NURS 492 Community Health Nursing

Health Planning Clinical Application Project Parts One and Two

Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of the project is to examine a community health problem for a specific aggregate. The project is to be able to apply the nursing process to a vulnerable population with in your community.  In addition the purpose of this assignment is to utilize the Health Planning Model to improve aggregate health and to apply the nursing process to the larger aggregate within a systems framework.

Student Approach

One of the biggest projects I have done throughout the BSN program was to undergo a weight-loss program within a small pediatric clinic within my local area of Newport News.  A windshield survey was conducted to discuss the overall population, explaining the significance of childhood and adolescent obesity within the area.  Working with an interdisciplinary team, the local YMCA, and receiving ideas from the local bariatric weight-loss facility, we devised a six-week weight-loss program which holistically helps the family to lose weight.  What makes this project stand out compared to other facilities using similar methods was that we had weekly or monthly follow-ups with families to see if they were making progress.

Reason for Inclusion

I use to be obese when I was younger, so I wanted to help kids and teenagers who were struggling with the same obstacles.  I am extremely passionate when discussing safe and healthy techniques promoting weight loss.  It was also a good opportunity to perform a windshield survey and have an understanding as to what is sorely lacking within the local community.

Nursing Practice

Establishes and/or utilizes outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness of care.

One of the key components to see if the weight loss program was successful was to note if the weekly teaching interventions were beneficial.  The families which enrolled in the weight-loss program and continued to follow-up had their children weighed every week to note of any progress via journaling and weekly weight checks.  Journals were checked to see what activities children were doing and what foods they were consuming.  Ending results showed that while a few dropped out of the program, many continued to lose weight even during the weekly follow-up appointments.

Teaching

Provides relevant and sensitive health education information and counseling to patients and families.

Weight loss can be a sensitive subject, especially towards children.  I had to explain the unhealthy complications which can arise from obesity to the parents while telling them that the children should not know the gruesome details (diabetes stems from obesity and it can lead to possible amputation or blindness, for example).  I had to pick my words carefully so that I would not offend or scare the families.

Research

Applies research-based knowledge from nursing as the basis for culturally sensitive practice.

Culture is a critical component when it comes to weight-loss and the targeted patient population consisted of Caucasian, Hispanic, African Americans, and Orientals, with majority of those enrolled stemming from the Hispanic and African American population.  Research articles, community health assessments, city data explaining the overweight population, and goals listed from the Healthy People 2020 were used to detail the prevalence of obesity and other conditions stemming from it.

Leadership

Initiates community partnerships to establish health promotion goals and implements strategies to meet those goals.

Invitations were sent out for children who had a body mass index ≥ 85%, asking if families were interested in a weight loss program that was paid by their insurance.  Despite many enrolling, other families refused to enroll their children and would rather take care of it by themselves.  We collaborated with the local YMCA and asked the families if they would like to enroll in their weight-loss program instead, with few deciding to go there instead.  While they may have not enrolled in our program, they were given another option that could be better suited for the family’s background.

Culture

Considers the impact of research outcomes, and the effects of health and social policies on persons from diverse backgrounds.

Peer-reviewed journal articles used in the presentations implemented 4-6 week long weight loss program with moderate success.  However, none of them performed weekly or monthly follow-up interventions and, instead, recommended future studies to perform those actions.  Culture was also discussed, with the articles stating family involvement is quintessential in heavily cultured settings if children and teenagers were to be successful.  Community health assessments, rural upbringing, and financial backgrounds were also considered when devising a weight-loss program for the family.

**Due to the file size of both audio powerpoint presentations, both had to be uploaded via Google drive. Please click on the respected links and download them to view the presentations. If you have difficulties viewing them, please contact the author at dvand002@odu.edu

Windshield survey: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kB6GqP4vCBPH1H8wuOyABeSwHMIusPEy/view?usp=sharing

Results of Interventions:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eERmxk22kKQimtkBRvxc98cwb-TL8v9Z/view?usp=sharing