Kelly Jones RN-BSN Portfolio



Windshield SurveyKelly JonesFerris State UniversityWindshield SurveyCommunityThe term community can be defined in several ways. According to Harkness and DeMarco, the term community is defined as “a group of people sharing common interests, needs, resources, and environment; an interrelating and interacting group of people with shared needs and interests” (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012, p.175). The community that I refer to within this paper is located within Isabella County. This area includes areas within the city limits and outside the city munity HealthCommunity health is not only defined by the health of the individual members of the community, but also the social, physical, and political aspects that allow the members of the community to live healthy (Pender, 2011, p.26). According to the Central Michigan Health Department (CMHD), some of the unfavorable health rakings for Isabella County, compared to United State’s rankings, include very low birth weight, infant mortality, colon cancer, coronary heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke (CMHD, 2013, p.4). Based on this information, the community can assess how they can or will improve the health of the munity as ClientHarkness and DeMarco (2012) outline eight sub-categories within the community. The core of the community consists of the individuals. The eight sub-categories include physical environment, education, safety and transportation, politics and government, health and social services, communication, economics, and recreation (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012, p.185). All of the categories collaborate together to develop a joint venture, working together for the improvement of the community. Nurses are eligible to work with all sub-categories to make the venture successful and improve the county as a whole.Healthy People 2020 Leading Health IndicatorAccess to care is a Healthy People indicator that is prevalent within Isabella County (CMHD, 2013, p.2). Within the population of 66,778 individuals in Isabella County, 11,372 fall into the uninsured category (under age 65) (CMHD, 2013, p.1-2). This information translates into a large opportunity for improvement. The nurse can play a significant role in assisting individuals with attaining access to the care they need. Case Management is a resource that nurses utilize within the hospital setting. The Case Management Team updates the list of resources within the community and shares with other nursing staff on a regular basis. They assess the needs of all of the patients prior to discharge and are able to assist with paperwork if the patient is eligible for Medicaid or other services. Within the community, nurses can promote the Free Clinic that is open once a week in Isabella County. Volunteer opportunities are available on a weekly basis at the clinic. This provides the nurse an opportunity to utilize nursing knowledge to the uninsured population.Health Risks for the CommunityThere are four main health risks that have been identified for this community. The first risk is an affordable and consistent transportation system. The options that are available include taxi services and the bussing system. The taxi services are very expensive but they are available 24 hours per day. The bussing system is less expensive, but is not accessible on a consistent basis. The zoning within this area almost necessitates a car or some type of vehicle. If you are sick, you cannot walk or ride a bike to the emergency department. This is not practical for the elderly or the individuals within the rural areas of this county. The next risk identified is the types of merchants found within the city limits. These merchants are mainly discount stores, bars, pharmacies, liquor stores, and fast food. The types of merchants listed are not conducive to healthy lifestyles. They are more geared towards college students needs. The lack of cross-walks within the city limits is another risk. College students attempt to cross the main street and could easily be struck by a vehicle. Lastly, the casino has been a health risk within this community. Two reasons include the large amounts of smoke inhaled by non-smokers and staff within the facility as well as the addiction to gambling and people losing the money that should have been spent on groceries and house bills. ConclusionIn conclusion, this survey provides an account of community health in relation to indicators of well-being and available resources to the individuals of the community. Four main health risks for Isabella County were identified and discussed as a result of this survey. These risks included lack of access to quality and affordable transportation, in addition to resources for consumer merchandise. Additionally, safety concerns related to zoning for new neighborhoods and health concerns pertaining to the lack of laws against smoking on Tribal Lands for patrons and employees. Examining health indicators provides us multidimensional perspectives from which community health should be approached.ReferencesCentral Michigan Health Department 2013 Isabella County Community PortraitCentral Michigan Health Department (2013). Isabella County community portrait. Retrieved from Harkness, G. A., & DeMarco, R. F. (2012). Community and public health nursing evidence for practice. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health / Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins.Pender N Murdaugh C Parsons M A 2011 Health Promotion in Nursing PracticePender, N., Murdaugh, C., & Parsons, M. A. (2011). Health promotion in nursing practice (Sixth ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.Housing and zoningMainly older homesLittle new construction Sporadic multi-family housing and apartmentsMost homes include backyard areasSufficient space noted between housing TransportationPersonal vehicle transportationSmall amount of people walkingNoted one bus public transportation no bus stops notedOne mini-van taxi notedRace and ethnicityUnable to determine complete status of race and ethnicity due to only seeing three people out during driveThree people out on sidewalks noted to be CaucasianOpen spaceLittle open spaces notedSmall backyard areas noted Open fields noted by schoolsVery snowy day so unable to assess under snow areasApartment areas noted some children play equipmentService centersTwo elementary schools, one middle school, one high schoolTwo “Readycare/ Urgent Care” buildings Strip-mall area with multiple physician officesMultiple small business (banks, car dealers, restaurants)Religion and politicsMultiple churches from various religionsLarge and small churchesNo political evidence notedBoundariesEast side of areas with multi-family housingWest side of areas with mainly single family dwellingsOne blind child sign notedSchool signs, cross walksWest and East areas separated by the main street though townStores and street peopleMultiple local owned stores and businesses Several fast-food restaurantsOne local owned grocery store and multiple “discounted” chain storesNo “street people” noted ( I do know they exist mainly within the park systems) Health and morbiditySpecific health issues of individuals unknownCommonsNo groups noted “hanging out” in areasSchool yards empty due to weekend observanceSigns of decayPot holes noted on many streetsSidewalks fairly clean- individuals responsible for cleaning own sidewalk areaNo “run-down” housing or buildings notedMediaVisible towers noted in the campus areaVery few antennas noted on housing, occasional satellite notedWindshield Survey RubricTotal Points Possible=100Content75 points possible Points availablePoints earned4 aspects of community identified that could affect healthCommunity, community health, and community as client definedIdentification of one indicator from Healthy People 2020 with description of one nursing role to affect this indicator45Survey includes all the stated components within a table format30Format25 points possiblePoints availablePoints earnedFollows rules of grammar, usage, and punctuationHas a structure that is clear, logical, and easy to followConsistent with APA guidelines for formatting and citation of outside worksIncludes 2 references properly formatted in text and in reference page25Total100 ................
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