The benchmark assesses the following competencies:
3.3 Provide individualized education to diverse patient populations in a variety of health
care settings.
The RN to BSN program at University meets the requirements for clinical competencies
as defined by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), using nontraditional experiences
for practicing nurses. These experiences come in the form of direct and indirect care
experiences in which licensed nursing students engage in learning within the context of
their hospital organization, specific care discipline, and local communities.
Based on the feedback offered by the provider, identify the best approach for teaching.
Prepare a presentation based on the Teaching Work Plan and present the information
to your community.
Options for Delivery
Select one of the following options for delivery and prepare the applicable presentation:
PowerPoint presentation – no more than 30 minutes
Pamphlet presentation – 1 to 2 pages
Poster presentation
Selection of Community Setting
These are considered appropriate community settings. Choose one of the following:
Public health clinic
Community health center
Long-term care facility
Transitional care facility
Home health center
University/School health center
Church community
Adult/Child care center
Community Teaching Experience Approval Form
Before presenting information to the community, seek approval from an agency
administrator or representative using the “Community Teaching Experience Approval
Form.” Submit this form as directed in the Community Teaching Experience Approval
assignment drop box.
Benchmark – Community Teaching Plan: Community Presentation
Background/Introduction
The recent heatwaves experienced have increasingly caused severe social and health
problems among several communities globally. Over the years, many countries have
developed strategies for mitigating the adverse effects of heatwaves (Karl et al., 2009). The
strategies include warnings regarding the meteorological conditions, the activation of the
health and social networks, establishment of the heatwave plan, and the provision of the
communities with practical advice.
COMMUNITY TEACHING PLAN 2
However, it is significant to indicate the impact of the heatwaves are disproportionate,
particularly the harm they cause to the people of color. Global warming has exposed people
to a myriad of health and social challenges. In this teaching plan, I will discuss the health
effects, the individuals at more risk, and provide a recommendation to the community on the
strategies that should be adopted to mitigate the impact of heatwaves at the community
center. Finally, I will make a concluding remark.
Benchmark – Community Teaching Plan: Community Presentation
Health effects
During the episodes, when there is increased heat, the heat within the body increases as a
result of metabolism and the environment. The particular heat should be dissipated to ensure
that the body maintains a temperature of 37 degrees; this process is referred to as
thermoregulation. The health effects associated with climate change disruptions that result in
heatwaves include cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and premature deaths caused
by extreme weather conditions. Further, the effects include disruptions or changes related to
the geographical distribution of food, infectious diseases, water-borne diseases, and threats to
mental health. Besides, it interferes with hypertension treatment.
Individuals at Risk
Though any person can suffer from the illnesses related to heatwaves, some
individuals are at an increased rate as compared to the others. It has been reported that people
of color in the United States are more vulnerable to the health effects of heatwaves.
Nonetheless, racial vulnerability does not stem from the race as the predisposing factor
primarily. Instead, the historical, social, and economic factors that affect people of color are
the ones that make them more vulnerable as opposed to their racial identity (Gronlund, 2014).
Specifically, a person of color in the United States is highly likely to belong to a low-income
group, live in a sparsely vegetated area with heat-absorbing surfaces, less likely to own air-
COMMUNITY TEACHING PLAN 3
conditioning equipment, or more likely to be hired to do outdoor farm work. These conditions
are historically socioeconomic, thereby making people of color more vulnerable than other
racial groups to the health effects of heatwaves.
Moreover, it has been noted that the children below four years and infants are more
sensitive to the adverse impacts of high temperatures and, in most cases, rely on the adult
individuals to ensure their temperatures are regulated as well as the provision of adequate
fluids. The individuals who are over 65 years old are less likely to be responsive to the
temperature changes (Benmarhnia et al., 2015). The persons who are considered overweight
are also prone to heat-related illnesses since they often retain body heat.
Recommendation to the community
To ensure that your health is protected from the increase in temperatures realized by
global warming, it is significant to use common sense and ensure your temperatures are kept
within 37 degrees Celsius. The following are some of the recommendations that will help
ensure that you avoid the adverse impacts of heatwaves.
- Drinking plenty of water.
When the temperatures increase, the individuals are advised to take plenty of water
irrespective of the level of activity. One should never wait to only take water while thirsty.
Moreover, when participating in heavy exercise within an increasingly hot environment, a
person should take 2 to 4 glasses of cold fluids every hour. - Replace minerals and salt.
Increased sweating eliminates minerals and salt from a person’s body. Therefore, it
significant to replace the two. One should take cold non-alcoholic fluids regularly. - Wear suitable clothing
COMMUNITY TEACHING PLAN 4
It is vital to wear little clothes during the hot weather. A person should choose loose
light-colored fitting clothes, as well as lightweight. Sunburn affects the ability of the body to
cool itself.
- Outdoor activities should be scheduled carefully.
A person should limit activities to the evening and morning hours. Moreover, staying
cool indoors should be encouraged.
Conclusion
Global warming is an issue that has presented both social and health challenges. The
heatwaves have presented a myriad of health problems to individuals, especially those of
color who are more vulnerable. The teaching plan has discussed the health effects, the
individuals at risk, and subsequently provided recommendations. Therefore, the community
members are advised to adhere to the recommendations outlined.
References
Benmarhnia, T., Deguen, S., Kaufman, J. S., & Smargiassi, A. (2015). Vulnerability to heat-
related mortality. Epidemiology, 26 (6), 781-793.
Gronlund, C. J. (2014). Racial and socioeconomic disparities in heat-related health effects
and their mechanisms: a review. Current Epidemiology Reports, 1(3), 165-173.
COMMUNITY TEACHING PLAN 5
Karl, T. R., Melillo, J. M. & Peterson, T. C. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the
United States. New York: Cambridge University Press.