Jonesborough, Tennessee a Community Project - Research Paper Example

Jonesborough, Tennessee a Community Project Jonesborough the oldest town in the state of Tennessee is located in Washington County. The town neighbours three major cities, Johnston city, Tennessee, Kingsport Tennessee and Bristol Tennessee. Basing on the 2010 census, there are 5298 people, 2176 households and 1522 families living in Jonesborough, TN. The population density of Jonesborough is 1035 per square mile. The median age of the residents of Jonesborough is 38.14. The male population in Jonesborough is 2842 while the female population is 2456. The population growth of Jonesborough community since the 2010 census is 21.19%. The percentage of the population in Jonesborough with a bachelor’s degree and higher is 25.70%. Over 30% of the population are high school graduates. Over 90% of children 3 years and above attend school. Out of the 2179 households in Jonesborough there are 1522 household families, 654 households are non-family, 603 are households have children and 1573 households have no children. The average household size in Jonesborough is 2.34. The annual residence turnover in Jonesborough is 16.96% (usa.com, 2010) The median household income for Jonesborough is $44,436. The per capita income is $25,765. In 2012, the unemployment rate in Jonesborough was at 6.3%, which is lower than the national average. The percentage of residents earning an income below the poverty level in Jonesborough is 25.6% a higher percentage compared to the states figure, which is 22.3%. The percentage of children living below the poverty level in Jonesborough is 33.1%. The University of Tennessee reports that although the number of uninsured adults dropped to 11.2% in 2012, the number of uninsured children in Jonesborough community rose to 2.7% from 2.4%. In Washington County, the average health care cost is $10322. Looking at the health behaviours in Washington County approximately 28% of the adult population smoke, 29% of the adult population are obese, 29% are physically inactive (Countyhealthrankings.org, 2012). In Washington County the number of premature deaths per 100, 000 of the population is 9028. According to usa.com, the media travel time to work in Jonesborough is 18.84 minutes. Data show less than 1% of the population utilise public transportation. 96% of Jonesborough population drive. Two percent of the population walk or cycle and 1% of the population walk home. The air pollution index of Jonesborough is 105 while its carbon monoxide index is 76. The lead index is 184. Environmentalist rate the good air quality in Jonesborough at 82%. The air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups is 3.76%. Air quality, which is unhealthy, is 0.26%. The water quality in Jonesborough is at 95%. In Jonesborough, there are 709.1 physicians per 100,000 populations (usa.com, 2010). The population in Jonesborough face many challenges related to their health care needs. When we consider the demographics data above we notice that the population growth of this society is at 21.19%, which is higher than the state average of 11.54% and national average of 9.71%. This growth suggests an increase in health care needs in the community. An increase in health care needs marks a significant rise in health care cost in the community of Jonesborough. The lifestyle profile of this community suggests that a high number of the population adapt to a sedentary lifestyle. From the data, we notice that over 90% of the population use personal cars to drive to work. Less that 1% of the population use public transportation, this implies that over 90% of the population do not participate in walking. Walking is a physical activity that helps in reducing chances of being obese. On the other hand, data shows that in the county of Washington 53% of the restaurants are fast food establishments. The communities in Washington County face a high probability of adopting an unhealthy diet. An unhealthy diet exposes the population to lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity. According to county health rankings over 30% of the population in Washington, county are physically inactive, 28% suffer from adult obesity. It is also evident that over 30% of the adult population in Washington county smoke. In Jonesborough community, it is evident that not many people respect the legislation policy that forbids people from smoking in public places. The rise in health care cost in the states has affected health care provision in various states. In Washington, county 17% of the population is uninsured and there are 377 primary care physicians for 100, 000 people in the population. In Jonesborough, we have a 25.6% of the population living below the poverty level and an unemployment rate of 6.3%. This means that this underdeveloped population have a difficulty affording a health insurance coverage and it is even difficult to access primary health care. There is also a rise in the cases of teenage birth rates and a rise in the HIV infection rates in Washington County. This rise affects the population increasing the cases of premature deaths. This is because of suicides cases rising from denial or societal stigmatization, unplanned abortions that result to unwanted deaths. Simmons (2010) believes that the nursing community have a strong influence in the healthcare. The nurses in Jonesborough can ease the burden in health care field by utilising their skills in increasing health care access and improving preventive care. Howell explains that nurses play the role of health coordinators, disease managers, and health coaches. Nurses can provide care in hospitals as well as in patients’ homes. This plan can help in reducing health care costs (Howell, 2012). Nurses play an important role in reducing the gaps in health care by providing the community with information that will assist in reducing rates of infection. Employing community nurses who can work in local settings: schools health centres, patient homes is a way of reducing the gap (Howell, 2012). This arrangement serves to help the people in Jonesborough community who cannot access health care due their lack of insurance or their low income. Community nurses working in local settings help in lowering the health care cost. Jonesborough community will benefit by having a large number of its population having access to quality care. Howell points out that community nurses play a major role in promoting preventive health care. When we consider the sedentary lifestyle that is common in the Jonesborough, community it is evident that the community requires enlightenment on the dangers of their lifestyle. Having community nurses in Jonesborough to offer education on the importance of a healthy lifestyle will help in discouraging the sedentary way of life. Nurses in Jonesborough need to support programs that focus in promoting health such programs include the smoke cessation programs that targets to reduce the number of people in the population who smoke. This is possible through the implementation of policies that discourage smoking (Howell, 2012). Simmons explains that nurses represent a big source of health information (Simmons, 2010). Nurses in Jonesborough can run a diet and nutrition-counselling program. This will help the population learn on the importance of maintaining a healthy diet. The program will help the community reduce cases of lifestyle disease. An exercise and weight loss program in Jonesborough community will help in reducing the cases of obesity, diabetes. Howell explains how nurses work with the undeserved population in the community. Community of Jonesborough has over 23% of the population living below the poverty level. Nurses can work with this population to ensure they receive quality health care. This move will enable the community reduce the rates of premature deaths in Jonesborough community. The Jonesborough community faces issues with cases of high teenage birth rates and high HIV prevalence rates. Community nurses’ in Jonesborough can form support groups to educate teenage girls on sex education. In dealing with the case of high HIV prevalence rates, nurses need to provide information and advice to the community of Jonesborough concerning HIV prevention measures. References Countyhealthrankings.org. (2012), Washington, TN. Retrieved March 07, 2013, from, http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/tennessee/2012/washington/county/2/overall Etsu.edu. (2012). Leading health indicator. Retrieved March 07, 2013, from, http://www.etsu.edu/tniph/indicator.aspx Howell, W. L. J. (2012). The changing roles of nurses. Retrieved March 07, 2013, from, http://www.hhnmag.com/hhnmag/jsp/articledisplay.jsp?dcrpath=HHNMAG/Article/data/03MAR2012/0312HHN_FEA_movingforward&domain=HHNMAG Simmons, J. (2010). Can nurses drive health reforms? Health leaders Media, 10-15 University of Mary. (2012). Five ways nurses influence public health in America. Nursing Spirit Journal, 22, 23-33. usa.com. (2010). Jonesborough, TN. Retrieved March 07, 2013, from, usa.com: http://www.usa.com/jonesborough-tn-population-and-races.htm . Read More