Conducting a Windshield Survey for NURS 4210

NURS 4210 Assessment 2: Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)

Assignment Brief: Assessing the Community as a Patient

Course Code: NURS 4210 – Community and Public Health Nursing

Assessment Title: Assessment 2 – Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) & Windshield Survey

Level: BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)

Length: 1,500 – 2,000 words (excluding title page, references, and appendices)

Format: APA 7th Edition

1. Overview & Context

Public health nursing shifts the focus from the individual patient to the collective population. Effective care in this setting relies on accurate data collection to identify the social determinants of health affecting a specific group. You will assume the role of a community health nurse assigned to a specific zip code or geopolitical area. Your primary objective is to conduct a systematic assessment to diagnose the community’s most pressing health needs and propose an evidence-based intervention.

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Success in this assignment requires you to combine subjective observations from a “Windshield Survey” with objective epidemiological data. You must analyze these findings to prioritize health risks and develop a realistic plan for health promotion.

2. Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Perform a windshield survey to identify environmental and social factors influencing community health.
• Analyze epidemiological data to determine priority health issues within a specific population.
• Formulate a community nursing diagnosis based on identified health disparities.
• Develop a primary, secondary, or tertiary prevention strategy addressing a specific community health need.

3. Task Instructions

Create a formal written report that documents your assessment and proposed intervention. Use the headings below to structure your paper.

Part 1: Community Profile & Windshield Survey (Approx. 500 words)

Select a specific zip code or neighborhood for your assessment. You must physically observe the area (or use a virtual simulation if enrolled in the online-only track) to gather subjective data. Describe the following elements:

• Housing and Zoning: Are there single-family homes, apartments, or industrial zones? What is the condition of the structures?
• Open Spaces: Are there parks, sidewalks, or safe recreational areas?
• Transportation: Is public transit accessible? Do residents rely on personal cars?
• Service Centers: Locate schools, clinics, grocery stores, and religious institutions.
• Signs of Decay: Note any trash, abandoned cars, or signs of substance use.

Part 2: Population Demographics & Health Data (Approx. 500 words)

Gather objective data from reliable sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, CDC, or local health department websites. Present statistical evidence regarding:

• Demographics: Age distribution, racial/ethnic makeup, and income levels.
• Vital Statistics: Morbidity and mortality rates, birth rates, and leading causes of death.
• Comparison: Compare your selected community’s data against state or national averages to highlight disparities.

Part 3: Data Synthesis & Community Diagnosis (Approx. 300 words)

Triangulate your windshield observations with the statistical data. Identify three distinct health problems. Select the highest priority issue and write a formal community nursing diagnosis using the standard format: “Risk of [problem] among [population] related to [etiology] as evidenced by [data/indicators].”

Part 4: Proposed Health Intervention (Approx. 500 words)

Design one specific intervention to address the priority diagnosis. Your plan must align with Healthy People 2030 objectives.

• Goal: State a measurable short-term and long-term goal (SMART goals).
• Intervention: Describe the program or activity (e.g., a vaccination clinic, nutrition workshop, or policy advocacy).
• Partnerships: Identify key community stakeholders (e.g., local churches, schools, or non-profits) needed to make the plan successful.
• Evaluation: Explain how you will determine if the intervention is effective.

Part 5: Conclusion (Approx. 200 words)

Summarize the key findings and reflect on the nurse’s role in advocating for health equity in this specific setting.

4. Grading Rubric

5. 

Observation of the 30314 zip code revealed a significant lack of accessible grocery stores, creating a food desert that directly correlates with the community’s high obesity rates. Vital statistics from the county health department confirm that 42% of residents in this area suffer from hypertension, a rate 15% higher than the state average. Mobilizing community resources involves partnering with local faith-based organizations to host weekly fresh produce markets, addressing both the access barrier and the nutritional deficit. Such interventions align with evidence suggesting that community-integrated food programs significantly improve dietary compliance among low-income populations (Gustafson et al., 2019).

• Help with community health needs assessment paper nursing.
• How to write a community nursing diagnosis and intervention plan
• Steps for completing a public health windshield survey

6. Recommended Resources 

1. Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2023) Community/public health nursing: Promoting the health of populations (8th ed.). Elsevier.(The standard core textbook for population health nursing).
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020) Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.https://health.gov/healthypeople
3. Kulbok, P. A., Thatcher, E., Park, E., & Meszaros, P. S. (2019) Evolving public health nursing roles: Focus on community participatory health promotion and prevention. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 17(2).https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol17No02Man01
4. Gustafson, A., Jilcott Pitts, S., McDonald, J., Ford, H., Connelly, P., & Gillespie, R. (2019) The association between food venue choice and dietary intake in rural versus urban neighborhoods. Family & Community Health, 42(2), 116–126.https://doi.org/10.1097/FCH.000000000000023