Community Health Nursing: Advocacy for Population Health - Case Study Example

Case study – Healthcare One of the problems which might be present in the community specified in the case study is dental health problems such as gum disease, tooth decay and oral cancer. The reason why I think these diseases are present in the community is because there is a dentist in the community. The fact that there is a dentist indicates that there is demand for dental healthcare caused by the presence of certain cases of dental health problems. Another problem affecting the residents of this community is stress related illnesses.

This is because the economic activity practiced by the people in this community (ranching) is a stressful and dangerous occupation. Research in USA shows that farm owners are among the leading occupations with significant incidences of diseases related to stress (National Safety Council, 2010). Stress refers to the inability to withstand strain, a situation that can be accelerated by strenuous activities such as ranching. Stress responses often releases hormones to the body of the affected person.

It increases blood pressure, pulse rate speed and breathing speed. This may cause even heart diseases. Therefore, heart diseases are also other possible health problems faced by the members of the community. These problems of stress-related diseases, heart problems and high blood pressure are even worse in old people because their bodies are not quick and strong enough to respond and contain stress. This is even a more reason to believe that stress-related diseases are common among the people of Sandville because most of them are old people.

There are various nursing interventions that I would employ if I were the health nurse assigned to this community. From the analysis of the health problems affecting the members of this community, it is clear that problems related to heart diseases such as cardiovascular diseases are common in the area. Therefore, one of the health care interventions is to provide nursing diagnosis for heart failure. This will include checking important signs of the diseases before and after the diagnosis using diuretic and vasodilator.

The next step is to note the cardiopulmonary response to activity, distrimia and sweating (Clark, 2008). The healthcare intervention will then include assessment of the precipitator and provision of assistance in self-care activities considering the indications of the diagnosis. Another health intervention is psychotherapy which will help the people cope with issues related to stress. When their farming activities seem to go out of hand and they become stressful, the people may suffer stress-related activities.

Therefore, stress management health interventions need to be initiated so that the people may learn how to deal with strenuous activities (Clark, 2008). The old people of the area will also get guidance on how to balance their work-family life so that they don’t cause stress. Furthermore, psychotherapy also helps people who have experienced accidents as either victims or witnesses. This case study indicates that accidents form part of the health problems faced by this community. Therefore, people who go through accidents or witness horrific accidents may be affected mentally and may go through trauma and stigma.

This needs a psychological guidance to help them cope with the situation and learn to move on with their lives without memories of the past haunting them. Health care facilities will also be located in some densely populated areas of the community and health services will be made available throughout the week so that the residents get medical attention every day (Clark, 2008). The healthcare services to be provided at the health centers will include treatments of the common diseases in the area such as anemia, arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, dental diseases and other diseases common in the area.

I will also organize for healthcare management programs where the community is trained on how manage health within their community.References listClark, M. J. D. (2008). Community health nursing: Advocacy for population health. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Prentice Hall. National Safety Council. (2010). Injury facts. Ithaca, NY: Author.