C920 Community Assessment and Planning

Student Name

Western Governors University 

C920 Contemporary Curriculum Design and Development in Nursing Education

Prof. Name

Date

C920 Community Assessment and Planning

Course Overview

What is the focus of the Community Assessment and Planning course?

The Community Assessment and Planning course is structured to engage nursing students in the principles and practices of community and public health nursing through experiential and learner-centered strategies. The primary focus of the course is to help students understand the scope and responsibilities of community health nurses while emphasizing population-based care. Students explore health disparities, social determinants of health, and vulnerability among diverse populations, alongside an examination of communicable disease patterns through epidemiological analysis. Collectively, these components prepare future nurses to function effectively in community-based settings by promoting population health, disease prevention, and health equity.

How does this course ensure competency development?

Competency development is achieved through structured, interactive learning experiences that require active participation and collaboration. Students engage in group-based discussions, applied learning activities, and guided projects that promote critical thinking and problem-solving. A major requirement of the course is the development of a comprehensive concept map for a selected community, followed by a detailed community health assessment and strategic planning proposal to be completed within a two-week timeframe. The course is intentionally aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials VI for Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs, ensuring that students demonstrate competency in population-focused, patient-centered care across diverse community settings (Mailloux, 2008).

Course Objectives

How do students prioritize healthcare needs in a community, what interventions are developed, and how are major health issues identified?

The course objectives guide students in systematically identifying and addressing community health concerns. These objectives emphasize assessment-driven prioritization, evidence-based intervention development, and data analysis to identify prevalent health issues.

Student Learning Outcomes

How do students define the community of interest and identify essential assessment components?

Student learning outcomes focus on building foundational assessment skills necessary for effective community health practice. These outcomes ensure that students can clearly define their population of interest and apply appropriate data collection methods.

Content Overview

How is the nursing process applied at the community level?

The course introduces the application of the nursing process within a community context, beginning with assessment and population identification. Students are guided to define the boundaries of the community and determine the target population before collecting relevant data. This structured approach ensures that assessments are systematic, comprehensive, and aligned with community health needs. The use of the nursing process at the population level reinforces accountability and supports evidence-based decision-making in community health practice.

What is the purpose of creating a concept map?

Concept mapping serves as a visual and analytical tool that allows students to synthesize complex community health information. By placing the selected community at the center of the map, students identify and link social, economic, environmental, and health-related factors that influence population outcomes. This process enhances systems thinking and helps students recognize interrelationships among health determinants, ultimately supporting the development of focused and effective intervention strategies.

Learning Resources

What textbook supports this course content?

The primary textbook supporting this course is Community/Public Health Nursing: Promoting the Health of Populations by Nies and McEwen (2018). Chapter 7 is particularly relevant, as it addresses community assessment planning, implementation of population-based interventions, and evaluation of health outcomes. This resource provides students with a strong theoretical and practical foundation for understanding the role of nurses in improving community and population health.

Scenario-Based Learning Activity

How are students engaged in practical learning activities?

To promote experiential learning, students are organized into five groups, each consisting of approximately eight members. Each group is assigned a specific population focus, such as adults aged 65 years and older. Students collaboratively develop a concept map by placing their assigned community at the center of a poster board and researching surrounding health concerns, available resources, and risk factors. This activity simulates real-world community assessment processes and strengthens teamwork and communication skills.

What are the benefits of this activity?

This scenario-based activity enhances students’ ability to visualize and analyze the multifaceted health challenges experienced by different population groups. It fosters critical thinking, encourages reflection on social determinants of health, and supports the application of theory to practice. Through collaboration and discussion, students gain insight into designing appropriate interventions that address the prioritized needs of their assigned community.

References

Mailloux, L. (2008). The essentials of baccalaureate education for professional nursing practice (Essential VI). American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2018). Community health planning, implementation, and evaluation. In Community/public health nursing: Promoting the health of populations (7th ed., pp. 107–122). Elsevier.