NUR 330 Population and Community Health

NUR 330 Population and Community Health: Documentation of Practicum Experiences

Name: Analys Janeka

Practicum Agency: Appoquinimink School District

Department or Division Location: Olive B. Loss Elementary School

Preceptor: Danielle Sigvardson

Date(s) of Practicum Hours: 9/14 & 9/18

Hours of the experience: 11 hours

Objectives: Examine the role of the nurse in population and community health. (CCC 1, 2,

3, 4, 5; PGC 1, 2, 3, 7)

Description: I observed collaborative efforts with the school dietitian to promote healthy eating

habits among students. The nurse actively participated in meetings and discussions with the

dietitian to create a well-balanced and nutritious school menu. Together, they developed

initiatives such as introducing more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into school meals. The

nurse played a role in educating students about the importance of a balanced diet, collaborating

with the dietitian to organize interactive sessions and events that made learning about healthy

food enjoyable. This collaboration emphasized the integration of healthcare and nutrition

expertise to ensure the overall well-being of the students.

Date(s) of Practicum Hours: 10/31

Hours of the experience: 6 hours

Objectives: Collaborate with community members to promote the health for a specific

population and/or community. (CCC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; PGC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Description: While shadowing the elementary school nurse, I collaborated with her to make sure

kids were washing their hands properly. We worked together on a cool project, making fun

materials to teach kids about hand hygiene. I took charge of showing students in different classes

how to wash their hands right, making it a hands-on experience. To keep it going, I talked to

teachers about fitting these demos into their daily routines. This teamwork helped improve the

kids' habits and proved how working together with the school community can boost health

practices.

Date(s) of Practicum Hours: 9/18 & 10/5

Hours of the experience: 12 hours

Objectives: Evaluate the use of epidemiologic principles in population and community.

(CCC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; PGC 1, 3, 7)

Description: During my time with the elementary school nurse, I saw how she used smart ways

to keep everyone healthy. She checked on kids' health and noticed patterns, like when many

students were sick. For example, during flu season, she kept an eye on who was missing school

and why. Working with teachers and parents, she used this info to plan how to keep everyone

well, like sharing health tips and making sure sick kids stayed home. This showed me how the

nurse uses clever strategies to watch out for and take care of everyone in the school.
Date(s) of Practicum Hours: 10/5 & 10/17

Hours of the experience: 12 hours

Objectives: Analyze local and national population and community health resources.

(CCC 1, 2, 3, 5; PGC 1, 3, 4, 7)

Description: I observed a situation where she had to offer local resources for a student who

needed tuberculosis testing. The student had been in India over the summer and was showing

symptoms upon returning. The nurse promptly connected with local pediatric clinics, identifying

facilities equipped to conduct tuberculosis tests. She collaborated with the student's family,

providing them with a list of nearby clinics and assisting in scheduling appointments for the

necessary testing. This demonstrated the nurse's proactive approach in leveraging local health

resources to address a specific health concern, ensuring the student received timely and

appropriate care.

Date(s) of Practicum Hours: 9/27

Hours of the experience: 6 hours

Objectives: Integrate preventative care and disease management into health promotion

and disease prevention. (CCC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; PGC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Description: I helped with eye and vision screenings where we checked students for eyesight

issues using simple tests like reading charts. It was important because we could catch potential

problems early, making sure kids who needed glasses or eye care got the help they needed. This

helped prevent academic and developmental challenges related to untreated vision issues,
showing how the nurse's routine screenings played a vital role in looking out for the students'

well-being.