Community Health Projects

NURS 462/463 & 472/473 - Community Health

NURS 481- Transition to Professional Nursing Practice

 

Purpose of Assignment

The purpose of the community health projects (Healthy People Presentation, Clinical Application Papers 1 & 2, and CH poster presentation) are to guide the student through the process a complete community health initiative. First, the student identifies and applies national-level key health indicators and applies them to a community aggregate. Next, the student builds partnerships with stakeholders and community members and applies the nursing process to promote health and well-being. The final part of the project allows students to experience scholarly dissemination of their original projects.
 

Student Approach to Assignment

The group that I was assigned to in order to assist the community was the Healthy Living Center (HLC). The HLC is a facility in Norfolk, Virginia that aims to increase health awareness and education. It was designed to enable community members to take charge of their health and healthcare through interactive disease management education, collaborative self-management coaching, and building empowerment skills. This class is designed as a service to the community in order to educate about plant-based diets and chronic diseases. Participants at HLC diagnosed with obesity, hypertension, or diabetes/prediabetes participate in a 4-week long plant-based cooking class with an educational component tailored to the disease process. This program is making a difference in the community which is important because more than 45% of Virginians with diabetes have never taken a class on how to better manage their diabetes and many Norfolk neighborhoods are considered food deserts.

 

Reason for Inclusion of this Assignment in the Portfolio

This required portfolio assignment demonstrates my involvement in community-based nursing care provided in a culturally diverse environment. These assignments highlight the progress made throughout the year with our aggregate. Furthermore, this assignment portrays the dedication and involvement of nursing students throughout the community and how we can assist with basic needs through teamwork. A number of core nursing behaviors have been exemplified through my participation in these group projects which are detailed as followed.