1. Select a community that will be meaningful to you.

2. Work in groups of 2 or 3. Each group shall select a different community. If more than one group selects the same community, they will be asked to change.

        3. Gather data about a New Jersey community (refer to format listed below).

4. Interview a community health nurse (public health nurse, town nurse) in your community (refer to questions listed below). An in-person interview is recommended, but a telephone interview is acceptable.

        5. The paper must be typed and easy to read and follow.

        6. Include sources of information as references and/or attachments.

        7. Be prepared to share your findings in class.

Section 1. Demographic data

Use the latest NJ Municipal Data Book (on reserve in Walsh library).

a. Population & density (pop./square miles)

[for each of the following, give both # and %]

b. sex

c. race / ethnicity

d. age

e. socioeconomic status: average income, poverty

f. housing: average value, monthly rent

g. crime rate

Section 2. -Health Statistics

Use New Jersey Health Statistics. 1995 and the NJ Dept. of Health Birth and Death Data.

a. Birth rates: teenage & unwed pregnancies

b. Infant mortality rate

c. Crude death rate

d. Disease specific death rate for

1. heart disease

2. malignant neoplasms (cancer)

3. AIDS

e. Morbidity rates: incidence & prevalence

1. TB (county & large cities)

2. STD's: syphilis, gonorrhea, & chlamydia

3. AIDS

Section 3. Priority Health Problems

Compare your community data with the county and state data as well as the goals of Healthy People 2010 and/or Healthy New Jersey 2000. Determine the priority problems based on community data that exceed the county or state rates. Consider how these health problems are amenable to public health nursing action.

Section 4. Community Resources

Use the yellow and blue (government) pages of your phone call and make calls to local and county facilities asking them to send you information about available services. The county Office on Aging, Social Services Division is a good source of community resources. Write a brief narrative about each facility, don't just list services.

A. Major health facilities and services:

1. hospitals

2. clinics, urgent care centers

3. home care and hospice services

4. local or county health department services

B. Facilities and services for vulnerable populations

1. school health programs including teen pregnancy programs

2. elder care (including housing, assisted living, nursing homes)

3. homeless shelters

4. substance abuse programs

C. Facilities and services not listed above that are pertinent to the community's priority health problems.

Section 5. Interview with the public health nurse.

Describe the nurse and her/his role - name, title, supervisor, education, experience, length of time in this position. Include her/his work telephone number. Try to get a copy of PHN job description or have her/him briefly describe major responsibilities and who The reports to. Ask about PHN's major activities of the past year and future plans. Try to get a copy of the annual report. Discuss your findings with the PHN - (Sections 1 through 4 above). Does the PI concur with your findings? Are any interventions are in place or planned to address the priority health problems you assessed? Is there a different, more important health problem that needs to be addressed?

Section 6. Literature Review and Proposed Solution(s)

Perform a literature review related to the priority problem(s) you assessed / discussed with the PHN. Look for current articles that propose solutions within the realm of public health nursing. Look for articles from nursing literature, public health literature, and/or research studies. Also consider approaches discussed in your textbook and in class. Summarize your findings and proposed solution(s).

Grading

Section 1. Demographic Data 15 points

Section 2. Health Statistics 20 points

Section3. Priority Problem(s) S points

Section 4. Community Resources 15 points

Section 5. PHN Interview 20 points

Section 6. Lit Review (5 sources) 25 points

Format (up to 10 points may be deducted). Use APA format, properly reference materials, grammar, spelling, punctuation. Assignment is easy to read.