Groups – 6 populations

Assessment – Synthesize evidence-based data from research findings & professional literature

Key informant interviews

Windshield Survey Targeting area Middle Schools

2 schools each in Richland, Pasco & Kennewick Plus Benton City, Prosser & Connell

Expectation of Process

Students to report findings to Steering Committee

Population Project & Windshield Survey Identified unmet needs of target populations &

geographical areas

Add Quality Data/Information

Mentors

Role of Mentors Partner with Student Groups to Provide Support

Expertise Contacts Knowledge of resources Access to key informants

Questions