Community Health Nursing

Community health nursing

Promoting health across all stages of life and among diverse populations 

Primary goal of community nursing

Assess individual needs, identify barriers to care, and implement interventions that protect and enhance overall health 

Healthy people 2030

Focuses on national health outcomes and objectives to improve the health of Americans by addressing key public health priorities. In community nursing, these objectives guide interventions to promote health, prevent disease, and reduce health disparities among diverse populations.

Nurses play a vital role in implementing these goals by assessing individual and community needs, identifying barriers to care, and developing strategies to improve overall well-being

Social determinants of health

Refer to the conditions in the environments where people are born, grow, live, learn, work, and age. These factors significantly influence health outcomes, overall well-being, and quality of life. Social determinants of health impact a wide range of health risks and opportunities shaping both individual and community health.

Social determinants of health examples

Transportation in neighborhoods

racism

discrimination

violence

education

job opportunities

income

access to nutritious food

physical activity opportunities

polluted air

water

language and literacy skills 

Barriers to access of health care

Lack of health insurance

Lack of primary care provider

Perception of need

Uneven distribution of resources

Solutions to access health care

Medicare

Medicaid

Children’s Health Insurance Program

Medicare

65 years+, ERSD; Disabilities

Part A - Inpatient services, skilled nursing

Part B - Outpatient services

Part C - Supplemental insurance (extra)

Part D - Prescription drug coverage (extra)

Medicaid

Low income

Children’s Health Insurance Program

19 years and younger; do not qualify for medicaid

Affordable care act

Designed to increase access to affordable and quality health care, particularly for those who do not qualify for other health insurance options

Primordial prevention

Large scale social and/or political changes impacting community

Ex - Advocating for a policy change or implementing a community education initiative

Primary prevention

Prevent disease from occuring

Ex - Proper nutrition, dental hygiene, prenatal care, immunizations, and smoking cessation programs

Secondary prevention

Early detection/Screening

Ex - Regular dental, vision, and medical screenings, self exams

Tertiary prevention

Treatment of diagnosed disease

Ex - Referring clients to additional services to minimize complications, administering medications, and providing medication education

Quaternary prevention

Weighing risks/benefits for individual

Ex - Carefully administering corticosteroids to a diabetic patient to balance treatment benefits and risks

Community health education

Promote, maintain, and restore health of populations

Identify learning need and learning style

Barriers to learning

Appropriate education method for content

Evaluation method

Ethical principles

Foundation of nursing, guiding nurses in making decisions that prioritize patient well being and dignity, ensuring care is delivered with integrity, respect, and compassion and can also help navigate complex situations while upholding professional and legal standards

Autonomy

Non-maleficence

Beneficence

Justice

Fidelity

Veracity

Autonomy

Respects a client’s right to make their own health care decisions, even if the nurse does not always agree with the choice

Beneficence

Requires nurses to take actions that promote good and help others while weighing the risks and benefits

Justice

Ensures all patients are treated fairly in accordance with honor, standards, or law

Non-Maleficence

Ensures nurses do no harm and safeguard the interests of the clients

Fidelity

Requires nurses to keep promises to patients

Veracity

Upholds honesty and truthfulness in all interactions