Chapter 17: Evaluation Of Nursing care With Communities

The nurse would examine adequacy and appropriateness when determining the quality of care provided. Adequacy refers to whether the care meets the required standards and if it is sufficient to meet the patient's needs. Appropriateness refers to whether the care is suitable and relevant for the patient's condition and circumstances. By assessing these factors, the nurse can evaluate the quality of care and identify any areas that may need improvement.

The priority for the nurse should be to establish community-wide programs on the dangers of smoking. This action will help raise awareness about the harmful effects of smoking among teenagers and the community as a whole. By educating the community about the dangers of smoking, the nurse can work towards preventing teenagers from starting or continuing to smoke. This approach tackles the issue at its root by addressing the lack of knowledge and understanding surrounding smoking and its consequences.

The purpose of outcome attainment is to determine whether goals were achieved. This involves evaluating the results and outcomes of a particular endeavor or project to assess if the desired objectives were met. By answering the question of whether goals were achieved, organizations can measure their success and make necessary adjustments or improvements for future initiatives.

The best way to evaluate the outcomes of the nurse's intervention would be to compare the number of accidents in the subsequent year with the previous year. This measurement would provide a clear indication of whether the nurse's program was successful in improving the community's ability to prevent accidents. By comparing the number of accidents before and after the intervention, it can be determined if the program had a positive impact on accident prevention. The other options, such as the number of people who attended the educational program, the number of requests for information, and the satisfaction level of attendees, may provide some insights but do not directly measure the effectiveness of the intervention in preventing accidents.

Examine epidemiologic statistics of morbidity and mortality is the easiest way to determine a community's health because it provides objective data on the prevalence and incidence of diseases, injuries, and deaths within the community. These statistics can help identify patterns, trends, and risk factors that contribute to the overall health status of the community. By analyzing epidemiologic data, the nurse can prioritize health interventions, allocate resources, and develop targeted strategies to address the community's health needs effectively and efficiently.

Completing a cost-benefit analysis involves evaluating the costs and benefits of a particular action or decision. It helps determine whether the benefits outweigh the costs or if similar outcomes can be achieved with less cost. Therefore, the question "Can similar outcomes be achieved with less cost?" is answered by completing a cost-benefit analysis.

Evaluation requires the consideration of both intended and unintended results of actions. Without this assumption, it would be difficult to assess the effectiveness and impact of actions taken. The other options may be relevant to the context of evaluation, but they do not directly address the necessary assumption for evaluation to occur.

Completing the evaluation of a community education program about smoking cessation is important because it facilitates additional decision making. By evaluating the program, the nurse can gather data and information about its effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions about future interventions or modifications to the program. This evaluation process allows for ongoing assessment and adaptation to ensure that the program is meeting the needs of the community and achieving its desired outcomes.

When evaluation data are analyzed, it is important to interpret and judge the data before making any recommendations. This involves carefully examining the data, identifying patterns or trends, and drawing conclusions based on the findings. By doing so, one can gain a deeper understanding of the data and make informed decisions or suggestions based on the analysis. This step is crucial in ensuring that any recommendations or actions taken are well-founded and supported by the data.

Summative evaluation helps the community/public health nurse by determining the long-term effect on health. This means that through the evaluation process, the nurse is able to assess the impact of their interventions and programs on the overall health of the community. By understanding the long-term effects, the nurse can make informed decisions about future interventions, allocate resources effectively, and tailor programs to better meet the needs of the community. This information is crucial for improving the quality of care and ensuring that the nurse's efforts are making a positive and lasting impact on the health of the community.

The nurse should evaluate the adequacy of resources, evident in measures such as waiting lists for services, in order to reach an accurate conclusion about whether the agency is large enough to fulfill its goals. Waiting lists for services can indicate a high demand for the agency's services, suggesting that the agency may need to expand its resources to meet the needs of the community. This evaluation will provide insight into whether the agency has the capacity to fulfill its goals effectively.

