Running head: WINDSHIELD SURVEY

Windshield Survey
JoAnn Norman-Metcalf
Ferris State University

Windshield Survey
A windshield survey is an individual community assessment survey conducted in our own
community that helps us identify risk factors that contribute to the communities overall health.
By identifying risk factors in the community nurses can take an active role in prioritizing
interventions for community improvements as well as helping access resources needed to
eliminate preventable disease.

Community
Community is a collaborate effort for all people who live in an area to share a common
interest helping meet the needs of their community through ownership and advocacy. According

to Harkness & De Marko (2015) community is a group of people sharing a common interests,
needs, resources and environment: an interrelating and interacting group of people with shared
needs and interests (p. 187). Our neighborhoods serve as a snapshot for the community in which
we live. It is up to the people in our community to make positive changes that will benefit all
people who live and work there.
Community Health
In an evolving field of public health, community health refers to the health of the general
community we live and work. To ensure community health, the people in the community must
offer their individual talents to engage in community efforts to promote health and equality for
all people. According to an article in Preventative Medicine (2014) community health is a multisector and multi-disciplinary collaborative enterprise that uses public health science, evidencedbased strategies to engage and work with communities. This collaborative effort puts the
community needs first by understanding its core functions and needs.

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Community as Client

In collaboration with community leaders, members and organizations, community as a

client means taking ownership in the welfare of the community. For nurses to be able to
competently provide care to the community in a variety of community settings and within the
scope of their practice. This includes ensuring access to healthcare for all people by supporting,
collaborating and assisting with initiatives that benefit the general population.

Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicator

The goals of Healthy people 2020 are to: Eliminate preventable disease, disability,
injury and premature death. Achieve health equality, eliminate disparities and improve health of
all age groups .To create social and physical environments that promote good health for all,
promote healthy development and healthy behaviors across every stage of life (U.S Department
of Health and Human Services, 2014). The indicator that would be essential to the community
where I live is under the topic listed as nutrition, physical activity and obesity. The indicator is to
ensure that all Americans eat a healthy diet, participate in physical activity and maintain a
healthy body weight to combat preventable disease and illness to improve the health of people of
all age groups. (2014). A nurse can have an effect on this indicator by being an advocate in the
community by going out to schools, senior- centers and churches or anywhere people gather to
educate about the benefits of healthy eating, physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight.
My main concern for my community is access to health meals and physical activity which will
help with maintaining a healthy body weight.

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Four aspects of community that affect health

Although I live a few miles away from Muskegon Heights, we are considered one
community where high unemployment has led to increased crime rates and despair throughout
Muskegon County. The four aspects of community that could affect health in my community
include: Access to healthy nutrition, development of a community center for inner city children,
elimination of abandoned and burned homes and cleanliness of streets and common areas.
There is currently no super market in the Muskegon Heights community, as a result of
high theft and crimes in the neighborhood, the only supermarket closed in 2014 leaving the
community no access to fresh foods. Access to a supermarket would offer the community
healthier eating choices. If our community had a community center for youth, this would provide
a safe place for children to play while promoting physical activity and possibly offer assistance
with homework. Homes that are abandoned and burned are a breading place for crime and
unwanted criminal activity they also place children as well as others in the community at risk for
injury. The cleanliness of the community where children play can contribute to disease and
injury. It would be beneficial for children and adults alike to have debris free areas for safe
physical activity and the elderly to walk freely on sidewalks without being subject to injury due
to debris and litter.

Conclusion
In conclusion, I believe that conducting a community assessment allows us to gain a
better understanding about the communities where we work and live. A windshield survey allows
us to visualize ongoing problems that our communities face daily. It allows us to identify real
and potential problem areas within our community and shed light on things that can be

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redeveloped to positively impact our community. Through critical thinking we can identify
strengths, weaknesses, assets as well as deficits and use this information to motivate us to
promote positive changes in our communities.

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References:

Black, B., (2014). Professional Nursing: Concepts and challenges. (7th ed.) Elsevier St Louis,
MO.
Goodman, R., Bunnell, R., & Posner, S. (2014, Oct) .What is community health? Examining the
meaning of an evolving field in public health, 67, S58-61 .doi:10.1016/jypmed20
Harkness, G.A, & De Marco R.F. (2015). Community and public health nursing: Evidence for
Practice. (2nd ed.)
U.S Department of Health and Human Services. (2014). Healthy People 2020. Office of disease
prevention and health promotion. Washington, DC. Retrieved from: www. Healthy
People 2020/Leading-Health / Indicators.

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Appendix A
Windshield Survey

Housing and zoning

The houses are 5075 years old .The
designs vary but
most are single
family homes in
poor repair with
space in front and in
back. Central
heating and
plumbing is
assumed but not
confirmed.

Open space
The houses vary in
size and shape.
They are positioned
very close together.
The open spaces
are filled with debris
with no green fields,
flowers or
landscaping .

Boundaries
The boundaries are
not marked only
street signs that
indicate names of
streets .Generic

Transportation
In the neighborhood
There is public
transportation and
private
transportation
including school
bussing with a lot of
people walking and
bicycling they also
drive cars and
trucks. The streets
are riddled with
potholes and litter.
There is a major
highway within a
mile of the general
public.
Service centers
There are 2 health
service centers in
the area that are
within walking
distance for many
residents with full
dental and
pharmacy service
within the health
centers .

Stores and street

people
There is no grocery
store or farmers
market in the
immediate area the

Race and ethnicity

All races are
represented in the
area. There is true
diversity among the
people but some
areas are more
concentrated by
age rather than
ethnicity.

Religion and politics

There is a variety of
religious affiliations
within the
community Catholic,
Baptist, Protestants
and 7 day
Adventists. A large
concentration of
Baptist exists in the
area .There is an
increased number
Democratic
supporter.
Health and
morbidity
The community is
sick plagued with
chronic disease
including:

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neighborhood
names exist
depending on your
age. The yards are
brown, not mowed
and yards are unkept .The streets
are dirty and litter
filled.

Commons
There is a public
park in the
community but no
children play there,
it is a place where
drug dealers meet
and street people
gather with not a
slide or swing in
sight. The
community would
benefit from having
a community center
for children where
they feel safe and
provide a place for
safe physical
activity.

8
closest is 4-5 miles
away. There are 2
party stores in the
area .Street people
are visible on every
corner.
No access to fresh
healthy foods is a
concern because
there are a lot of
children and elderly
people in the
neighborhood who
would benefit from
assess to healthy
meals.
Signs of decay
Although there are
a few houses
scattered in the
neighborhood that
are well kept it is
like finding a
diamond in the ruff.
The community is in
poor shape with
houses that are
abandoned,
boarded and burned
.There is a
tremendous amount
of decay seen
throughout the
neighborhoods.

hypertension,
diabetes and renal
failure .There are 2
hospitals in the area
one being a trauma
center. Many people
in this community
are obese and the
children do not have
access to healthy
eating. There is a
methadone clinic in
the heart of the
community illegal
drugs and abuses
are common.
Media
We live in the era of
social media
everyone has cell
phones and internet
few people have
land lines but
subscribe to cable
as evidenced by
antennas on
homes. The local
newspaper is read
by many elderly
residents as they
see the value in
reading. Knowing
the Education
including teaching
children to read is a
sure vehicle to
success
unfortunately, there
are few people with
high school
diplomas or college
education in this
area and role
models are scarce.

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