I am completing my Practicum at an internal medical office in Memphis, TN, named Getz.

Purpose and Alignment

This assignment is designed to strengthen the students understanding of community engagement and interprofessional collaboration in healthcare delivery. Through this project, students will analyze their local practice community, identify available health-related resources, and explore how these organizations can collaborate with clinical practice sites to improve patient outcomes and population health.

This activity supports the AACN Essentials (2021), particularly Domain 2: Person-Centered Care, Domain 4: Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline, and Domain 8: Population Health, as well as the NONPF Core Competencies of Leadership, Practice Inquiry, and Health Delivery System Management by fostering community assessment, systems thinking, and resource integration for comprehensive patient care.

Assignment Overview

Students will conduct a comprehensive Community Survey of the practice region within a 15-mile radius of their clinical practice site. The purpose of this survey is to evaluate local population demographics, identify community health resources, and analyze opportunities for interagency collaboration that can enhance the care of diverse patient populations.

Part I: Community Overview and Demographics

Begin the assignment with an introduction describing key community characteristics. Include relevant statistics and demographic data such as:

• Total population and density
• Educational attainment levels
• Average household income
• Employment or industry patterns
• Local school systems or educational institutions
• Notable social, cultural, or health-related indicators (e.g., poverty rates, leading causes of illness, access to care)

Students should select data they find meaningful in understanding their patient population and the broader determinants of health that influence care delivery in their area. Remember to cite sources utilized in APA format.

Part II: Community Health Resources (Minimum of Five)

Identify a minimum of five community-based organizations or health-related resources within a 15-mile radius that could benefit the patient population served at the students practice site. Examples may include:

• The local Health Department
• The Office on Aging
• American Diabetes Association or Heart Association regional offices
• Food pantries or meal distribution programs
• Churches or nonprofits providing medical equipment, transportation, or home support services

For each organization, include a minimum of one well-developed paragraph addressing the following:

1. Organization Overview: Name, mission, and brief description of the agency.
2. Services Provided: Describe the key services, target population, and relevance to your clinical population.
3. Collaboration Potential: Discuss how this organization could work collaboratively with your practice site or healthcare setting to improve patient care.
4. Referral Process: Explain how referrals to this organization occur (ease of referral, process, and contact methods).
5. Barriers and Opportunities: Identify any barriers to referral or collaboration and describe strategies or opportunities for overcoming these challenges to enhance community partnerships.

Part III: Educational Handout

Create a professional educational handout designed to share with colleagues, nurses, and patients as a quick-reference tool for community resource utilization.

This handout should include:

• Agency names and brief descriptions
• Contact information (address, phone, website, and key point of contact)
• The organizations mission and/or vision statement
• Referral information or eligibility requirements

The handout should be clear, concise, and visually appropriate for clinical or educational settings. Consider giving this document as a resource to providers and/or patients.

Formatting and Submission Requirements

• The written Community Survey and the Educational Handout are two separate parts of one assignment. Both must be uploaded simultaneously to Canvas to ensure grading integrity.
• Use APA 7th edition formatting, including title page, headers, citations, and reference page.
• Maintain scholarly tone and professional grammar throughout the submission.
• Ensure that all resources are credible and current (within the past five years unless otherwise relevant).