The nurse should compare the admission levels attributable to asthma before and after the implementation of the environmental pollution program. This will allow the nurse to determine the effectiveness of the program in reducing asthma-related admissions at the local children's hospital. By comparing the admission levels before and after the implementation, the nurse can assess whether the program has had a positive impact on reducing asthma-related admissions and improving the overall health of the community.

The typical research design used for evaluation in a community/public health agency is a time series design or other quasi-experimental method. This design allows for the examination of changes over time and the comparison of outcomes before and after an intervention. It is particularly useful in evaluating the impact of public health programs or interventions in a real-world setting where randomization and control may not be feasible or ethical. This design helps to establish causal relationships and determine the effectiveness of interventions in improving community health outcomes.

The nurse should measure the percentage who currently smoke first because it provides an accurate representation of the current situation and the extent of the problem. By determining the percentage of teenagers who smoke, the nurse can establish a baseline and track progress in reducing smoking rates over time. This data will also help the nurse identify high-risk groups and develop targeted interventions to address the issue effectively.

Involving the community in the evaluation process is a critical part of evaluation because it allows for the assessment of the effectiveness of interventions in helping community members make appropriate lifestyle changes. By including the community in the evaluation, the nurse can gather their feedback and perspectives, which can provide valuable insights into the impact of the interventions. This helps ensure that the evaluation is comprehensive and accurate, and ultimately leads to better healthcare outcomes for the community.

The Quad Council of Public Health Nursing Organizations created the standards for evaluating effective nursing care with communities. This group is specifically focused on public health nursing and works to promote and improve the health of communities. They have developed these standards to ensure that nursing care provided to communities is effective and meets the needs of the population.

The most important question to ask when examining program outcomes is "What were the end effects on clients?" This question focuses on the impact and effectiveness of the program in terms of the clients it serves. It allows the nurse to assess whether the program achieved its intended goals and whether it had a positive or negative effect on the clients' well-being. This question provides valuable information about the program's success in meeting the needs of the clients and can guide future improvements or adjustments to the program.

Distributing self-esteem scales to a random sample of community members would be the most effective way to systematically and accurately determine the satisfaction level. This method allows for a representative sample of the community to provide their self-esteem levels, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the overall community's level of self-esteem and well-being. Asking every community member directly may not be feasible or practical, and asking the employing agency's director may not provide an accurate representation of the entire community. Observing clients currently using certain community-based services may only provide insights into the satisfaction levels of those specific individuals, rather than the community as a whole.

The assessment of community members' health needs is useful to review in determining whether the goals of the community/public health nurse are appropriate because it provides information about the specific health issues and concerns of the community. By understanding the health needs of the community, the nurse can develop goals that are relevant and address the most pressing health issues. This ensures that the goals are tailored to the specific needs of the community and are more likely to be effective in improving the health outcomes of the population.

Documentation of evaluation is crucial because it provides a baseline against which to study trends and make program decisions. By documenting the evaluation process and its findings, nurses and administrators can track changes over time and identify patterns or areas that need improvement. This information is valuable for making informed decisions about the effectiveness of programs and interventions, as well as for identifying areas where resources may need to be allocated or adjusted. Without documentation, it would be difficult to assess the impact of interventions or make informed decisions about program changes.

The nurse should appreciate the opportunity to meet the policy makers in the community because attending the city council meeting allows the nurse to establish connections and build relationships with the individuals who have the power to influence and shape healthcare policies in the community. By attending the meeting, the nurse can advocate for the needs of the community and collaborate with policy makers to improve the health and well-being of the residents.

The poverty level of the community has a direct correlation with the health and well-being of the community. Poverty often leads to limited access to healthcare, nutritious food, and safe living conditions, which can negatively impact the overall health of individuals in the community. Poverty is associated with higher rates of chronic diseases, mental health issues, and lower life expectancy. Additionally, poverty can also lead to increased stress levels and limited opportunities for education and employment, further exacerbating health disparities within the community.

