Community health nursing focus on health promotion, disease prevention and maintenance of health.

The foundation of community-base nursing is evidence-based care.Information about the concerns,

conditions and strengths of the populations and the community are gathered through community
assessment which are then analyzed and identified. Community assets and their accessibility are also
identified. Diversity in cultural, ethnic, economic, educational, linguistic, medical, physical, and social are
recognized during the community assessment. I have the opportunity to practice as a community health
nurse at the Stein Senior Center. This is a very interesting clinical experience because I was able to work
with seniors not a critical or illness level. I learn to see and know what activity and program they are
interested in during their leisure time when they relatively healthy. As mentioned in the beginning of the
paragraph, community health nursing is able health promotion, disease prevention and maintenance of
health, my clinical group conducted a health fair event beneficial to the seniors at the Stein Senior
Center. Following are the objectives that I have met during the participation as a community health
nurse at the Stein Senior Center.

Objective 1: Demonstrates individual professionalism through personal behaviors and appearance.

Maintaining client confidentiality is part of demonstrations of individual professionalism. I’m obligated to

all information shared with me by the seniors confidential unless it causes harm to the persons.
Individual professionalism also involves dressing professional to the work setting. I dress in business
casual and wear sneaker to the clinical as per the request of the facility. This is not a hospital setting that
requires scrub or lab coat. I dress who I represent, a nurse. Punctuality is important part of individual
professionalism. It is also a respect to the facility as well as to the seniors. We as a class met with Robert
F. Doxsey, the Deputy Director of the Stein Senior Center, every morning and discussed the upcoming
events and changes at the center. The mission of the center is “to cultivate friendly relations among the
members of the Stein Senior Center and the general public; the provide services with an emphasis on
group growth; to share the strengths, and wisdom of senior citizens; and referral services, and to
safeguard the health and wellness of senior citizens”. I assumed responsibility for my own learning by
reading the materials, information, textbooks and nursing journals that help me prepare and practice
better as the community health nurse. I completed all assignments given by the professor which further
enhanced my learning. My professor was always available and provided me guidance.

Objective 2: Employ analytical reasoning and critical thinking skills when providing care to individuals
and families in the community setting.
Analytical reasoning and critical thinking skills are important when providing care to clients. Analytical
reasoning involves analyzing a situation, being able to look through the problem and think in a multi-
dimensional way of the situation. Critical thinking is the objective analysis and evaluation of a situation
with the intention to form a judgment or solution to the situation. There wasn’t much opportunity for
hands on experience at the senior center. There was neither medical record for the seniors attended the
center. Client information was collected through interview and information shared with by the seniors. I
have done blood pressure screening. I was pleased to know that most of the seniors check their blood
pressure at home regularly. They know what their normal blood pressure reading is and their
medications for treating their hypertension. There was no opportunity to administer medications or
treatments to the seniors: however, I assessed and reviewed the medications with the seniors. I
emphasized to the seniors the indications and importance to adhere to their medication regimen. I also
advised them not to stop taking any medication without notifying their care providers.

Objective 3: Effectively communicate with diverse groups and disciplines using a variety of strategies
regarding the health needs of individuals and families in the community setting.

Therapeutic communication involves using broad opening statements, reflecting, sharing observations,
acknowledging the seniors feelings, using silence, giving information, clarifying, verbalizing implied
thoughts and feelings, exploring, presenting reality and validating. When approaching and interacting
with the seniors at the center, I always greet them with a smile. I always introduce my name and
profession to them. I have effectively communicated with the seniors by sharing, clarifying and validating
their knowledge of health. Seniors may not process the information given to them at the same speed
that they used to be; therefore, I talk to the seniors at the speed that they can follow. Paying attention to
senior’s nonverbal cues is also important. I have met couple of the Asian seniors at the center. I
approached to them and learned that they speak Chinese and limited English. I started interviewing
them using their primary language. The seniors were very pleased that they have someone speak their
language at the center. They were more opened up and willing to share their thoughts and concerns.

Objective 4: Establish environment conducive to learning and use a plan for learners based on evidence-
based practice.

We have established environment conducive to learning for the seniors. During the health fair event,
there were many health care providers participated and engaged in screening the seniors. The event
provided the opportunity for the seniors to consult these health care providers with the questions that
they have. Brochures containing health information were distributed to the seniors. The seniors were
advised and referred to follow up with the health care providers as needed. During blood pressure
screening, one to one learning opportunity was provided. Seniors are encouraged to ask questions that
they may have. Medications and indications of the medications are reviewed with the seniors.