Rubric

Rubric for Community Survey and Education Plan

Rubric for Community Survey and Education Plan

Criteria	Ratings	Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeProvide an introduction regarding statistics in your practice community, population, important statistics regarding education, average income, schools, and other important facts about the area that the student feels necessary for an agency survey.	20 ptsExceeds ExpectationsExcellent survey and statistical data about the community14 ptsMeets ExpectationsMissing 1-2 components of the required statistical data for the practice community 10 ptsNeeds ImprovementPoorly organized and/or incomplete information0 ptsDoes Not Meet ExpectationsDoes not meet expectations- missing 4 or more elements of this section.	20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSurvey the community in a 15 mile radius to determine available healthcare resources and referral sources. Student should include at least 5 organizations and their practice mission, description of the service provided, and how this organization can work collaboratively with your practice/clinic. Expect one paragraph minimum for each resource.	30 ptsExceeds ExpectationsDescribes 5 agencies in detail regarding services provided, mission and/vision, ways of collaboration.21 ptsMeets ExpectationsMissing 1-2 agencies in the area, or poorly organized/incomplete information about services provided 15 ptsNeeds ImprovementPoorly organized or incomplete information, missing 3 agencies, or lacks good explanation about services provided0 ptsDoes Not Meet ExpectationsDoes not meet expectations- missing 4 or more elements of this section.	30 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDescribe barriers you have identified in working with these organizations and opportunities for overcoming these barriers in order to work together with the agencies to improve patient care in your community.	20 ptsExceeds ExpectationsComplete, concise, and well organized section describing identified barriers and solutions for collaboration.14 ptsMeets ExpectationsMissing 1-2 elements of this section including barriers to practice and solutions for collaboration. 10 ptsNeeds ImprovementPoorly organized, incomplete, or inaccurate information- missing three elements of this section.0 ptsDoes Not Meet ExpectationsDoes not meet expectations- missing 4 or more elements of this section.	20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeProvide an educational handout that you would give during this presentation for your colleagues to use as a resource to remember these agencies. Include contact information and a point of contact, if applicable.	20 ptsExceeds ExpectationsExcellent handout with color, easy to follow, eye-catching and attention-getting for ease of use in the clinic14 ptsMeets ExpectationsMissing 1-2 elements of information in the handout, lacks color, straightforward, but not especially easy to follow 10 ptsNeeds ImprovementMissing 3 elements of the handout, poorly organized, dull, not easy to follow.0 ptsDoes Not Meet ExpectationsDoes not meet expectations- missing 4 or more elements of this section.	20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAppropriate APA documentation, grammar, and syntax.	10 ptsExceeds ExpectationsNo grammatical or APA documentation errors7 ptsMeets ExpectationsMissing 1-2 components or making 1-2 errors 5 ptsNeeds Improvement3 errors or missing 3 components0 ptsDoes Not Meet ExpectationsDoes not meet expectations, includes 4 or more errors in grammar or APA style	10 pts

Total Points: 100

As you begin your journey toward achieving your academic and professional goals, you have a great opportunity to network with academics and professionals who can help ensure you do not travel alone. This network can help to clarify your own vision for success and can help guide you now and in the future. To paraphrase Donne, no one is an island.

Begin creating an academic and professional network by identifying which academic and professional connections and resources with which you need to collaborate to succeed in your MSN program and as a practicing nurse.

To Prepare:

• Consider individuals, departments, teams, and/or resources within Walden University and within your profession that you believe can support your academic and professional success.
• Identify at least two academic and at least two professional individuals, colleagues, or teams that might help you succeed in your MSN program and as a practicing nurse.
• Download the Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template .

The Assignment:

Academic and Professional Network

Complete Part 1 of your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template . Be sure to address the following:

• Identify at least two academic and at least two professional individuals or teams to collaborate with to be successful in your MSN program and as a practicing nurse.
• Explain why you selected these individuals and/or teams and how they will support your success in the MSN and PMC program and as a practicing nurse.

1. Select one nursing theory or conceptual model, or a framework from a related field (e.g., psychology, sociology, education, or systems science), that you find meaningful or applicable to advanced nursing practice.
2. Evaluate its usefulness and relevance, addressing:
   • Core concepts and assumptions
   • Applicability to advanced nursing roles or clinical contexts
   • Strengths and limitations for guiding practice, research, or leadership
3. Compare it briefly to another theory or model (nursing or non-nursing) to highlight differences in scope, focus, or application.
4. Reflect on how using theoretical or conceptual frameworks supports evidence-based, high-quality care in your advanced practice role.
5. This discussion gets submitted through AI and turnitin detection, so similarity has to be 20% or less.