Case descriptions as an evaluation method lack the ability to prove that the nursing intervention directly caused the specific health outcomes. While they may provide interesting events, they do not provide statistical documentation or the ability to eliminate other factors that could have influenced the outcomes. Therefore, they are not considered a reliable or strong form of research in terms of proving causation.

The nurse's ongoing communication is to avoid community dissatisfaction when expectations are not met. By keeping the community informed of the progress of the new health programs, the nurse can manage their expectations and address any concerns or issues that may arise. This proactive approach helps to prevent dissatisfaction and maintain a positive relationship with the community.

Stakeholders are individuals who have expectations about the care that will be provided. This means that they have a vested interest in the outcomes and quality of the care being delivered. These individuals could include patients, family members, healthcare providers, and community members. They may have different perspectives and priorities, but they all share the common expectation that the care provided will meet certain standards and address their needs.

When conducting a cost-benefit analysis, it is important to consider the perspective of third-party payers and administrators. However, the given answer suggests that administrators ignore the client perspective of time, energy, and money. This implies that administrators may not fully understand or take into account the impact of costs and benefits on the individuals receiving healthcare services. This lack of understanding can lead to biased or incomplete analyses, potentially resulting in decisions that do not adequately consider the needs and preferences of the clients.

An effective approach to helping mothers deal with their infants' behavior without resorting to physical discipline would be asking the mothers to develop a contract to use the techniques discussed. This approach promotes active participation and collaboration between the nurse and the mothers, allowing them to take ownership of the strategies and techniques discussed during the parenting classes. By developing a contract, the mothers are more likely to commit to implementing these techniques consistently and effectively, creating a positive and non-violent environment for their infants.

Placing an appropriate dollar value on the benefits represents a challenge when a cost-benefit analysis is performed because it requires accurately quantifying and assigning monetary values to intangible benefits such as improved quality of life, environmental impact, or customer satisfaction. This can be subjective and difficult to measure, leading to potential inaccuracies in the analysis.

A nurse should determine whether a high proportion of a random sample report change in their health behaviors to validate change in a population. This is because a random sample represents the entire population and a high proportion reporting change indicates that the desired behavior change is occurring across the population.

Consumers can easily evaluate the interpersonal skill of caregivers because it is a subjective factor that can be observed and experienced directly. Consumers can assess the way caregivers communicate, show empathy, and build rapport with them. They can also evaluate the level of respect, trust, and understanding they receive from the caregivers. Unlike other factors such as appropriateness of the selected intervention, quality of care provided, or effectiveness of the program, which may require specialized knowledge or objective measurements, the evaluation of interpersonal skills is based on personal interactions and can be easily perceived by consumers.

Before writing an application for a grant to fund the program, the nurse should determine whether anyone else in the area is already offering a similar service. This is important because if there are already existing programs addressing the needs of single teenage mothers, it may be more beneficial to collaborate or support those programs rather than creating a new one. It is essential to avoid duplicating efforts and ensure that resources are being used effectively to meet the needs of the target population.

Formative evaluation helps the community/public health nurse by improving care as it is being delivered. By analyzing the data and recognizing gaps, the nurse can identify areas that need improvement and make necessary adjustments in real-time. This allows for immediate enhancements in the quality of care provided to the community. Additionally, formative evaluation assists in determining what to do differently next time, ensuring that future offerings of the program are enhanced based on the feedback and insights gained during the evaluation process.

Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish certain tasks. The belief that one can influence their environment and circumstances aligns with the concept of self-efficacy because it demonstrates a belief in one's own ability to have an impact and create change. This belief implies a sense of control and empowerment, suggesting that individuals can actively shape their surroundings and outcomes through their actions and choices.

Determining whether the objective was reached at the desired level is an example of a criterion-referenced evaluation because it involves comparing the actual outcome of the objective with a predetermined standard or criterion. In this type of evaluation, the focus is on whether the objective has been achieved based on a specific set of criteria, rather than comparing it to other populations or factors of interest.