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I will like  get help with this Course Project: Milestone 2: Vulnerable Population Assessment
Running head: CARING FOR POPULATIONS MILESTONE 2: ASSESSMENT AN Caring for Populations Milestone 2: Assessment and Diagnosis

Tammy Lake

Chamberlain College of Nursing

Community Health Nursing

NR443 May 22, 2016 1 CARING FOR POPULATIONS MILESTONE 2: ASSESSMENT AN 2 Caring for Populations Milestone 2: Assessment and Diagnosis

The primary purpose of this paper is to assess the health needs of the city of North

Scottsdale, Arizona, as well as identifying a community health problem. This community is a

large, urban residential community in Maricopa County, adjacent to Phoenix, Arizona, which is

the sixth largest city in the United States. Scottsdale is named for the U.S. Army Chaplain

William Scott who had visited the Salt River Valley, and initially made a down payment in order

to start a farming operation. This operation was located near the heart of our present downtown.

Scottsdale has a very favorable climate with beautiful scenery and is enriched with many cultural

activities dating back to Scott?s time and still present today.

Community Overview

North Scottsdale, Arizona is a large urban community located in a valley surrounded by

various mountain ranges, canyons, gorges, and plateaus. This community is adjacent to Phoenix,

Arizona. Present in this community are a multitude of various businesses, healthcare facilities,

various parks with hiking/biking paths, schools, churches, outdoor activities, restaurants, and

shopping. The climate is mild which attracts many snowbirds during the winter months from

other parts of the United States and Canada, bringing a mixed population and wide age range

during this time from young families to the elderly. North Scottsdale is not culturally diverse,

with Caucasians making up the highest number of residents. There is a dedicated police and

ambulance presence. Transportation includes a public bus system with access to major roads and

freeways.

Demographic Data CARING FOR POPULATIONS MILESTONE 2: ASSESSMENT AN 3 What follows is the demographic data for Scottsdale, Arizona, derived from the U.S.

Census Bureau between 2010-2014, with 2010 having the most available information. The

population as of 07/01/2014 was 230,512 with the highest percentage in the 65 and older range,

followed by those over 18 years of age at 17.8%, and those less than 5 years comprising 4.2%.

Females comprised 51.7% as of 04/01/2010. The major ethnic population within Scottsdale is

Caucasian, making up 89.3% of the population. This is followed by Hispanics at 8.8%, Asians at

3.3%, Two or more races at 2.3%, African Americans at 1.7%, and American Indians and Alaska

Natives at 0.8%. The median household income in 2014 was $72,455. The median value of an

owner occupied home was $376,700, with an occupancy rate of 66.8%. Scottsdale has 124,001

housing units as of 04/01/2010. Though a wealthy area, the poverty rate in this community is

8.8%. Education wise, 53.2% hold Bachelor?s degrees, and the high school graduate rate of

those over the age of 25+ between 2010-14 was 96.2%. (http://quickfacts.census.gov).

Epidemiological Data

Epidemiological Data was retrieved from the 2016 Arizona County Health Rankings

website. Scottsdale is located within Maricopa County, which ranked first in health outcome and

quality of life categories. Maricopa County further ranked third in length of life in Arizona.

Priority health problems of this area include alcohol impaired driving deaths at 27%, children

living in poverty at 26%, a high number of children living in single parent households at 36%,

adult obesity at 22%, and physical inactivity at 20%. Also of concern is the quality of air

pollution, rated at 9.9% compared to the National average of 9.5%. (County Health Rankings,

2016).

Windshield Survey CARING FOR POPULATIONS MILESTONE 2: ASSESSMENT AN 4 This survey allowed me to view diverse areas of the large community which comprises

Scottsdale. The majority of individuals within Scottsdale are of various ages differing in the

summer and winter months. Higher populations of snowbirds are evident in the winter. Within

this urban community are many areas in which people from the very young to elderly are seen

actively involved in the parks, trails, and walking paths available year round for use. I did not

see any homeless individuals on the streets or begging for food and/or money. There are no

homeless shelters or food banks in view of the areas I observed in Scottsdale. There are a few

Goodwill stores scattered in different areas of Scottsdale, but no persons loitering outside of

them, and most had a sign stating they were distribution centers. The roads in Scottsdale are well

maintained with plenty of lighting and few potholes. Neighborhoods appear well lit, have

sidewalks and bike lanes for those who travel by this method of transportation. There are

multiple areas outside in nature and at local fitness centers for individuals to utilize. There are

many local hospitals within this community for public access, some of which offer

transportation, as well as urgent care centers. There appears to be a multitude of primary care

practices as well as dentists in this area. There are many restaurants and bars which offer happy

hours most days of the week and they appear to be well populated with a variety of ages, which

can be problematic given the high percentage of alcohol impaired related deaths at 27%.

