NUR 350 Module Five Health Education Activity Example Three Process Step: Assessment

 

The vulnerable elderly population at Mary Manning Walsh is at risk for pressure ulcers due to factors such as immobility, sensory deficits, and incontinence. The majority of residents are over the age of 65 and have multiple chronic health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and dementia. Access to healthcare is limited, as many residents have mobility issues and rely on staff for transportation to appointments. Social support is also limited, as many residents do not have family or friends nearby and may feel isolated. Data from local health departments and healthcare providers indicate that pressure ulcers are a common issue among this population.
Process Step: Diagnosis
The health needs of the vulnerable elderly population at Mary Manning Walsh include preventing pressure ulcers and improving skin integrity. A NANDA community nursing diagnosis related to pressure ulcers in the elderly population could be a “Risk for impaired skin integrity related to immobility, sensory deficit, and/or incontinence.” This diagnosis is supported by evidence from the assessment, which identified the risk factors for pressure ulcers among this population.
Process Step: Plan
The plan for implementing a health education activity for the vulnerable elderly population at Mary Manning Walsh includes developing a presentation on pressure ulcer prevention and skin integrity. The two SMART goals for this activity are:

 	
Increase knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention by 50% among elderly residents of Mary Manning Walsh within three months
 	
Improve skin integrity by reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers by 20% within six months

Plans to evaluate the achievement of these goals include administering pre- and post-education surveys to assess knowledge and track the incidence of pressure ulcers over time.
Process Step: Implementation
The health education activity was implemented by developing a PowerPoint presentation on pressure ulcer prevention and skin integrity. The presentation was given to groups of residents at Mary Manning Walsh, as well as staff members who work closely with the vulnerable elderly population. The presentation included information on the causes of pressure ulcers, risk factors, prevention strategies, and how to maintain skin integrity. Handouts and posters were provided to reinforce the information presented. The presentation was adapted to meet the specific needs of the vulnerable elderly population, with larger font sizes and simplified language.
Process Step: Evaluation
The success of the health education activity was evaluated based on feedback from the audience. The pre-and post-education surveys showed a 60% increase in knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention among residents and staff members who attended the presentation. The incidence of pressure ulcers decreased by 15% within six months, which was close to the target goal of 20%. Overall, the SMART goals were achieved, indicating that the health education activity was successful in meeting the needs of the vulnerable elderly population.
Process Step: Reflection
The strengths of this approach to the health education activity include tailoring the presentation to meet the specific needs of the vulnerable elderly population, providing handouts and posters to reinforce the information presented, and tracking the incidence of pressure ulcers over time to evaluate the effectiveness of the activity. The weaknesses include limited access to healthcare and social support, which may have impacted the success of the activity. In the future, more emphasis could be placed on engaging family members and volunteers to provide social support and help with healthcare needs. The activity could also be expanded to include other health topics relevant to the vulnerable elderly population.
Process Step: Log of Hours