NURS 4015 – Public and Global Health (Walden University)

Assessment 2 (2026): Infectious Disease Outbreak Analysis and the Nurse’s Role

Course and Assessment Positioning

Course: NURS 4015 – Public and Global Health (Walden University, RN–BSN core)
Assessment: Assessment 2 – Infectious Disease Outbreak Analysis Paper (individual written assignment)
Level: Upper-division undergraduate (public and global health focus)
Length: 3–4 page paper (approximately 1,000–1,200 words), excluding title page and references
Timing: Mid-course (commonly Week 5–6, following epidemiology and global burden of disease units)

This assessment aligns with established NURS 4015 coursework that requires students to select a real communicable disease event, apply the epidemiologic triangle, and analyze the nurse’s role in outbreak prevention, mitigation, and control.

Assignment Overview

You will select a recent, real-world infectious disease outbreak or cluster reported in a reputable news or public health source and critically analyze it using core public and global health concepts. The paper must apply the epidemiologic triangle, address sociopolitical influences, and clarify nursing responsibilities in health promotion, health protection, and outbreak response.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

• Explain relationships among infectious agents, susceptible populations, and environmental factors.

• Analyze sociopolitical and global factors that influence disease emergence and spread.

• Describe health promotion and protection strategies relevant to communicable disease control.

• Evaluate the role of nurses in local, national, and global responses to infectious disease threats.

• Apply epidemiologic concepts in a structured, evidence-based written analysis.

Task Instructions

1. Select an Infectious Disease Outbreak Report

• Choose a news article or public health report published within the last five years that describes a specific infectious disease outbreak or cluster (for example, measles, Ebola, COVID-19 variant surges, cholera, Mpox, dengue).

• Ensure the report clearly identifies the location, timeframe, affected population, and transmission or contributing factors.

• Save or download the source to ensure accurate citation.

2. Summarize the Outbreak (approximately ¾–1 page)

• Provide a concise summary of the outbreak, including the disease, setting, time period, affected populations, and key facts.

• Identify the article or report title, author(s), and publication year within the narrative and include the full citation in the reference list.

3. Apply the Epidemiologic Triangle (approximately 1–1.5 pages)

Structure your analysis using the epidemiologic triangle:

• Agent: Identify the infectious agent and describe key characteristics such as transmission mode, incubation period, and clinical features using authoritative sources.

• Host: Describe susceptible populations, including demographic, biological, and social risk factors such as age, comorbidities, vaccination status, and occupation.

• Environment: Analyze environmental and contextual contributors, including crowding, sanitation, climate, travel, political instability, or health system capacity.

4. Sociopolitical and Global Health Dimensions (approximately ¾–1 page)

• Discuss relevant sociopolitical influences, such as policy decisions, inequities, misinformation, healthcare infrastructure, and global mobility.

• Explain how these factors facilitated or hindered effective outbreak prevention and response.

• When applicable, connect the outbreak to broader global health challenges such as vaccine equity, climate change, migration, or humanitarian crises.

5. Nurse’s Role and Health Promotion and Protection Strategies (approximately 1–1.5 pages)

• Describe the roles nurses play in outbreak response across settings, including acute care, community health, public health agencies, and global health organizations.

• Propose at least two health promotion strategies, such as education, community engagement, or behavior change communication.

• Propose at least two health protection strategies, such as vaccination campaigns, contact tracing, or infection prevention and control measures.

• Explain how these strategies mitigate outbreak impact and support long-term population health improvement.

6. Conclusion

Summarize the most important insights from your analysis, emphasizing what the outbreak reveals about vulnerabilities in public and global health systems and the importance of nursing leadership in communicable disease control.

Paper Requirements

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

• Format: Follow the program’s required academic style with clear section headings.

• Sources: Include the outbreak article or report plus 3–5 current scholarly or authoritative sources published between 2018 and 2026.

• Originality: Synthesize information in your own words; do not reuse online examples or previous coursework.

• Submission: Upload the completed paper to the NURS 4015 Assessment 2 submission link by the course deadline.

NURS 4015 Assessment 2 – Rubric (2026)

Outbreak Summary and Source Integration (15%)
Clear, accurate summary of the outbreak with correct integration and citation of the selected source.

