Chn 2

• A community is a group of people with common characteristics or interests
• In the case of single-celled organisms, substances can easily enter the cell due to a short distance, while in multicellular organisms, the distance is larger due to a higher surface area to volume ratio
• Multicellular organisms require specialised exchange surfaces for efficient gas exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen due to the larger distance substances need to travel
• Geopolitical communities are territorial, while phenomenological communities are functional
• Geopolitical communities, like barangays, are defined as a spatial designation - a geographical or political area or place
• Phenomenological communities, like religious groups, are functional communities
• Examples of phenomenological communities include social groups, professions, or religious groups
• Characteristics of a healthy community include the ability to cope with change, solve problems, manage conflicts, open channels of communication, and equitable & efficient use of community resources
• Factors affecting the health of a community include population, location, and social systems
• Population characteristics such as size, density, age, sex, occupation, education level, and feeling of belongingness influence the health of the community
• Rapid growth or decline of a population affects the health of the community
• Location of the community affects health through natural and man-made variables, including geographic features, climate, flora, fauna, and community boundaries
• Factors contributing to health problems in urban areas include higher population density, concentrated poverty, slum formation, and greater exposure to health risks/hazards
• Factors contributing to health problems in rural areas include inequalities of resources, economic opportunities, prevalent poverty, and limited access to health facilities
• Social systems within a community include family, economic, educational, communication, political, legal, religious, recreational, and health systems
• Roles of a community health nurse include clinician/care provider, educator, advocate, manager, researcher, collaborator, and leader
• As educators, nurses facilitate client learning on a broad range of topics
• As advocates, nurses help clients find available services, influence change, and make the system more relevant and responsible to clients' needs
• As managers, nurses supervise client care, ancillary staff, conduct community health needs assessment projects, and engage in the management process
• Collaboration with clients and colleagues is part of the role of a community health nurse
• As leaders, community health nurses direct, influence, or persuade others to effect change that positively affects people's health
• Community health nurses engage in systematic investigation, data collection, and analysis to enhance community health practice
• Community health ranges from simple inquiries to complex agency or organizational studies
• Attributes of a nurse researcher include:

  • Questioning attitude
  • Careful observation
  • Open-mindedness
  • Analytical skills
  • Tenacity
• The Minnesota Intervention Wheel is a tool that illustrates what public health nurses do to improve health outcomes
• Surveillance:

  • Describes and monitors health events
• Disease & other health investigation:

  • Systematically gathers & analyzes data regarding threats, ascertain source, what to do & how services can be obtained
• Outreach:

  • Locates populations
  • Provides information about the nature of concern
  • Explains what can be done & how services can be obtained
• Screening:

  • Identifies unrecognized health risk factors or asymptomatic disease conditions
• Case finding:

  • Locates those with identified risk factors
  • Connects them with resources
• Referral and follow-up:

  • Assists to identify & access necessary resources to prevent or resolve problems
• Case Management:

  • Optimizes self-care capabilities of individuals & families
  • Optimizes the capacity of the community
• Case management includes monitoring cases of child protection through remote access and the risk of rise in domestic violence and violence against children
• Delegated functions:

  • Direct health tasks that are carried out
• Health teaching:

  • Communicates facts, ideas and skills that change knowledge, attitudes, values, beliefs, behaviors & practices
• Counselling:

  • Establishes an interpersonal relationship with an intention of increasing/enhancing capacity for self-care
• Consultation:

  • Seeks information & generates optional solutions
• Collaboration:

  • Commits two or more persons to achieve a common goal
• Coalition building:

  • Promotes & develops alliances among organizations or constituencies for a common purpose
• Community organizing:

  • Helps community groups identify common problems, mobilize resources & develop/implement strategies to realize goals collectively