Community Health Improvement Analysis

As indicated from the article “Expert Voices” (2015), including the subtitle of what we do to end health disparities is a merit question for everybody to ask and then act and think about it. As a community nurse, my potent goal is to work with people in the community, dig down deeply to find the root of the problems, inform the people and solve it (Alvaro, C., 2014).

I assume that in today’s world, there is a lot of information and scholarly research available that shows factors such as economic status, income, social situations, education, ethnicity, employment, availability of affordable housing and geographical (place where one was born and lives) conditions have a tremendous impact on the health and well-being of individuals, countries and communities (Amaro, 2014). Inequalities in health and well-being are created by social determinants and economic conditions for many in our community (Brannigan &Boss). The people that are affected the most are people with low income and minority groups here in the United States. This creates health disparities and unequal care (Brannigan &Boss). In many developing and under-developed countries, the situation is dire: lack of modern health services, illiteracy, poor economic conditions has created a cultural situation of desperation and unhealthy behaviors. Corruption by African governments is rampant. To improve the health and wellbeing of communities, we need to start thinking of how we can create a culture of health.

Community health nursing is a vocation; striving to improve the health of the community by promoting, stabilizing and protecting the health of individuals, families and identified aggregates. We are able to have the furthest reach when we can isolate a specific deficit of an aggregate through assessment and subsequently the development of a community support program. Community support programs promote health, access to services and self-advocacy.

Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2012). Public health nursing: Population-centered health care in the community (8th ed.). Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby Elsev

This is assignment is to review and reflect on your own personal values and beliefs which shapes how you interpret and analyze population health. The purpose of this paper is to reflect on how you see your role as a healthcare professional in advocating for, and influencing population health. Describe the connection of this role to public health and address your thoughts around the influence that health care providers may have or not, in promoting the health of the community. What role should heath care providers play, and what strategies may increase the influence of healthcare providers in improving population health? This assignment can be approached from a clinical, academic or public health focus.

Community health nurses incorporate community participation and knowledge about the total population with personal, clinical understandings of the

Activity and exercise assessment is focused on the activities of ADL’s, exercise and leisure activities (Kriegler & Harton, 1992). Activities and exercise is limited in this family due to the parents work schedule. The father runs and exercises both at home and at the YMCA when time allows, which is a few times a week. The grandmothers mobility is limited due to balance issues, although she is participating in physical therapy at the present time for strengthening. They don’t feel they exercise enough although they know how important it is for them to exercise especially with their diabetes. Normal ADL 's are a minor problem for the grandmother although the grandfather helps her. The parents function at a high level with every day activities.

Community wellness is very important. The wellness of others greatly affects the population as a whole. The community must work as a whole to promote a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, community nurses are the main operation for communities. The purpose of this assignment is to discuss an issue in my community, analyze it with Milo’s framework, compare it to the national goals, and provide short and long term goals.

Nurse leaders can partner with the local government, churches, schools and community groups to create programs that reduce health disparities. For example, a program geared towards promoting wellness and a healthy lifestyle in the community will be beneficial for all, including the uninsured minority groups. As a nurse practitioner, my plan would be to create a program to bridge the gap in care of the uninsured elderly immigrants, specifically those with diabetes in the city of Jacksonville. Research has shown that “ focusing on wellness and education programs as an approach for increasing the peoples’ understanding in making the connection between health status and lifestyle decreased mortality and morbidity rates in minorities

In an effort to promote the health needs within a community, a successful community health nurse (CHN) must focus on the entire population. In order to accomplish this task, the CHN utilizes a scientific approach to determine the priority population focused health needs for the community. According to Nies & McEwen (2011), a population focus involving an assessment of the community is a primary tool utilized in order to develop planning, interventions, and evaluations for the community at large. The purpose of this paper is to determine a priority

Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2015). Community/Public health nursing: Promoting the health of populations (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders/Elsevier.

with recommendations for changes needed in nursing. This was a response for the need to assess

Community describes a group of people who work together with one another and whose common interests create the foundation for a feeling of unity (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2008). Serving the community as a nurse is no different from serving an individual. For example, community health attempts to emphasize the promotion and preservation of wellness and the prevention of illness or disability (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2008). According to the American Nursing Association, nursing is the promotion, protection, and development of health, prevention of injury and illness, healing of suffering, and advocacy of the care of communities (American Nursing Association, 2010). In this definition, nursing is not limited to the care of one person.

The elderly have multiple health problems and struggle to stay healthy and able to care for their own needs. The elderly in the rural areas tend to have a number of needs that may be compounded because of their choice of dwellings. The rural person may need to seek health care in different nearby cities, or may find some health care providers in their own local communities. Many elderly or older adults would benefit from a health promotion plan that would focus on the needs of this age group. The components that this plan would focus on includes physical activity, proper nutrition, and coping with mental stressors. While all older adults could potential benefit from this plan, this plan will be offered primarily in rural communities in order

Smith, C., & Maurer, F. (2013). Community/Public Health Nursing Practice (5th ed.). :. []. http://dx.doi.org/. Retrieved from www.evolve.elsiver