Geographic information systems (GIS) offer public health nurses a new technology to plan and implement interventions within communities. The present article gives a brief overview of GIS, describes a project designed to pilot-test the use of GIS for developing population-based interventions, and discusses lessons learned from the project that need to be applied to any future work. Using GIS to map the incidence and prevalence of disease, locate risk factors, and identify access to health care services is not difficult. Trying to move beyond that and use the technology to depict community networks and develop and implement population-based interventions is more problematic. The project identified specific questions that anyone involved in a planning or decision-making project in which GIS are used should ask.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a serious and widespread problem in this country. Positioned within the community with links to children, families, and healthcare systems, school nurses are a critical element in the prevention and treatment of those affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Although most school nurses are familiar with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and the problems it poses, they may not be familiar with the newer term, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. This article summarizes the most recent information about FASD and recently published guidelines on diagnostic criteria for FAS. Also outlined are primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention activities school nurses can take to help assure that children, families, and communities work to prevent the problem and to treat the children affected by it.
Forty-eight caregivers expressed a total of 53 signs and symptoms. The majority was in the problem areas: communication with community resources, caretaking/parenting, mental health, and income. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Using a nursing classification system, investigators were able to identify nursing sensitive problems expressed by caregivers of children with FASD. The information from this study can be used in future studies to confirm or revise the signs/symptoms identified in this study.
Preventing the negative consequences of prenatal exposure to alcohol remains an unmet challenge. This paper presents the results of a workshop, designed to increase the implementation of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) prevention interventions in 8 counties of New York. The workshop was based on constructivist learning theory and used the Population-Based Public Health Nursing Intervention Model as the structure for discussing potential interventions. The number and type of FASD interventions implemented were determined by surveys sent out postworkshop to 167 participants. At 4 months postworkshop, 37 participants reported implementing 226 primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions in 74 different worksites. The results indicate that incorporation of constructivist learning theory shows promise for future public health and continuing education programs aimed at changing or enhancing practice.
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