Nursing Assignment

2

Community Strategic Plan: Part A, Community Assessment

West Coast University

NURS 561

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Adidley Garcia Coca

Dr. Whitmyer

Sunday November 19, 2023

Community Strategic Plan: Part A, Community Assessment

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2018, community assessment pertains to a health assessment conducted at the state, tribal, local, or territorial level. Its purpose is to identify significant health needs and concerns by means of a thorough and systematic collection and analysis of complete data. As healthcare professionals, nurses bear equal responsibility for conducting health assessments within their respective communities, employing standardized strategy plans. In order to enhance the efficiency and inclusivity of the process, nurses should consider many criteria including age, gender, education level, and cultural beliefs, among others. In addition, it is imperative for nurses to ascertain the needs of patients by thoroughly examining many facets of their cultural background and diverse medical history. Through the use of this approach, patients will experience a heightened sense of empowerment as a result of being actively included in their healthcare, ultimately leading to the optimization of their overall treatment outcome. When doing a patient assessment, it is recommended that nurses employ Gordon's 11 functional health patterns due to its systematic and consistent methodology for gathering data. The geographical location of my community is within the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. The community exhibits a significant degree of diversity. The community comprises a diverse array of ethnic groups that coexist harmoniously. In the municipality in which I reside, there exists a greater proportion of individuals who speak Spanish in comparison to other ethnic groups. The little city is characterized by numerous cultural elements that reflect the traditions and heritage of the Spanish people, thereby earning the moniker "the Spanish village." The inhabitants of the Spanish village collectively exhibit shared ideas, linguistic characteristics, and cultural values, which are also observed among different cultural groups residing within the village. The majority of the inhabitants of the hamlet possess and operate their own enterprises, including establishments like as restaurants, grocery stores, and markets. The businesses in this little village exhibit a high level of competitiveness and vibrancy due to their concentrated presence. The Spanish-speaking individuals residing in a Spanish village has unique beliefs that are derived from their Spanish cultural background. Despite the limited presence of English speakers within the community, effective communication with external cultures is facilitated by the utilization of interpreters, particularly for individuals who lack proficiency in the English language. A portion of the inhabitants residing in the village engage in the pursuit of education by attending school in order to acquire knowledge and skills.

Learning English is crucial for individuals to effectively adapt to life in the United States with more ease and efficiency. One of the obstacles encountered by individuals is the limited improvement in their English language ability despite attending school for language acquisition, primarily due to the absence of English-speaking individuals within their local community. Additionally, they encounter difficulties in adapting to the cultural aspects of American society. This particular difficulty is usually observed when individuals are navigating their healthcare services. A significant portion of the elderly population in this esteemed Spanish community relies on the assistance of translators or interpreters when seeking healthcare services or engaging with health insurance companies. As a response to the prevailing inequality, the village has established multiple nonprofit organizations aimed at assisting elderly individuals and recent immigrants in adapting to their new lives within the community. One such organization provides valuable insights into American life, while also offering translation and interpretation services at minimal or no cost. According to Edelman (2016), he characterizes his nutrition and metabolic pattern as the intake of food and fluids in relation to metabolic requirements, as well as the markers of local nutrient availability. The inhabitants of this Spanish community predominantly adhere to their traditional dietary practices. The individuals have developed a habitual practice of consuming Mediterranean cuisine, characterized by the use of olive oil, garlic, onions, tomatoes, peppers, and shellfish as prevalent components. In addition, their dietary intake includes meat and animal-derived food items. Individuals who adhere to vegetarian or vegan dietary practices may encounter challenges while seeking meal options at restaurants. Nevertheless, their diet is accompanied with potential health hazards. Certain hazards associated with excessive use of salts and spices include, but are not limited to, elevated blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular complications. Gordon's 11 functional health patterns include an examination of the Role relationships pattern as well. In this particular "Spanish Village," the residents exhibit a high degree of social engagement and actively participate in interactions with other individuals who speak the Spanish language. Individuals with a demanding lifestyle and a restricted proficiency in the English language allocate their leisure time to engage with their own social circles, thereby fostering and sustaining interpersonal connections.

A comprehensive community health plan has the potential to yield significant benefits for our community. This proposed strategy aims to significantly improve individuals' understanding and recognition of the significance of health and healthcare, ultimately promoting a culture of better lifestyles. The preservation of culture is of paramount importance; yet, it is beneficial for communities to consider making slight modifications in order to foster a change in attitude and perspective. This shift will enable individuals to explore and appreciate the diverse cultures present in neighboring communities.

References:

CDC - Assessment and Plans - Community Health Assessment - STLT Gateway. (2018, July 24). https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/cha/plan.html

Edelman, C., Kudzma, E., & Mandle, C. (2016). Health promotion throughout the life span (Vol. 8). St.Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Gordon, M. (2011). Manual of nursing diagnosis (12th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett