Question

1. As a newly hired community health nurse, what is the impact of conducting assessment within the community or city that you are assigned?

2. What is the impact of conducting a community assessment in the elderly population?

3. As a school nurse, what is the impact of conducting assessment in the student population?

Answer 1

1 The age structure of the community is important as it determines the health status.Also proper assessment of the community in terms of sanitation ,economy, social infrastructure and health helps in determining the healthcare requirements of the community. The living status, availability of water ,the level of hygiene ,the diet practised ,immunisation status and housing is also of prime importance.

2.Community assessment among the elderly gives the healthcare worker the opportunity to identify the requirements,living status and health of the elderly. The elderly should be assessed for risk factors for morbidities like hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia. The family history and  diet should also be considered. Personal habits including smoking and alcohol intake should also be enquired. Living conditions including radiation exposure, passive smoking, food habits, means of living should also be given proper consideration.

3. The healthcare worker should take adequate time to assess the physical mental and emotional constraints of the student population. Nutrition, health status ,vaccination is also a need of concern. Personal habits , relationships dietary factors leading to malnutrition including both obesity and undernutrition needs to be considered