NURS 462/463/472/473 Community Health

Purpose of Assignment: The purpose of the community health projects (Healthy People Presentation, Clinical Application Papers 1&2, and CH poster presentation) are to guide the student through the process a complete community health initiative. First, the student identifies and applies national level key health indicators and applying them to a community aggregate. Next, the student builds partnerships with stakeholders and community members and applies the nursing process to promote health and well-being. The final part of the project allows students to experience scholarly dissemination of their original projects.

Student Approach to Assignment: We were assigned to a local primary care clinic and instructed to select a community health project that dealt with men's health issues. This clinic partnered with the local LGBT LifeCenter, and we quickly realized that many of the LGBTQ population were men at high risk for HIV exposure. We conducted research and discovered that our local area is one of the highest transmission rates of new HIV infections. We realized that HIV education was severely lacking in those who were most at risk. Our project focused on conducting a seminar-based education intervention and assessing pre and post-intervention knowledge on various aspects of HIV exposure and prevention.

Reason for Inclusion of the Assignment in the Portfolio: This project reflects my comprehensive approach to addressing community health issues through evidence-based interventions, cultural competence, and ethical considerations. It showcases my ability to assess community health needs, develop and implement targeted health education strategies, and collaborate effectively with stakeholders. The project highlights my leadership in initiating and managing health projects, my commitment to promoting health sustainability, and my skill in program planning and evaluation. It also demonstrates my understanding of the global context of community health challenges, positioning me as a well-rounded public health professional capable of contributing to diverse health improvement initiatives.

Outcome 2:

Demonstrate social responsibility as a global citizen who fosters the attainment of health equity for all.

In the health problem section, we discuss how black men who have sex with men are significantly more likely to contract HIV than other populations. My group and I then collaborated with relevant stakeholders to identify causes for this disparity. We determined that lack of education regarding HIV transmission, prevention, and treatment were the most likely culprits. In the intervention section, we detailed the educational intervention that we conducted, which was aimed at increasing knowledge of HIV prevention and pre-exposure prophylaxis information for those at high risk of HIV exposure.

Outcome 4:

Recognize the impact of health disparities and social determinants of health on care outcomes.

Under the health problem and health planning needs section, we addressed that lack of education was a primary driving factor behind HIV increases in black men who have sex with men. Our nursing diagnosis for our population was deficient knowledge. The research cited in the literature review section supports this diagnosis and shows that HIV knowledge and PrEP usage increased after educational interventions. Additionally, the literature indicates that young men who have sex with men are one of the main drivers behind HIV transmission, yet they also are the least educated. We also determined that our community area was likelier to have lower income and lower education than surrounding areas, thus increasing their likelihood of HIV exposure and transmission.

Outcome 20:

Initiates community partnerships to establish health promotion goals and implements strategies to meet those goals.

We contacted the LGBT LifeCenter and requested they partner with us for this project. LGBT LifeCenter conducts free sexual health screening for the LGBTQ community, including free HIV testing. They also provide counseling services and references to members of the LGBT community on finding healthcare providers that are LGBTQ-friendly and prescribers of pre-exposure prophylaxis. We worked with the LifeCenter to identify community needs. They had significant input into creating our goal of increasing knowledge of HIV prevention and participated in creating the information that went into our educational intervention.

Outcome 21:

Assess the priorities of the community and/or the affected clinical population.

In the health problem section of our paper, we detail how we worked with relevant stakeholders to identify community needs. We partnered with the LGBT LifeCenter to discuss with community members to assess what they believe were their community needs. Community members broadly stated that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were a high priority for them. During our discussions, the top STI identified as a concern was HIV transmission. Community members further stated that they had poor knowledge of how to reduce HIV transmission and expressed a lack of available information regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Outcome 22:

Demonstrate effective collaboration and mutual accountability with relevant stakeholders.

As noted in the health problem section of the paper, we worked with various stakeholders to determine a community health disparity and identify root causes and solutions. We worked with the TMM Medical Group clinic and LGBT LifeCenter to create an educational intervention that fulfilled the needs of our at-risk community. Additionally, we had regular meetings with our stakeholders to ensure that they could provide input and feedback to ensure our intervention strategy aligned with community goals.

Outcome 23:        

Prioritize safe, effective, and efficient patient-focused and/or community action plans in the context of available resources.

The LGBT LifeCenter is primarily funded by grants, and its available resources are limited. While creating our intervention, we had to be cognizant that we would not receive funding and would need to leverage the free resources available. Our other partner, TMM Medical Group clinic, provided us with pamphlets on pre-exposure prophylaxis through their partnership with various drug representatives. We knew there would be barriers for some community members to attend our seminar, so we chose a neutral location, Old Dominion University's main campus, where we could reserve a lecture room free of charge. This location provided the additional advantage of having easy access through public transportation.

Outcome 25:

Applies research-based knowledge from nursing as the basis for culturally sensitive practice.

My group and I utilized research-based knowledge to tailor our interventions specifically for black men who have sex with men, a group significantly overrepresented in HIV cases in the Hampton Roads area. Our approach was grounded in current studies and data, using various articles that highlighted both the prevalence and the sociocultural dynamics of HIV among this demographic. Our interventions were designed not only to increase general awareness and knowledge about HIV and prep use but also to address the particular cultural and social nuances that affect this group. Main and grading this research, we ensured that our education materials and seminar content were culturally sensitive and resonated with the community's specific needs.

Outcome 37:

Considers the impact of research outcomes and the effects of health and social policies, on persons from diverse backgrounds.

The community health paper analyzes the impact of research outcomes and effects of health and social policies on diverse populations, specifically focusing on HIV's disproportionate effects among black males and men who have sex with men in the Hampton Roads area. In this paper, I detail how societal, educational, and health system disparities contribute to higher infection rates in these groups. It emphasizes collaborative efforts with local health organizations to identify causes such as lack of education about HIV transmission and prevention. By implementing targeted educational seminars and considering the use of mobile health clinics and telemedicine, the paper showcases how proactive health policies can overcome barriers to access and engagement.