Saint Louis University School of Nursing Baguio City

Submitted by: Molano, Angelica M. BSN IV-M3

Submitted to: Maam Pablito, RN Clinical Instructor

Date: February 17, 2011 Brief Summary:

The journal entitled Developing the Community Environmental Health Role of the Nurse has an aim to contribute to nursing theory and practice regarding nurses environmental role, within the provision of holistic care. It investigated the environmental health concerns of members of communities within one city in the North East of Scotland. This study used several forms of data collection and drew on varied sources of evidence for the purposes of exploring all aspects of the case. Data collection included documentary evidence, individual interviews and focus groups with community nurses. This paper focuses on the contribution of community nurses. Views of nurses who work directly with families in the community were taken. Purposive sampling methods were used to identify nurse participants. Ethical considerations were also observed during the study. The researcher began each interview by asking the nurses how familiar they were with environmental health issues in general, before focusing on four topics: their current role in the community; their role in relation to environmental health; how they listen to or respond to community concerns; and a policy making role. Data collection stopped when the point of saturation has been reached. Tackling health inequalities, knowing the community and readiness to provide health protection are acknowledged as legitimate tasks of health visitors, however, current nursing strategies do not explicitly encourage the development of a community environmental health role. It appears from the literature and findings from this study that environmental health continues to be a neglected aspect of community health within the remit of health visitors. Support from nurse managers as well as recognition from other environmental and health disciplines will need to be fostered. It will also need recognition and support from nurse education. Relevance to Nursing Practice: This journal is essential in the practice of nursing since the community is a part where we can practice our profession. It is the focus of the study to involve environmental health in the rendering of care to the clients in the community as part of the so called holistic care. This is true, because we should not just focus on improving the health/alleviating the illness of the patient but also disseminating knowledge on recognizing environmental health problems that might bring about illness/deviation in their health, raising awareness of environmental risks and hazards and offering expertise to individuals and communities. In this way, we can help the community folks become more independent in addressing their health conditions with consideration to their environment of course. Therefore when this one is achieved, there will be a better delivery of healthcare in the community that can in turn promote the health of the people to the optimal level. Relevance to Nursing Education: The journal is indeed relevant in nursing education since it also talks about the knowledge of nurses in the involvement of environmental health in rendering holistic care to the client in the community. Also, it also talked about the environmental factors that might affect the health condition of the clients living in

the community (rural) areas. So, it is definitely important for the nurse to have adequate knowledge about these things in order to render the appropriate care to the clients. Also, these pieces of knowledge/information including the proper interventions must also be taught to the community folks as a start of teaching them on how to be independent in managing their health. Relevance to Nursing Research: Since this is the first research conducted regarding the topic, this will serve to raise awareness of the issues and strengthen the authority of an environmental health discipline within nursing. It is recommended that future research explores the environmental health concerns of other community nurses in order to harness their current expertise and to increase their motivation to develop a community environmental role.

Reference: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?hid=122&sid=29b3a9f5-5664-491d-802e153f4bb78f3a@sessionmgr115&vid=4&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d