Help with Community Nursing Interventions and Evaluation

There's a great movie, saw it on Netflix yesterday, it's about the serious struggles of a Harlem teenager. I mention it because this is the type of patient and neighborhood you describe. If you have time, watch it or get the book.

Precious: Based on the novel called "Push" by Sapphire. This movie/book is real life, RN122, real life. It is really shocking and an eye opener/reminder that some people have extremely painful, hard lives. Hard. Anybody who can survive a life like this and still thrive is very special.

I pray you will be able to help the people you are trying to reach. Be patient. Be strong. Their acceptance of you won't necessarily come immediately.

I'd say that a good way to reach the black community is via the church. If you get the pastor or the priest engaged in your outreach to the community, it will put you in contact with the church members/attendees.

You could also establish a link with the schools. the teachers, the PTO, various clubs, the nurse at school;

How about through a clinic?

There is also the YMCA or Big Brother/Sister link possibility, or the local battered women's shelter or a homeless shelter.

Remember, though, that money can be very tight, it can be hard to find affordable fresh produce in the ghetto, people are on foot or the bus a lot, so they can't carry lots of groceries. If they work, they have time challenges.

Do what Michelle Obama suggests - start a community garden. The school kids would enjoy this, they'd learn about gardening as well as nutrition. It could be a science project.

Include some help for the clients about budgeting their money. I'm sure there is some creative and interesting way to do this. I'm not too creative and nothing comes to mind just yet, but I'm going to be thinking about this.

I hope it's ok that I put out a few ideas here. I don't think I'm doing your work for you, rather, I think we're just brainstorming and coming together as community to help a future nurse. Brotherhood and all that, you know. I've had help along my path and I hope it's ok to pass that on here on allnurses.

How to evaluate the methods - well, if you teach about vitamins and minerals, can the students name some of them, can they tell what to eat in order to obtain them? Can they tell how to afford them and where to shop?

Can they explain how a seed turns into real live, growing collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens? And why this is an excellent food for preventing DM.

Any chance they can raise a chicken and learn about animal husbandry? This chicken could become a meal, too. They could learn about cooking. Avoiding grease and salt;

Can you arrange a field trip to a dairy farm or a mill where they make cereals? Can the students discuss whole grain versus refined grains? Whole grains not as quick to elevate blood sugar;

A lot will depend on who your students/patients are - their ages, their time availability, their money availability.

The first thing you might want to do is assess what they already know and are doing to prevent DM. See if they have misconceptions. Do they know why it's good to prevent DM? What do they express interest in learning?

And then find interesting, hands-on ways to engage them in learning. Then get their feedback. Videotape them and give them a copy (get this cleared legally before you do it, please. I don't want you in HIPPA trouble.)

Don't forget exercise, avoiding Coke and donuts, which might be standard breakfast fare in some neighborhoods. Or the students might be fed breakfast at school.

Does your Instructor have some examples she can share with you? Things previous students have done with this assignment?

Well, I hope this has been some help. Best of luck to you.