When driving from Scottsdale towards Phoenix, there is a noticeable change of

ethnicities and individuals from all walks of life, with socioeconomic changes evident as one

leaves Scottsdale. South Phoenix, adjacent to Scottsdale is one of the more oppressed areas,

socially as well as economically. Garbage on the streets is in visible evidence with multiple

areas of graffiti present on buildings. While many who reside in North Scottsdale do not appear

to be under the influence of substances, the same cannot be said for this area. However, this does CARING FOR POPULATIONS MILESTONE 2: ASSESSMENT AN 5 not hold true on the weekends when large student population from Arizona State University and

a younger 20?s crowd flock to Old Town in Scottsdale to visit the bars within the area, most of

whom are intoxicated during this time.

Problem Diagnosis

The community health nursing problem evident in the Scottsdale community is the high

percentage of alcohol related impaired driving deaths. This problem relates to the Substance

Abuse Objective of Healthy People 2020, SA-17, which decreases the rate of alcohol-impaired

driving fatalities (healthypeople.gov). This is a problem with a high percentage of 27%. Even

with the toughest drunk driving laws within the United States, to include mandatory jail time

with first offense, a real problem is in existence in this community. With Arizona State

University being in close proximity to Old Town and multiple bars within this area, comes

increased risk of drinking and driving which could lead to injury or death. ?The magnitude of

problems posed by excess college student drinking should stimulate both efforts to improve our

measurement of these problems and reduce them? (Hingson, R., Heeren, T., Zakocs, R.,

Kopstein, A., & Wechsler, H., 2002, p.142). With the easy accessibility of alcohol aimed

towards college students and younger populations, this trend may grow before it declines. There

is a growing concern present for the high number of deaths related to this issue as well as the

affect this has on one?s life. Even with a heavy police presence in this area on the weekends, the

high percentage of deaths indicate this is barely making a dent with this problem. In addition to

the loss of life, alcohol related crashes cost taxpayers in this country, both locally and federally

over $51 billion yearly. A study by the NIH showed a large increase on weekend fatalities related

to alcohol consumption as opposed to other days of the week, with those in the age range 16-20, CARING FOR POPULATIONS MILESTONE 2: ASSESSMENT AN

mostly 21-45 primarily affected (pubs.niaaa.nih.gov). This is the primary age range seen in the

Old Town areas on weekend nights, though 45 is on the lower scale.

Summary

Scottsdale does lack resources for dealing with the high percentage of impaired alcohol

related deaths within the community, though it should not, given the median income of the area.

With alcohol being the most widely abused drug and its ease of accessibility, it is not surprising

that most indulge. What is surprising in this area are the harshest drunk driving laws within the

United States and the high percentage of deaths related to it which still persist despite this.

Having personally witnessed the binge drinking that goes on in this young age group within this

section of Scottsdale, it appears to be a problem on the rise. This community appears to be on

the wealthier side and has opportunity as well as an obligation to all of its citizens both young

and old to educate and protect them against this growing number of senseless deaths. 6 CARING FOR POPULATIONS MILESTONE 2: ASSESSMENT AN

References

County Health Rankings, Arizona health rankings. (2016).

http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/arizona/2016/overview

Hingson, R. W., Heeren, T., Zakocs, R. C., Kopstein, A., & Wechsler, H. (2002, March).

Magnitude of Alcohol-Related Mortality and Morbidity among U.S. College Students

Ages 18-24. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 136-144. Retrieved from

collegedrinkingprevention.gov/media/Journal/136-Hingson.sep.pdf

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2002). Epidemiology and Consequences

of Drinking and Driving. Retrieved from pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-1/6378.htm

United States Census Bureau. (2010-2014). U.S. Census Bureau: www.census.gov/quickfacts 7