Epidemiologic Triangle Application (30%)
Thorough and accurate analysis of agent, host, and environment, clearly linked to the outbreak and supported by current evidence.

Sociopolitical and Global Health Analysis (20%)
Thoughtful discussion of sociopolitical and global influences with clear connections to public and global health principles.

Nurse’s Role and Promotion and Protection Strategies (20%)
Clear articulation of nursing roles and feasible, evidence-based strategies relevant to communicable disease control.

Writing, Organization, and Use of Sources (15%)
Logical organization, scholarly tone, minimal errors, and accurate integration of at least four current sources.

Short Sample Content (Indexing Excerpt)

Many of the most damaging infectious disease outbreaks in recent years have been driven not only by virulent pathogens but also by fragile health systems, crowded living conditions, inequitable access to vaccines, and inconsistent risk communication. An outbreak analysis paper in NURS 4015 allows RN–BSN students to apply the epidemiologic triangle, connect sociopolitical forces to disease spread, and clarify how nurses can lead practical health promotion and protection strategies that reduce the severity of future outbreaks (World Health Organization, 2021).

NURS 4210 – Role of the Nurse Leader in Population Health (Walden University)

Assessment 1 (2026): Community Health Issue Analysis and Nurse Leadership

Course and Assessment Positioning

Course: NURS 4210 – Role of the Nurse Leader in Population Health (Walden RN–BSN completion)
Assessment: Assessment 1 – Community Health Issue Analysis Paper (individual written assignment)
Level: Upper-division undergraduate (leadership and population health focus)
Length: 3–4 page paper (approximately 1,000–1,200 words), excluding title page and references
Timing: Early–mid course (commonly Weeks 3–4)

This assignment reflects current NURS 4210 guidance that asks students to identify a priority population health issue and propose nurse-led, system-focused responses grounded in evidence and leadership principles.

Assignment Overview

You will identify one significant population health problem in your community using existing assessment data and credible sources. The paper requires analysis of contributing determinants and discussion of how nurse leaders can collaborate across systems to improve population outcomes.

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Learning Outcomes Assessed

• Analyze a population health problem using community-level data.

• Synthesize evidence to inform population-focused nursing interventions.

• Describe nurse leadership strategies for improving population health and reducing disparities.

• Communicate analysis clearly using scholarly sources and academic style.

Task Instructions

1. Identify a Population Health Problem

• Use community assessment findings or local data to identify one measurable population health problem.

• Ensure the issue is clearly defined at the community or population level.

2. Describe the Community and Health Problem (approximately 1 page)

• Describe the community and relevant demographic characteristics.

• Present data on prevalence, trends, or outcomes related to the health problem.

3. Analyze Determinants and System Factors (approximately 1–1.5 pages)

• Discuss social and structural determinants contributing to the problem.

• Analyze healthcare system factors and identify populations experiencing disproportionate burden.

4. Nurse Leader Role and Population Health Strategies (approximately 1–1.5 pages)

• Describe nurse leader roles such as advocate, coalition builder, or change agent.

• Propose evidence-based, system-level strategies aligned with population health improvement and social change.

5. Conclusion

Summarize the population health problem and the potential impact of nurse-led, system-focused interventions.

Across both outbreak response and long-term population health improvement, effective nursing leadership depends on the ability to translate epidemiologic and community data into coordinated action. Nurse leaders who understand surveillance trends, social determinants, and system-level barriers are better positioned to advocate for equitable resource allocation, strengthen interprofessional collaboration, and sustain prevention efforts beyond the acute phase of a crisis. This systems-oriented perspective is increasingly emphasized in national nursing frameworks as essential to advancing health equity and population outcomes (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2021).

 References

• World Health Organization (2021) Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for the United States – Global Lessons. Geneva: WHO. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/340624

• Stanhope, M. and Lancaster, J. (2020) Foundations for Population Health in Community/Public Health Nursing. 5th edn. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/C2018-0-00765-8

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

• Healthy People 2030 (2020) Social determinants of health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available at: https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/social-determinants-health

• American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2021) The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. Washington, DC: AACN. Available at: https://www.aacnnursing.org/Academic-Nursing/Essentials

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022) Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health Practice. Atlanta, GA: CDC. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978