Running head: COMMUNITY NURSING PRACTICE 1

Essential VII-Clinical Prevention and Population Health: Community Nursing Practice

Lyubov Kirillov

Frostburg State University

COMMUNITY NURSING PRACTICE 2

Essential VII-Clinical Prevention and Population Health: Community Nursing Practice

Health care providers including nurses know and teach that preventative medicine is the

best medicine. The Essential VII in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)

(2008) emphasize that Health promotion, disease, and injury prevention across the lifespan are

essential elements of baccalaureate nursing practice at the individual and population levels.

These concepts are necessary to improve population health (AACN, 2008, p. 23).

Epidemiologic studies such as Community Health Assessment Windshield Survey show that

factors like life style, genetics, and environmental contribute to the health of a population.

Exemplar

To better understand needs of a local community and implement interventions and

changes, community health assessments are performed and recorded annually by the local Health

Department. Community nursing actions include health promotion, disease and injury

prevention, which continues throughout the lifespan. In addition, community nursing assist

communities, and populations to prepare for and minimize health consequences of emergencies,

including mass casualty disasters (AACN, 2008, p. 23).

Reflection

Community Health Assessment Windshield Survey is a good way to get feedback from

community residents and incorporate community challenges into a proposed plan of action. The

Survey also consists of data of environmental factors such as air and water quality, housing

issues, socioeconomic reports, public transportation and access to health care, and statistical data

of births, deaths, and chronic diseases. Community health nurses make plans and
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recommendations for improvement of communitys important needs based on the data gathered

from the Survey. Without the community health assessment, it would be difficult for Citys

government to meet the immediate and important needs of the community.

AACN (2008) describes the reason for community nursing, Population-focused nursing

involves identifying determinants of health, prioritizing primary prevention when possible,

actively identifying and reaching out to those who might benefit from a service, and using

available resources to assure best overall improvement in the health of the population (p. 24).

By performing community health assessment nurses identify community needs and prioritize

interventions keeping in mind the priority of health promotion and disease prevention, and

eliminating the causes of disaster or difficulty when possible.

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References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2008). The essentials of baccalaureate

education for professional nursing practice. Washington, DC: American Association of

Colleges of Nursing.