NURS 4005: Public and Population Health Nursing – Assessment Task 3: Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)

Assessment Overview

Course: NURS 4005 – Public and Population Health Nursing (BSN Senior Level)

Assessment Type: Community Profile and Intervention Report

Weighting: 45% of Final Grade

Length: 2,500 words (+/- 10%)

Submission Format: PDF Document via Canvas/Moodle

Due Date: Final Day of Week 10

Context

Public health nursing shifts the focus from the individual bed space to the aggregate population. Rather than treating acute illness, the goal is to address the “upstream” social determinants of health (SDOH) that lead to chronic conditions. For this final assessment, you will act as a community health nurse tasked with profiling a specific zip code or local government area. You must identify a health disparity and design a culturally competent, evidence-based intervention that addresses the root causes within that specific community.

Task Description

Complete a systematic analysis of a chosen geographic community. Your report must be divided into the following key sections:

1. Community Profile (Windshield Survey)

Conduct a virtual or physical windshield survey. Describe the community’s physical environment, housing, social services, and accessibility to healthy food and healthcare. Use demographic data from census bureaus or local health department records to support your observations.

2. Data Analysis & Health Disparity Identification

Analyze local epidemiological data. Compare your chosen community’s health outcomes (e.g., obesity rates, opioid overdoses, or infant mortality) against state or national benchmarks. Identify one priority health concern that disproportionately affects this population.

3. Intervention Strategy (The Logic Model)

Propose a population-level intervention. This should not be a clinical treatment, but rather a health promotion or disease prevention program. You must apply the Health Belief Model or Social-Ecological Model to justify your approach.

4. Stakeholder Engagement & Policy

Identify three key stakeholders (e.g., local schools, faith-based organizations, or NGOs) and explain how you would partner with them. Briefly discuss one local or national policy that either supports or hinders your proposed intervention.

Requirements & Formatting

• Word Count: 2,500 words. Tables and appendices (like your survey checklist) do not count toward this total.
• Evidence: Minimum of 12 peer-reviewed sources. You must also cite at least two government data sources (e.g., CDC, AIHW, or Public Health England).
• Referencing: APA 7th Edition style.
• Structure: Use clear headings as defined in the task description.

Grading Rubric / Marking Criteria

The windshield survey of the South Ward reveals a significant lack of accessible green spaces, which correlates strongly with the high rates of sedentary behavior noted in local health reports. Observations of limited grocery options alongside a high density of fast-food outlets suggest that this area functions as a food desert. Addressing these environmental barriers is essential because individual education alone cannot overcome a lack of physical resources. A proposed community gardening initiative aims to improve nutritional access while simultaneously fostering social cohesion among residents. According to Nies and McEwen (2023), health promotion programs are most effective when they address the physical environment and social support systems concurrently (https://elsevier.com/books/community-population-health-nursing/nies/978-0-323-55249-3). Partnering with the local school district allows the program to integrate nutritional literacy into the curriculum while providing the land for the garden plots. Success will be measured through longitudinal surveys of fruit and vegetable intake among participating families over a twelve-month period. This multi-level approach ensures that the intervention remains sustainable by involving community members in the maintenance and governance of their own food sources.

References (APA Format)

• Curley, A. L. C. (2020). Population-based nursing: Concepts and competencies for advanced practice (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing Company. https://www.springerpub.com/population-based-nursing-9780826136732.html
• Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2023). Community/Public health nursing: Promoting the health of populations (8th ed.). Elsevier. https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9780323825016
• Savage, C. L. (2024). Public health nursing: Population-centered health care in the community (4th ed.). F.A. Davis Company. https://www.fadavis.com/product/nursing-public-health-nursing-savage-4
• Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2022). Foundations for population health in community/public health nursing (6th ed.). Elsevier. https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9780323776882