Community as Client

1. Community as Client N403: Public Health Nursing This is the starting point for the �Community� content.

2. Community-Focused Nursing Community-focused nursing emphasizes applying the nursing process with the community as �the client.� How does this new �client� alter the steps of nursing process?

3. The community as client The community is considered the client only when the nursing focus is on the collective or common good instead of individual health. Community-oriented practice seeks healthful change for the whole community�s benefit. Change for the benefit of the community client often must occur at several levels, ranging from the individual to society as a whole. Nurses typically partner/collaborate with others to improve the health of the whole community.

4. Learning the Lingo Group � two or more people engaged in an interdependent, purposeful relationship in which repeated face-to-face communication occurs (your community assessment team) Aggregate � collection of individuals who share similar characteristics (nursing students, teen mothers) High risk aggregate � because of lifestyle or other shared characteristics, are at high risk for illness, disability, or premature death (migrant workers)

5. High risk aggregates Since, the characteristics that put these individuals at risk are similar; nursing interventions can be planned for the total aggregate, instead of planning for each separate individual (mass blood pressure or osteoporosis screenings, education on pesticides) Target population � identified aggregate in which change is desired as the result of an intervention

6. Defining �community� Definitions of �community� vary according to the situation and your purpose. Communities may be defined in terms of: Who (people factors) Where and when (time, place or space factors) Why and how (function)

7. Critical Attributes The three critical attributes or defining characteristics of a community are: People Place Function, social interaction, common interests, goals and characteristics

8. The �people� Population demographics � age, sex, race, socio-economics, rural/urban, dependents, number and density The number of people in a designated community often depends on the other two critical attributes. The most obvious attribute? can you have a community without people???

9. The �place� Traditionally, communities were described in terms of geographic area. The concept of population aggregates (i.e. the elderly) have resulted in one of two designations: Geopolitical � a spatial designation or geographic area (i.e. Fruita, Riverside, Palisade) Phenomenological � a relational designation or a feeling of belonging (i.e. MSC students, MADD); members share a group perspective that differentiates them from other groups.

10. Geopolitical communities How you define a community�s boundaries is up to you, depending on what the situation and purpose. You can use: Political boundaries � city limits, county line Local or folk name for an area � Riverside Size in square miles, acres, blocks or census tracts Transportation avenues � highways, railroads, sidewalks Natural boundaries - rivers, mountains Physical characteristics � land use patterns, housing (farming community north of Fruita)

11. Community of solution Sometimes phenomenological communities are created around similar issues, health problems, or resources in order to reach a mutually beneficial solution. Consider the communities in Western Colorado� who would need to address a hazardous materials spill in the Colorado River? who is reliant on St. Mary�s Airlife for response to serious traumatic injuries?

12. Communities of solution

13. The �third� critical attribute

14. Goals of communities In general, goals are focused on: Maximizing the well-being of members Promoting survival of the community Meeting the needs of community members Specific goals are determined by the type of community

15. Pause and think�

16. Now what? You�ve just completed part one of the Community content. Go on to Part 2: What is a healthy community?