Introduction
The development in healthcare has put a lot of emphasis on community health as a foundation of good health. Various groundbreaking changes have been taking place in the healthcare sector. This includes changes in policies and financing of the healthcare industry (Lundy & Janes, 2009). One of the policies of improving the provision of healthcare to the population of US has been the implementation of community healthcare programs. These programs make use of community nurses who assesses the health status of the community members. The assessment also aims at determining the prevalent gaps in needs and assets in discharging community health practices (Hunt, 2008). It helps in forward planning for community health practices. Community health nursing assessments act as strong bases on which nursing diagnoses and evaluation outcomes are made (Basavanthappa, 2008). This paper presents a diagnosis report of community health nursing for a given community in the United States. The report focuses on the Easton community found in the state of Pennsylvania.
Community description – demography of Easton PA
The Easton community is found in Northampton county within the State of Pennsylvania, US. It is a relatively ancient community though with a well maintained environment. Easton is a small community or city with fully functional services. Most of the services are offered to the population by the municipal. It has well established security and disaster preparedness or risk reduction service providers. This includes a fully functioning fire department and a police department that is highly influential. The city is clean, and the population is served with clean and safe water. There are about ten large hospitals in Easton. They are supported with other small health facilities that provide primary healthcare services (Panto, 2012).
The Easton community has an approximate population of 27,000 people, which is a slight projection from the 2010 US census report. It has a slow or tamed population growth rate which has grown for only two per cent during the 2000 decade. There is a relatively small gap in gender distribution of the population with males averaging 50.5 per cent of the population while females form 45.9 per cent of the total population of Easton (Tulchinsky & Varavikova, 2009). The average age of the population according to the 2010 census report is 43.3. This means that a majority of the population is made up of adults of between 30 and 50 years. When presented on a graph, a normally distributed curve is attained. There are few children and few adults in the community. Majority of people in the community is whites forming 58.6% of the total population. They are followed by Hispanic at 19.9%, the Blacks at 15.4%, intermixed races at 3.2% and Asians at 2.3%. The remaining percentage is composed of other racial groups. The population lives in close neighborhoods and work in similar places despite the racial differences. The housing policies also support the collective ownership of houses in Easton (Pennsylvania Department of Health, 2012).
The fertility, morbidity, and mortality records are well kept by the Pennsylvania department of health. The fertility rate in the community of Easton is low. It is approximated to be at less than one per cent per year. The mortality rate is also reduced with a majority of admissions and death being recorded on the population who are aged 85 years and above. Maternal admission and death rate is also unusually low with only extraordinarily complicated cases resulting in maternal-child deaths. Most of the mortality cases results from chronic diseases like cancer and heart diseases. This is a true reflector of the causes of deaths in the United States. The prevalence rate of common ailments like malaria, measles, diarrhea and other ailments is unusually low. This can be attributed to the elaborate community health measures that aid in disease prevention like high sanitation standards (Center for Disease Control, 2010).
With good health systems and low birth, death and morbidity rates, Easton has a well-functioning economy. The per capita household income of the population is approximated at $40, while that of the state is approximated at $50. This denotes that most of people in the community live an above average life. Majority of the population in the community is well educated. The unemployment rate in Easton stands at approximately 8 per cent. A majority of the population in the community can afford a medical cover for primary healthcare (Easton, Pennsylvania, 2012).
Data interpretation
The Easton community has a small population that lives in a quite extensive area. The population lives in close neighborhoods and is well supplied with essential services like water by the municipal. This is an indicator of a good basis for ensuring that a sound healthcare system is prevailing. With a population of approximately 28,000, it is easy to control or even diagnose health problems prevailing in the community. The community is composed of enlightened people who are presumably aware of how to conduct primary healthcare practices. Moreover, the economy of the community is above average. In this case, most of the households can gain access to both primary and secondary healthcare services.
Fertility and mortality rates are far too low, and this implies that the community healthcare system is above average. The main worry is the population that cannot afford medical cover. Such a population forms part of the need to develop unemployed, community nursing healthcare services. With low prevalent rates of common ailments, there is a favorable environment to establish and sustain community health nursing practices in Easton (Gallin, Ognibene & ScienceDirect, 2012).
The problems of community health nursing arise when the population that is in dire need of healthcare supersedes the capacity of the policy implementers (Lundy & Janes, 2009). For Easton, the distribution of the population is favorable for community health nursing. The most vulnerable population is small and is comprised of the elderly who are exposed to chronic diseases. With already high standards of cleanliness, community health nursing will be vital in enhancing the preparedness and disease awareness levels in the community. The level of exposure of the community to epidemics is low coupled by a low rate of morbidity. However, with changes in climate, a number of infections are recorded. Also, the rate is not usually high and is easily mitigated.
Community genogram
The community genogram shows how different structures interact in the society with the family being the basis (Ivey, Ivey & Zalaquett, 2010). The community is comprised of different institutions and their proximity matter a lot in the running of community health practices. This genogram is a representation of the Easton community and shows how institutions are linked up in the community to form a functional community. From this genogram, it is evident that the community has vital services. This is especially in the healthcare services that are provided both in the health centers and hospitals. The furthest health facility is located only one mile away from the homestead. For the health facilities presented in this genogram, there is a reasonable implication to community health of the community. The community awareness of health can easily be conducted. This has also other sub-implications.
The access to health facilities is quick and easy. This can help in cubing down the mortality rate arising from both chronic and other emergent ailments. The morbidity rate may be high, but due to the closeness to health institutions and healthy ties, these cases cannot easily translate into mortality. Most people in the community live adjacent to their relatives with close kinship ties being observed. However, this may encourage sexual relations between these members leading to hereditary diseases. Close ties encourage close relations with strong, supportive characters that enhance community health. The absence of many other social institutions in the community is a notable factor as is depicted in the genogram. It might imply how the community is economically inclined ignoring other facets of life that may pave the way for lifestyle diseases.
Easton PA Community Diagnosis
The scope of the diagnosis
The Easton community is one of the most advanced communities that are found in the U.S. This diagnosis has been developed basing on extensive assessment of the community. Population studies have been extremely resourceful and have formed the bulk of this diagnosis report.
The health status of Easton community
Easton community is one of the most known communities belonging to the state of Pennsylvania. The community has a small population of approximately 28,000 people. The community is well supplied with basic facilities like water and sanitation, and this sets a solid basis on which the community can improve its health status. Majority of the population are working and can sustain healthy primary and secondary medical covers. The population is extremely productive with many with low rates of fertility, morbidity and mortality. The presence of efficient and effective healthcare facilities supports the prevalence of a healthy population in the community. Diseases are mostly prevalent in the aging population that mostly suffers from chronic maladies.
Health determinants in the community
The community health is based on various aspects that include the maintenance of a sustainable population and the presence of equipped healthcare providing institutions. Other determinants are the presence of a sustainable economy and supportive socio-economic institution like schools and other social facilities. This enhances awareness and provides a platform for learning and acquainting with health enhancement practices. More physical training facilities are needed to help in enhancing physical exercise as a way of reducing fatality cases from diseases related to lifestyle.
Potential for the development of a healthy community
It can be said that the community has a good record of health. This is after studying the health status and practices in the community. The only place that needs improvement is the mobilization of resources to mitigate lifestyle diseases.
Conclusion
Achieving a healthy community requires a review of healthcare determinants. It also requires and improvement on where weaknesses are eminent. The Easton community has an enormous potential for improvement of healthcare nursing potential. With good hygiene and healthcare institutions, the only thing that lacks in the community is the focus on nursing measurers to help in mitigating lifestyle ailments. This is the area that has to be given much attention.
References
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