NRSG371:Building Healthy Communities Assessment

NRSG371 Assessment 2: Written Assessment

In this second assessment, you are required to demonstrate your understanding of health as a societal issue and to explain the evolving role of the nurse in addressing community health issues. Health care is changing rapidly at both local and global levels, with populations facing challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, poverty, inequality, political unrest, and war. Nurses must be able to anticipate how their professional role will continue to advance in response to these pressures.

The purpose of this task is for you to explain how nurses can actively participate in community engagement through partnerships with stakeholders in order to address the diverse health and well-being needs of different populations. You will choose either an Australian or global health issue and critically examine the role of the nurse in this context.

You have the choice of one of the following topics:

1. Gambling in Australia: East Asian communities in Western Sydney – Gambling represents a major public policy issue in Australia and significantly impacts the health and wellbeing of individuals and families. Australians lose around $25 billion each year on legal gambling, which is the highest per capita loss globally. The social costs of gambling include financial hardship, psychological distress, relationship breakdown, reduced work productivity, and health impacts, with an estimated cost of $7 billion annually in Victoria alone. Gambling-related harms occur on a spectrum, from lower-level harms such as tiredness, distraction, relationship conflict, and reduced savings, to crisis and legacy harms that persist even after gambling stops.

2. Homelessness in the USA: Hispanic communities in New York – In 2024, homelessness in the United States reached the highest level since records began, with 771,480 people experiencing homelessness on a single night. This represented an 18% increase from 2023. Of these, 36% were unsheltered, while the remainder resided in emergency shelters or transitional housing. Homelessness disproportionately affects minority groups, including Hispanic and Black communities, as well as Indigenous populations. Children and families are also significantly impacted, with 33% of homeless people living in families and 19% under the age of 18.

Assessment Structure

Your written assessment should be organised as follows:

• Introduction (150 words)
  Provide a concise overview of the chosen health issue and the selected community. Introduce the purpose of the essay, highlighting the societal issue and the role of the nurse in addressing it.

• Part A (200 words)
  Identify and describe the selected community. Provide relevant background information about demographics, cultural characteristics, and social context.

• Part B (500 words)
  Select one social determinant of health that is particularly relevant to the chosen community and health issue. Explain how this determinant influences health outcomes, providing examples from research or reports.

• Part C (1000 words)
  Discuss the role of the nurse in addressing the diverse health and wellbeing needs of the selected community. Include examples of nursing strategies, interventions, and approaches. Incorporate one element from the ICN Code of Ethics, specifically section 4.4, which states that “Nurses contribute to population health and work towards the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” Draw on the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion to explain how nurses can engage communities through partnerships with stakeholders such as local government, NGOs, and healthcare providers. Describe how collaborative efforts between nurses and communities can enhance healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes.

• Conclusion (150 words)
  Summarise the key points from your discussion. Reinforce the importance of the nurse’s role in addressing the selected issue through community engagement and partnerships.

Summary of Assessment Requirements

The NRSG371 – Assessment 2: Written Assessment requires students to critically explore health as a societal issue and demonstrate how the role of nurses is evolving in response to community health challenges. Students must select either an Australian or global health issue and examine the role of nurses in addressing it through community engagement and stakeholder partnerships.

Key requirements include:

• Introduction (150 words): Overview of the chosen health issue and community.

• Part A (200 words): Background on the selected community, demographics, and social context.

• Part B (500 words): Exploration of a key social determinant of health relevant to the community and its impact on outcomes.

• Part C (1000 words): In-depth discussion of the nurse’s role in addressing health needs, incorporating strategies, interventions, and ethical frameworks such as the ICN Code of Ethics (section 4.4) and the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion.

• Conclusion (150 words): Summarise findings and reinforce the importance of nursing leadership in community health.

The final submission must demonstrate critical thinking, research application, and alignment with sustainable health promotion practices.

How the Academic Mentor Guided the Student

The academic mentor adopted a step-by-step approach to help the student structure the assessment and engage critically with the content.

Step 1: Clarifying the Topic and Scope

The mentor first guided the student in selecting a community and health issue. For example, if the student chose homelessness among Hispanic communities in New York, the mentor emphasized the need to explore both the societal scale of the issue and the specific community context. This ensured the essay stayed focused and evidence-based.

Step 2: Structuring the Introduction

The mentor advised beginning with a clear overview of the health issue, its prevalence, and its societal implications. The introduction also needed to outline the purpose of the essay and highlight the evolving role of nurses in responding to such challenges.

Step 3: Developing Part A – Community Background

The mentor encouraged the student to provide demographic and cultural details of the selected community, supported by statistical evidence. For example, in the case of Hispanic homelessness, the mentor recommended including rates of homelessness, cultural barriers to healthcare access, and social marginalisation factors.

Step 4: Analysing Part B – Social Determinant of Health

The mentor guided the student to select one critical social determinant (such as housing, income inequality, or education) and examine how it shapes health outcomes. The mentor stressed the importance of using peer-reviewed research and government reports to explain how systemic issues exacerbate the health challenge.

Step 5: Addressing Part C – Role of the Nurse

This was the most substantial section. The mentor instructed the student to:

• Highlight nursing strategies (health promotion programs, advocacy, culturally safe care).

• Integrate the ICN Code of Ethics (section 4.4) to emphasize nurses’ global responsibility towards sustainable health.

• Apply the Ottawa Charter action areas (building healthy public policy, strengthening community action, creating supportive environments, developing personal skills, reorienting health services).

• Provide practical examples of nurse-community partnerships, such as collaborations with NGOs, local health authorities, or social services.

Step 6: Writing the Conclusion

The mentor stressed that the conclusion should synthesise the discussion rather than introduce new ideas. It should restate the importance of community engagement, partnerships, and ethical responsibility in shaping positive health outcomes.

Outcome of the Assessment Process

By following this structured guidance, the student produced a cohesive, well-researched essay that addressed all assessment components. The paper successfully:

• Demonstrated critical understanding of health as a societal issue.

• Showed how nurses’ roles extend beyond hospitals into advocacy, community partnerships, and policy influence.

• Applied theoretical frameworks (ICN Code of Ethics and Ottawa Charter) to real-world nursing practice.

• Highlighted the connection between social determinants and community health disparities.

Learning Objectives Achieved

Through this guided process, the student achieved several key learning outcomes:

1. Critical Analysis: Developed the ability to examine health as a societal issue with local and global implications.

2. Application of Theory: Applied nursing ethics and health promotion frameworks to practical scenarios.

3. Research Skills: Strengthened ability to integrate credible sources and data into structured arguments.

4. Community-Focused Thinking: Recognised the importance of stakeholder collaboration in improving health outcomes.

5. Professional Development: Understood the evolving role of nurses as leaders, advocates, and change agents in society.

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