Journal Entry: The Role of the Community Health Nurse in Family-Centered Care
This is a journal entry for this week’s coming topic as well as a summary of the topic that was done in the previous week of community service.In the previous week, we covered the prevalence of pregnancies and STDs among the adolescents and in this coming week, he focus would shift to the role of the community health nurse in family-centered care with the specific details on the smoke, drug and alcohol abuse in adolescence.
1. The specific Learning Goals and Objectives
I. To demonstrate the role of the community health nurse in the family-centered care
II. To identify the prevalence of drug abuse among adolescents
III. To identify the major causes of drug abuse among adolescents
IV. To demonstrate the role of family in drug abuse among the adolescents
V. To identify the solutions to drug abuse among adolescents
VI. To investigate the number of school drop outs caused by the abuse of drugs
VII. To identify the number of drug abuse rehabilitation centers within a community
2. Detailed Schedule of Work for the Week
The community practice often involves three major areas of concern and study during the field work out here and these are covered within the seven days that we are out there in the field, this week’s schedule would be as follows;
I. Three first days are observational activities
II. The next two days would involve the practical activities as well as serious interactions with the various stakeholders
III. The final two days would be for the practical clinical experience roles
3. The Issues with Previous Placement
The last placement was about the prevalence of pregnancies and STDs among the adolescents; it is not a secret of how stubborn adolescents would be especially on matters and issues touching on their personal lives. The previous placement faced a lot of challenges because the respondents were in two categories; the adolescents and the health care professionals. Whereas the professionals were willing to talk and give information, the adolescents did not open up as much and there was little real information we got from them.
4. The Role of Community Nurse in the Family-Centered Care
The ongoing research and studies on the family centered care is important and seriously needed especially on the issues relating to the growth and development of the adolescents (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2003). The family-centered health care is the approach to health that shapes the health care policies as well as the programs, and the day to day interactions among patients, families, nurses as well as other professionals involved (Denning & Hibberd, 2016). The community nurse plays a vital role especially on the investigation regarding drug abuse among the adolescents in the community. The community nurses recognize the role that family plays in the well-being of the adolescents as well as all other members of the family (National Institute of Drug Abuse, 2014). Smoke, drug and alcohol abuse in adolescence becomes common based on the influence from peers in schools, neighborhoods as well as what they see from their seniors in the family; either elder siblings or the parents (Denning & Hibberd, 2016). Therefore, the community nurse often tries to intervene and offer the necessary solutions where necessary.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2003). Task Force on the Family. Family pediatrics: Pediatrics,111(1), 1539-1587.
Denning, H. K. & Hibberd, P. (2016). Exploring the community nurse role in family-centred care for patients with dementia.British Journal of Community Nursing, 21(4),
National Institute of Drug Abuse. (2014). ‘Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide.’How do adolescents become addicted to drugs, and which factors increase risk?New York, NY: NIDA Drugs Publications