Objective 5: Utilize informational technology when managing individual and families in the community.

The center has computer lab for seniors to use which they can have access to internet and vital
information. We also used the computers to do community research to prepare for the health fair event
that we coordinated at the center. We used the computer to communicate with vendors, to create flyers,
and to print out invitation letters to the vendor. Since this is a senior center, there is no electronical
medical records of the members. Yet, all information shared with me by the seniors was kept
confidential. I did not disclose information about the seniors to anyone else in or outside of the center. I
would only disclose information if it would cause a health concern on the seniors.

Objective 6: Demonstrate a commitment to professional development.

To demonstrate the commitment to professional development, I completed all the required written
assignments which enhanced my learning experience. I reflected upon my clinical experience with my
classmates on my weekly blog. When caring for the seniors at the center, I always keep aware of my own
cultural beliefs and values that vary from the seniors. Professional development also include using
appropriate current literature in planning care. To assume responsibility for lifelong learning as a health
profession, I must stay informed of evidence based practice to support my clinical practice through
reading and researching.

Objective 7: Incorporate professional nursing standards and accountability into practice.

As a nurse, it is crucial to know and remember my nursing scope of practice and nursing code of ethics. It
is important to check with American Nurse Association Standards to learn and update the professional
nursing standards in clinical practice. The standards of professional nursing practice include assessing,
diagnosing, planning, implementing and evaluating in a patient care. Ethical practice is pertinent in
provide nursing care. According to the code of ethic in nusring, nurses have the duty to advocate for
equitable care for their clients, Nurses have the obligation to keep client confidentiality within legal and
regulatory parameters. Nurses also have to deliver care in a manner that preserves and protects client’s
autonomy, dignity, rights, values and beliefs. Lastly , nurses should know and aware of the assigned
agency’s mission. As I mentioned earlier in this self reflection, the mission of the Stein Senior Center is to
“cultivate friendly relations among the members of the Stein Senior Center and the general public; the
provide services with an emphasis on group growth; to share the strengths, and wisdom of senior
citizens; and referral services, and to safeguard the health and wellness of senior citizens.”

Objective 8: Collaborate with clients, significant support persons and members of the health care team.

My clinical group set up, planned, coordinated and carried out a health fair event for the senior citizens
at the Stein Senior Center. The staffs and the deputy director at the center were very helpful by giving us
the contact list of the potential vendors. Works were disseminated among the group. We have created
our own flyer of the event to the vendors and the members in the community. We were responsible for
calling and emailing the invitation letter to all the vendors. We were also responsible for confirming the
date with them. We also went out to the community and asked for donations to the seniors at the
center. The community members were very nice and supportive to the event. On the day of the health
fair, we set up the tables, table cloths, balloons and signs. We directed the seniors to each vendor and
made sure that they visited all the vendors for needed health information. There were hearing
screening, blood pressure screening, dental screening and many other more screenings at the health fair
that the seniors could take advantage of.

Objective 9: Recognized the impact of economic, political, social and demographic forces that affect the
delivery of health care services.

The impact of economic, political, social and demographic forces that affect the delivery of health care
services were recognized in the research of the community. Through research, my clinical group has
identified the major health problems that were needed in the community include but no limited to
cancer, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s Disease. I have
recognized that not all seniors are insured or are under insured. There are many services are denied by
insurances that used to cover. This is the gap in care system where seniors failed to receive needed care
due to noncoverage. Many insurance companies such as Health First, BlueCross BlueShield and VNS were
present at the health fair event to answer questions and provide details of the insurance coverage.
Health educational information and brochures were provided and distributed to the senior citizens as
well. We advocated for our members who need additional resources and helps they need in order to
assist them in the delivery of health care services.

I have a wonderful opportunity to practice as a community health nurse at the Stein Senior Center. The
service learning project has broaden my knowledge and clinical experience at a different level of care
where clients are stable, active and relatively healthy. Community health nursing is evidence based
practice care that focus on health promotion, disease prevention and maintain a healthy living.
Community health nursing involve assessment of a community, diagnosis of needs in the community,
planning how to increase health awareness in the community, implementing of the plan and evaluating
the outcome of the plan. Professional nursing standards apply in all settings with the emphasis on
keeping client confidentiality, advocating equitable healthcare to clients, and deliver care to clients in
manner to preserve and protect client’s autonomy, dignity, rights, cultural values and beliefs.