TITLE: NUTH-4115 Community Health Perspectives
CREDITS: 3 Credits (one credit = 1 class hour)
PLACEMENT: First Semester Senior Year (Level II)
PREREQUISITES: Successful completion of Junior year
NUTH-4112 corequisites
NUTH-4113 corequisites
NUTH-4116 corequisites
NUCL-4212 corequisites
RN Students: NUTH3111 Pre or corequisite
FACULTY RESPONSIBLE: Mary Ann Scharf, R.N., Ed.D., Associate Professor
Office: Room 241 Phone: 973 761-9293 e-mail: scharfma@shu.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Basic concepts of public health science and community health are employed to identify actual and potential health problems in individuals, groups and communities. The focus will be on community based health care, scope of practice of health care professionals, and the organization of health care delivery systems. A community will be analyzed with particular attention to the health care system and the role of the community health nurse.
COURSE NARRATIVE
The course is designed to further develop the student's ability to assess the health of individuals, families, and the community. The course applies previously learned knowledge from statistics and research to an epidemiological study of the community and then examines the health needs of individuals, families and the community as a whole.
Levels of prevention, self-care theory, the health-illness continuum and the health belief model are used as a framework for community health. Consideration is given to community dynamics, the health care delivery systems, health care services, and human resources in relationship to the social, political, and cultural environment. Finally, the course focuses on specific groups such as the chronically ill and disabled, the terminally ill, the working population, the migrant population, and the immigrant.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the completion of the course, the student will:
1. Apply the basic conceptual knowledge of the Health Belief Model, epidemiology, and other health-related concepts in the assessment of individuals, families and the community.
2. Apply selected public health and community health research findings and issues in course assignments.
3. Analyze the basic components of the health care delivery system which affect the individual and the family's ability to meet their own universal self-care needs.
4. Analyze various roles and functions which the community health nurse assumes when providing health care to individuals, families and groups in non-acute settings.
5. Assess and analyze various components of the community as they impact upon the health needs of the client and the family.
TEACHING METHODS
Teaching methods utilized include lectures, discussion, audiovisual material and student presentation of assignments.
COURSE EVALUATION
1. Community Assessment Paper 20%
2. Health Education Project 10%
3. Quizzes 10%
3. Midterm Examination 30%
4. Comprehensive Final Examination 30%
REQUIRED TEXTS
Smith, C., and Maurer, F. (1996). Community health nursing: Theory and practice. Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders.
Recommended Texts
US Dept. HHS, Public Health Service, (1995). Healthy People 2000: Midcourse review and 1995 revisions.
New Jersey Dept. of Health, (1996). Update: Healthy New Jersey 2000
World Health Organization, (1998). The World Health Report: Life in the 21syt Century:A vision for all.
Benenson, A. (1995). Control of communicable diseases in man. 16th Edition. American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C.
Course Expectations:
1. Attendance at all nursing courses is mandatory. The only acceptable reason for absence is illness. Faculty should be notified prior to the class is an absence is anticipated. See the Student Handbook for policy on absence.
2. Students are expected to complete the required reading prior to each lecture and actively participate in classroom discussions.
3. All written and oral assignments must be completed by the student on an individual basis. The students are instructed to review the student handbook regarding the university policy on plagiarism.
4. Test reviews will be announced in advance and will be given one time only. Students are instructed to utilize these reviews as opportunities to review course material and to improve individual theoretical knowledge. Review of examinations on an individual basis will not be offered due to time constraints.
5. The course professor must be notified in advance if a student has an emergency that interferes with his/her ability to sit for an examination on the scheduled date. Any student who fails to show up for an examination without obtaining prior permission will receive an automatic '0' grade for the examination. The course professor reserves the right to administer another form of the examination for students who do not take the exam on its scheduled date.
6. An automatic five point deduction will be given per day for papers that are handed in beyond the due date. Papers are to be given to the professor during the class time. Students are to be prepared for difficulties with computers, printers, discs and other acts of nature. No exceptions will be given to this policy.
Approved by EPC 10/87 Approved by Faculty 10/87
Approved by Faculty 1989, 93