The community health nurse is reviewing several epidemiologic research studies
with student nurses that are beginning a 6-month community health rotation.
Epidemiology offers community health nurses a specific methodology for assessing
the health of aggregates. The nurse has requested that the student participate in a
semester long epidemiologic research study
1. Why is it important that community health nurses review epidemiologic
research?
2. What are the seven steps that student nurses must consider when
participating with the community health nurse in the epidemiologic research
study?
3. The goals of epidemiologic investigation are to identify the causal
mechanisms of health and illness states and to develop measures for
preventing illness and promoting health. Epidemiologists employ an
investigative process that involves a sequence of three approaches that build
on one another. What are the three investigate approaches?
4. The community health nurse has been requested to figure out the prevalence
rate and the incidence rate of influenza for a 1-month period of time. There
were 1,000 students who reported flu-like symptoms during 1 month in a
population of 5,000 students at the local community college, and during the
same month, 500 individuals developed influenza. What is the prevalence
rate and incidence rate?
2.2
Many factors and events have influenced the current structure, function, and
financing of community health services. Understanding this background gives the
community health nurse a stronger base for planning for the health of the
population. A group of student nurses have been requested to present a 1 hour in
service to the local health department on the structure and economics of
community health services as part of the community health nursing course
requirements. The presentation has to include information about a variety of topics.
1. What are the key historical events and philosophical developments that have
led to today’s health services delivery systems?
2. What are the differences between the functions of public versus private
sector health care agencies?
3. What are the three core functions of public health as they apply to health
service delivery?
4. There are several trends and issues that have influenced community health
care financing and delivery that are important in understanding health care
economics and helping to improve community health. What are some of
these trends and issues?
5. In what important ways has the changing nature of health care financing
adversely affected community health nursing and its practice?
