NUR 325: Health and Illness Concepts I – Assessment 1 (2025)

Assessment Brief: Health Promotion and Illness Prevention Case Study

This assignment evaluates your ability to apply foundational nursing concepts related to health, illness, and clinical judgment in the context of holistic care. It requires you to critically assess an individual or community case, identify determinants of health, and design evidence-based nursing interventions that promote wellness and manage illness effectively.

Purpose

To demonstrate understanding of how biological, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental factors influence health outcomes, and to integrate theoretical frameworks into the nursing process for promoting optimal health and preventing illness.

Assessment Task Overview

Using a case study approach, analyze a chosen individual or community experiencing a common health challenge (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression). Apply key nursing concepts of health and illness to assess risk factors, identify needs, and propose a comprehensive, evidence-based plan of care.

Instructions

1. Select a Case: Choose a realistic clinical scenario involving an adult or older adult experiencing a chronic or acute health condition. The case may be based on a clinical placement, simulation, or credible literature.
2. Assessment and Analysis:
   • Identify the client’s key health concerns, risk factors, and social determinants of health.
   • Apply relevant nursing theories or health promotion models (e.g., Pender’s Health Promotion Model, Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory).
   • Use current evidence to support your analysis.
3. Intervention Planning:
   • Propose three specific, measurable, and evidence-based nursing interventions.
   • Explain the rationale for each intervention, referencing peer-reviewed literature (2019–2025).
   • Discuss how cultural competence and patient-centered care inform your approach.
4. Evaluation:
   • Develop a brief evaluation plan indicating how intervention effectiveness will be measured.
   • Include short-term and long-term health outcomes.
5. Academic Writing and Formatting:
   • Word count: 1500–1800 words (excluding references).
   • Use APA 7th edition format for in-text citations and references.
   • Submit in Microsoft Word format via the institutional LMS by the deadline.

Assessment Criteria (Rubric Summary)

• Critical Analysis (30%) – Depth of understanding of health and illness concepts; clarity of reasoning and synthesis of evidence.
• Application of Nursing Theory (25%) – Integration of theoretical frameworks with practical nursing care.
• Evidence-Based Practice (25%) – Quality, recency, and relevance of supporting literature.
• Organization and Academic Writing (10%) – Logical flow, grammar, clarity, and adherence to APA format.
• Reflection and Evaluation (10%) – Insight into the effectiveness of interventions and implications for practice.

Submission Details

Submit via your university’s online learning platform by Week 6, Sunday 11:59 PM. Late submissions will incur penalties as outlined in the School of Nursing assessment policy.

This assignment brief models current nursing education standards for NUR 325: Health and Illness Concepts I (2025). It provides a structured guide for developing analytical, theory-informed nursing assessments based on contemporary clinical evidence and holistic care principles. Designed for nursing students preparing for professional practice in U.S. health systems, it aligns with current AACN Essentials and NCLEX-RN competencies.

 Learning Resources 

1. Whitney, S. (2020). Concepts of Health and Illness in Nursing Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences.
2. Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2022). Public Health Nursing: Population-Centered Health Care in the Community (11th ed.). Elsevier.
3. Falkner, A. (2021). Health Promotion: Health and Wellness Across the Continuum. Open Educational Resources, Grand Canyon University.
4. Jones, R., & Bartlett, A. (2023). “Integrating Social Determinants into Nursing Care: A Practice Framework.” Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 55(2), 215–227. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12785
5. Lee, C., & Gallagher, K. (2024). “Evaluating Health Promotion Interventions in Primary Care Settings.” American Journal of Nursing, 124(1), 44–53. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000902214.52367.3b