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Jeff, Gena, Max, and Dana are working with Candace, the school nurse, at an environmental magnet elementary school. Candace tells them that she has documented an increase in asthma attacks and asthma-related absences since the beginning of the flu season a month ago. She asks the students to do an assessment, kind of like a modified community assessment, to identify the potential causes of the increased incidence. The students are having a meeting to discuss how to organize their assessment.
Jeff states, “I think we need to research all of the causes of asthma and asthma attacks and what might place these students at risk for increased attacks.”
Gena responds, “This is going to be complicated. My niece has asthma and my sister is always looking for asthma triggers. My sister also recently met with the school nurse to develop an asthma action plan to use at school. There are so many risk factors.”
Dana comments, “I don't know much about environmental health. I think I want to do some reading about what it is and what environmental health has to do with nursing.”
Max responds, “I agree with Dana. When I think of environmental health and nursing I think of how we dispose of hazardous waste materials in the hospital. There is also the climate change issue, but I don't know what this has to do with nursing. I need to figure out where asthma triggers fit in all of this.”
Gena reflects, “Besides this community assessment, we are all making home visits with a public health nurse [PHN]. Maybe some of what we learn will help us with our assessment of the families we are visiting and with the interventions we do with our PHN preceptors.”
The students review the environmental health PHN competencies they will be developing as they complete this project. Jeff starts a to-do list and writes a list of definitions the group will need as they research their topic from an environmental perspective.
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JEFF'S NOTEBOOK: COMPETENCY #3 Utilizes the Principles and Science of Environmental Health to Promote Safe and Sustainable Environments for Individuals/Families, Systems, and Communities
Promotes environments that facilitate holistic well-being and health, healing, and healthy lifestyles for individuals/families, systems, and communities
Assesses environmental risk factors and protective factors for individuals/families, systems, and communities
Engages in actions to reduce environmental risk factors and strengthen protective factors for individuals/families, systems, and communities
Takes actions to reduce and manage harmful waste products from individuals/families, systems, and communities
Evaluates the outcomes of actions to promote healthy environments
Seeks to protect individuals/families, systems, and communities from environmental hazards
Educates individuals, families, systems, and communities about environmental hazards and harmful lifestyle factors
Recommends modifications in home, neighborhood, workplace, and community environments to increase safety for individuals and families across the life span
Supports right-to-know legislation and regulations that protect and inform the public about hazardous products
Considers the diverse values, beliefs, cultures, and circumstances of individuals/families and ...