Community Health and Population-Focused Nursing
Hillsborough County, Florida is the 4th largest county in Florida. It is comprised of 1,048 square miles of land and 24 square miles of inland water area for a total of 1,072 square miles located midway along the west coast of Florida. It has a diverse culture of people cohabitating in a large community. Assessing the community allows you to see a broader picture of diversity and layers of multicultural issues that affect the community as a whole.
Population Economic Status Assessment
Hillsborough County is an average sized county for all intents and purposes with a population of approximately ...view middle of the document...
Neighborhood/Community Safety Inventory
Hillsborough County has one of the worst ozone problems in the state, but the air quality index is good ranging from 40-50. The water quality in Hillsborough County is poor with the primary pollutants being fecal coliform and enterococcus. Potential weather in Hillsborough County does pose health hazards this week while we are in the heart of hurricane season and the recent flooding from a heavy rain fall in August have halted some communities. The rise in the 29 lakes, 6 rivers and additional waterways increase the risk of drowning and when the banks of these system crest and don’t recede there is standing water in communities. This water is a feeding ground for mosquitoes which increases the risk of dengue fever, malaria, chikungunya, yellow fever, West Nile virus, as well as other health conditions. Standing water also interferes with the sewage system causing further contamination increasing risk of human and animal exposure to disease and infections. Domestic animals do not pose a imminent health hazard, but citizens should be aware of the ordinary presence of alligators in the waterways of the county. The biggest allergens are pollen and mold, which will cause your average allergy symptoms. The county’s poisonous plants consist of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac genus, all of which may cause severe delayed contact dermatitis 24 to 48 hours after contact with the plant.
Cultural Assessment Tool
The cultural assessment revealed the Hispanic community accounted for 26% of the community. The culture belief of Hispanic families is honoring the aging and elderly. The community is a tight knit group with strong familial bonds. This is often observed through the “sandwich generation” wherein multiple generations reside under the same roof. Often times in the elders of the Hispanic community there is little attention to frequent doctor visits or follow ups. This may be due to lack of access to insurance or the cultural roots of home remedies and natural cures.
Disaster Assessment and Planning Guide
The elderly population is most likely to be affected by natural disaster like floods, tornadoes and hurricanes. The elderly have special needs for medical devises/equipment ranging from ambulatory devices to oxygen; hence limiting their ability to evacuate quickly or extended survival for an unknown amount of time without electricity Races that fall into the poverty level are more likely to be affected by disasters since they tend to be less prepared for disasters due to their economic hardships. The most likely of injuries to occur during a disaster is a soft tissue injury such as an abrasion, puncture wound, cuts and fractures. Fires and electrical shock due to hazards conditions could result. Chronic disease, such as ESRD, heart conditions, behavioral or psychological disorders.
Windshield Survey Tool
Housing and commercial buildings:
-10% built 2010 or...
