During the course Community Health and Population-Focused Nursing my understanding of community health was shaped to include a broad focus on the overall health and well-being of a community at large and this view is able to be applied on many scales to different sub-populations and groups.  The primary focus is the promotion of health with illness and disease prevention while anticipating the needs or potential needs families or groups.  Educating those in one’s care and facilitating delivery of knowledge and resources is central to community and population-focused health nursing. 

             I gained a better understanding of community health after assessing and diagnosing my county with obesity problems after conducting much data analysis and research.  During the interview process of the field experience, I learned even more about feelings and attitudes that made correcting this problem so complex. While I sought possible avenues that could help my diverse community address this need, I realized I must be able to look broadly at different scenarios and focus on all available resources if I could have a chance at being effective bringing solutions to this multi-faceted problem.    This experience was an eye opening lesson that was able to bring my research to life and taught me many things that I would have missed out on had I remained solely in a clinical or classroom setting.  In order to help residents of Pinellas County lower incidents of cardiovascular disease and decrease the risks of injury and disability associated with unhealthy weights, I had to consider the attitudes, cultures and tools currently present in order to educate effectively and get the right resources to the right people.  This experience will shape how I conduct and apply future research.   

            While participating in the Community Health classes, I found a very practical application of this definition of community health.  Through my conducted research, I had to identify the strength and weaknesses of my community and look for areas to promote and the main underlying problems that needed to be addressed.  While spending time in the community, interviewing both professionals and lay persons, I came to an understanding that there were many contributing factors to the obesity crisis in Pinellas County that was not made apparent during my statistical research.  While in my initial community assessment, I discovered cardiovascular disease to be the number 1 cause of death and being overweight and/or obese is a primary risk factor and contributor to cardiovascular disease, my interview process revealed that it is not always an issue of food security that prevents people from eating well but rather it shaped my diagnosis to identify a multifaceted problem that combines the existing knowledge of health, personal habits, socio-economic status and cultural attitudes.  I now know that in order to perform in the role of community health nurse effectively, I must first understand these contributing underlying factors in order to be able to assist the community in addressing this problem and finding solutions.     

            The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) provides a course on the role of genetics, genomics and genethics in nursing.  Through the mapping of the human genome, we have been provided much insight not only how to identify and treat certain diseases, but also how certain diseases can be prevented.  This knowledge can further understanding and strategy development on ways to treat disease on a global or regional basis and develop future strategies for disease prevention and public health. Personal genetic mapping can be used for identification of risk for cancer or other diseases, potentially preventing its occurrence.  This may assist individuals in family planning decisions or choosing other lifestyle modifications.  As a nurse, I need to be aware of how this knowledge affects my practice and how I identify those at risk and educate patients to services available.