Population Based Health Nursing

Population-based health nursing interventions have become critical in the modern health sector because of numerous challenges facing nurses and the overall public health sector. Public health has become complex and ever-changing because of the changing needs of patient populations across the globe. Population-based health nursing interventions help to meet these changing healthcare needs and demands through focusing on the specific healthcare concerns and characteristics of a population. This paper provides a population-based health nursing framework for the health needs and characteristics of a suburban community.

Program Evaluation Model and Health Promotion Theory
The proposed community project seeks to address the healthcare needs and characteristics of a suburban community. In this regard, the researcher will employ a suitable program evaluation model and health promotion theory for assessment of the community’s healthcare needs. The program evaluation model that will be used for assessment of the community’s health needs is Community Health Assessment and Group Evaluation (CHANGE) model. This model is a data-collection and planning tool that is utilized to gain knowledge regarding a community’s health needs and develop suitable measures for enhancing the health and wellbeing of the community (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). This model is suitable for this community project since it provides a framework for obtaining and organizing data on community assets and areas for improvement. The insights obtained from this process is used to develop a Community Action Plan that prioritizes key action areas.
The health promotion theory for this proposed community project is the Health Belief Model (HBM), which is commonly used to guide disease prevention and health promotion programs. This theoretical model provides a framework for analysis, explanation, and predicting individual changes in health behaviors (Raingruber, 2014). It is based on the idea that changes in health behaviors is critical toward health promotion and disease prevention. For this community, HBM is an appropriate theoretical model since the current healthcare needs of the population are largely influenced by their beliefs.
Analysis of the Surveyed Community and its Health Needs
The proposed community project will be carried out in Elmwood Park, West Cook County in Chicago. This region comprises of a large white and Italian population with higher median incomes as compared to the other populations in West Suburban Cook. A significant portion of this population are individuals aged 65 years and more. Based on a recent survey, individuals in this community are at high risks of mental health problems. Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health issues facing populations in this community. Additionally, substance abuse is also a major health concern among public health professionals in this community.
Since the community is at high risks of mental health problems, a health improvement program is essential toward addressing the health needs of this population. Based on CHANGE model and Health Belief Model, the methodology of the health improvement program that will be used to address this problem will incorporate five major action points as shown in Table 1. The first step will involve collecting information through a health needs assessment, which focuses on determining vulnerable populations in the community. This will be followed by disseminating the consequences of the health issues relating to risky behaviors. The third step will involve communicating to the target population on necessary steps to address the problem. The next step will entail providing help in determining and lessening obstacles to action. Finally, support will be provided to community members on self-efficacy and desired behavior changes.
Advanced practice nurses who work in the community would need to partner with healthcare policy makers to enact policies that promote healthy behaviors, especially those relating to substance abuse. Enactment of such policies is critical toward encouraging behaviors that promote health and wellbeing of community members. Such policies should also create the framework for community rehabilitation of vulnerable populations to help address substance abuse and mental health problems facing these populations.
Table 1: Timeline for Implementing the Health Improvement Program
Activity
Timeframe

1. Data Collection through community survey, provider survey and focus groups.
1 month

2. Conveying information on health issues associated with risky behaviors through community awareness programs.
2 weeks

3. Communicating recommended action to the target population through community awareness programs.
1 month

4. Providing help in determining and lessening barriers to action through community health promotion initiatives.
2 weeks

5. Providing support for self-efficacy using community health promotion and disease prevention programs.
1 month



Cultural Competence Self-Assessment
The Cultural Competence Self-Assessment Checklist has provided me with significant insights on cultural competence in healthcare practice. Through completing the checklist, I have learned the level with which I incorporate and understand the significance of cultural competence in nursing practice. I have learned that cultural competence is an integral part of nursing practice since it influences the beliefs and practices of healthcare providers, particular those working in a diverse environment. Cultural competence helps to identify beliefs and traditions that affect health behaviors and practices within a community or among individuals. In light of the insights I have obtained from this process, my professional growth and development in the nursing field requires development of cultural competence skills. I need to learn how to develop and adopt nursing practices that are based on the cultural beliefs and practices of different patient populations. The development of these skills will help enhance my effectiveness as a nurse and ability to work with different patient populations during care delivery. I will utilize cultural competence in my nursing practice as the premise for patient-centered care.
Implications of Individual Culture on Health Literacy
Cultural differences exist between healthcare providers and patients as well as different patient populations (Lie et al., 2012). Given the significance of culture in patient-centered care, individual culture has significant implications on health literacy. Individual culture has implications on health beliefs and practices adopted by different communities. Individual culture shapes how people view healthcare practices and health seeking behaviors, which are important components in health promotion and disease prevention. Therefore, individual culture contributes to enhanced health literacy by contributing to positive views regarding health and promoting health seeking behaviors among communities.
DNP plays a crucial role in providing opportunities to improve levels of knowledge, particularly regarding cultural competence and health literacy. DNP provides a framework with which nursing students understand the different aspects of health literacy and develop competence on healthcare practices and interventions. Through this process, nursing students learn how to assume leadership roles in the health sector and play an influential role in health promotion and disease prevention. An understanding of cultural differences is relevant DNP and population health because it’s the foundation for the development of culturally-appropriate and patient-centered care. Such care in turn becomes the premise for population-based nursing in which healthcare interventions are tailored to the individual needs of patients, resulting in better health outcomes.
In conclusion, population-based nursing is an important model in the modern health sector given the complex and changing nature of the health sector. Through this model, nursing interventions are developed based on the specific health needs and issues affecting a population or community. However, the development of such interventions requires conducting community health assessment to identify vulnerable populations and the specific healthcare needs. When developing such nursing interventions, cultural factors should be taken into consideration. Culture plays an integral role in shaping health beliefs and behaviors of individuals, which implies that patient-centered care should be culturally competent.




References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, April). Community Health Assessment and Group Evaluation (CHANGE). Retrieved from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website: https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dch/programs/healthycommunitiesprogram/tools/change/pdf/changeactionguide.pdf
Flowers, D.L. (2004, August). Culturally Competent Nursing Care: A Challenge for the 21st Century. Critical Care Nurse, 24(4), 48-52.
Lie et al. (2012). What Do Health Literacy and Cultural Competence Have in Common? Calling for a Collaborative Pedagogy. Journal of Health Communication, 17(03), 13-22.
Raingruber, B. (2014). Contemporary health promotion in nursing practice. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.