NURS 4010 – Family, Community, and Population-Based Care

Community Assessment Paper (Assignment 1)

Course and Assessment Overview

Course: NURS 4010 – Family, Community, and Population-Based Care (RN–BSN)
Assessment type: Individual written community assessment paper
Suggested timing: Early–mid term (e.g., Week 3 or 4)
Length: 3–4 page paper (approximately 1,000–1,200 words, excluding title page and reference list)
Weighting: 15–20% of course grade (adjust per program)

The aim of this assignment is to apply a structured community assessment framework to a real community, identify priority health needs, and propose an initial population-focused nursing response.

Assignment Context

NURS 4010 emphasizes the nurse’s role in promoting health across families, communities, and populations rather than focusing solely on individual patients. To practice this perspective, you will examine a community of interest using publicly available data and, where possible, your own observations. You will then describe key strengths and risks, identify a priority health problem, and outline an appropriate public health nursing response.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

• Describe the demographic, social, and environmental characteristics of a defined community using available data sources

• Identify community strengths and priority health concerns affecting families and populations

• Apply a community or population-health framework to organize assessment findings

• Propose an initial population-focused nursing intervention aligned with identified needs and evidence

• Communicate findings in a clear, organized, and scholarly written paper

Preparation

1. Review course materials on community and population-based care, including assigned readings and any assessment tools provided in the NURS 4010 course site

2. Choose a community of interest (e.g., a neighborhood, town, or county) that can be described using publicly available data and personal observation where appropriate

3. Locate recent community-level data such as census information, local health department reports, community health needs assessments, or public health profiles

4. Select a simple framework to guide your assessment, such as a local community health assessment model or a basic epidemiologic person–place–time approach

Task Description

Section 1: Community Description

In approximately 1–1.5 pages, provide a concise description of your chosen community.

• Identify the community by name and geographic boundaries

• Summarize key demographic characteristics, including population size, age distribution, racial and ethnic composition, income, and education

• Describe relevant community features such as housing, transportation, schools, healthcare facilities, recreational spaces, and employment opportunities

• Use current data and cite all sources

Section 2: Community Strengths and Risks

In approximately 1–1.5 pages, analyze the community’s strengths and health-related risks.

• Identify at least two strengths, such as strong social networks, accessible primary care, or active community organizations

• Identify at least two risks or concerns, such as high rates of chronic disease, food insecurity, environmental exposures, violence, or mental health concerns

• Support analysis with community-level data and, where relevant, professional or practice observations

Section 3: Priority Health Problem and Nursing Focus

In approximately 1 page, select one priority health problem affecting families or a specific population group.

• Explain why this issue is a priority (e.g., prevalence, severity, disparities, or community concern)

• Identify the population group(s) most affected

• Summarize one or two evidence-based findings linking the problem to modifiable community-level factors

Section 4: Initial Population-Focused Nursing Response

In approximately 1 page, outline a realistic, initial population-level nursing intervention.

• Describe one proposed intervention, such as community education, partnerships with schools or faith organizations, advocacy efforts, or participation in community coalitions

• Explain how the intervention targets the population and problem at a community or systems level

• Identify at least one partner or stakeholder and describe the nurse’s collaborative role

• Support the proposed approach with at least two recent scholarly or authoritative sources

Paper Requirements

• Length: 3–4 pages of narrative text (approximately 1,000–1,200 words), excluding title page and references

• Format: Follow your program’s required academic style for headings, citations, and references

• Sources: Minimum of three to five current scholarly or authoritative sources (within the last 5–8 years unless a classic source is justified)

• Submission: Upload as a Word document via the NURS 4010 Assignment 1 link by the specified due date

Marking Criteria (Community Assessment Rubric)

The paper is evaluated based on:

• Community description and use of data (25%)

• Identification of strengths and risks (25%)

• Priority problem and population-focused analysis (25%)

• Proposed population-level nursing response (15%)

• Organization, writing quality, and scholarly support (10%)

A basic community assessment often reveals that seemingly stable neighborhoods still experience preventable patterns of chronic disease. These patterns frequently align with income, housing quality, and access to healthy environments. Targeting an initial response toward a clearly defined population group allows community health nurses to integrate local data, resident perspectives, and evidence-based strategies in ways that strengthen protective factors while addressing health inequities.

Community assessments are most effective when they incorporate both quantitative data and an understanding of social determinants of health that shape daily living conditions. Public health literature consistently demonstrates that population-focused nursing interventions addressing upstream factors—such as housing stability, access to preventive services, and neighborhood safety—produce more sustainable health improvements than interventions focused solely on individual behavior change. Nurses play a critical role in translating assessment findings into coordinated, equity-oriented community action (World Health Organization, 2018).

References

• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2021) The Future of Nursing 2020–2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.17226/25982

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2020) Healthy People 2030 Framework. Available at: https://health.gov/healthypeople

• Golden, S.D. and Earp, J.A.L. (2012) ‘Social ecological approaches to individuals and their contexts’, Health Education & Behavior, 39(3), pp. 364–372. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198111418634

• Frieden, T.R. (2010) ‘A framework for public health action: The health impact pyramid’, American Journal of Public Health, 100(4), pp. 590–595. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.185652

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022) Community Health Assessment and Health Improvement Planning. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/cha/index.html

• World Health Organization (2018) Global Conference on Primary Health Care: Declaration of Astana. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-HIS-SDS-2018.61