Community Study Guide for the HESI
Keep in mind: This guide does not necessarily mean you will see these topics. There
may be other topics that are not included here. I just did an internet search to see which
topics are most frequently covered and have tried to give you some pointers here.
Review Healthy People 2020 objectives in the chapters of your textbook- Just
familiarize yourself with them. These are the basis for community health
programs. Page 80, 201
Leading Health Indicators
1. Access to Health Services
2. Clinical Preventative Services
3. Environmental quality
4. Injury and violence
5. Maternal, Infant, and Child health
6. Mental health
7. Nutrition, physical activity, and obesity
8. Oral health
9. Reproductive and sexual health
10.Social determinants
11.Substance abuse
12.Tobacco
Population Groups across the Lifespan and their
Health Risks Infants
Number 1 cause of injury or death is suffocation followed by Motor Vehicle
Accident then Homicide.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Infection is the most significant cause of illness in infants and children.
Vertical transmission of infection- Passage of a disease-causing agent
(pathogen) from mother to baby during the period immediately
before and after birth. Transmission might occur across the placenta,
in the breast milk, or through direct contact during or after birth. For
example, HIV can be a vertically transmitted pathogen. Also known
as perinatal transmission.
Children
Obesity – Healthy people objectives have addressed youth fitness and obesity
Defined by using BMI which is a ratio of weight to height
Risks for childhood obesity were related to obesity in the parents
Obesity rates are higher in populations such as Native American, Hispanic, and
African Americans groups. Lower socioeconomic groups in urban settings
, have been associated with higher rates.
Injuries and Accidents- Number one cause of death in ages 1 – 24 yrs.
Motor vehicles accidents are the leading cause of death among children and teenagers.
Toddlers experience a large number of falls, poisonings, and motor vehicle accidents
Lead poison from lead based paint in older homes is a health concern.
Lead has detrimental effects particularly on the neuro system.
Can decrease IQ. If on WIC and have lead poisoning the program will provide
additional foods high in calcium and iron.
Review treatment of lead poison. – Chelation therapy and a diet high in calcium,
vitamin C and iron. Don’t want BLL > 5mcg/dL
Infant Mortality Rate: the measure most commonly used around the world as
an indicator of overall health and availability of health services. May want to
review how to calculate it. #of infants <1 who die/ # of live births in same year
School age children have the lowest injury death rate; however, this group has
difficulty judging speed and distance, placing them at risk for pedestrian and bicycle
accidents. Vision screening in young children would match shapes or colors.
Adolescents : Injury accounts for 75% of all deaths and risk-taking
becomes more conscious at this time especially among males.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youths between the
ages of 15 and 24. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth
between the ages of 10 and 24 years. Community health programs for
adolescents should focus on suicide prevention.
Developing a smoking program for adolescents- first want to determine the
incidence of smoking among the teenagers in the community.
Menomune vaccine given to adults younger than 30. It prevents infection by certain
groups of meningococcal bacteria. Discharge teaching- give Tylenol, watch for signs and
symptoms of reaction such as fever, behavior change, seizures or difficulty breathing.
Acute Illness- also a significant cause of illness in children.
Chronic Health Problems- improved medical technology has increased the
number of children surviving with chronic health problems. Examples: Down
Syndrome, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, asthma, diabetes, congenital heart
disease, cancer, hemophilia, broncopulmonary dysplasia, and AIDS
Routine immunizations have been very successful in preventing selected
diseases. Immunization rates are the amount of people that get scheduled
vaccines. These rates are used as quality indicators of the health of the
population. Review the immunization schedule in children.**
, Good nutrition is essential for healthy growth and development and influences
disease prevention in later life. e.g. Children and adolescents calcium intake
affects if they develop osteoporosis in adulthood.
Women
The women’s health movement was pivotal in bringing national recognition to
women’s health issues.
Women have a longer life expectancy than men
Women are more likely to have acute and chronic conditions that require
them to use more services than men.
African-American or black women are statistically more likely to have poor
health outcomes because of poor understanding of health, lack of access to
health care, and lifestyle practices.
Heart disease leading cause of death in women
Lung Cancer leading cause of cancer in women and 2 nd leading cause of death
Men
Men are physiologically the more vulnerable gender, shorter life span and
higher infant mortality rate
Life expectancy of men in the US is one of the lowest in the developed
countries Men engage in more risk-taking behaviors than women
Men tend to avoid diagnosis and treatment of illnesses that may result in
serious health problems
Elderly
Steadily growing population
Increase in chronic conditions, demand for services, and strained health
care budgets More older adults live in the community- Age in place
Nurses address the chronic health concerns of elders with a focus on
maintaining or improving self-care and preventing complications to
maintain the highest possible quality of life.
Assessing the elderly incorporates physical, psychological, social, and spiritual
domains. Individual and community focused interventions involve all three levels
of prevention through collaborative practice.
What vaccines should the elderly receive and how often?
-Tetanus diphtheria every 10 years
-Influenza vaccine annually
-Pneumonia vaccine once after age 65 (ask physician about booster
every 5 years) -Herpes Zoster (shingles) one time dose at age 60. -Hep A
and B for those at risk
U.S. Healthcare problems
More than 43 million people in the United States are uninsured, and many
more simply lack access to adequate health care.
Keep in mind: This guide does not necessarily mean you will see these topics. There
may be other topics that are not included here. I just did an internet search to see which
topics are most frequently covered and have tried to give you some pointers here.
Review Healthy People 2020 objectives in the chapters of your textbook- Just
familiarize yourself with them. These are the basis for community health
programs. Page 80, 201
Leading Health Indicators
1. Access to Health Services
2. Clinical Preventative Services
3. Environmental quality
4. Injury and violence
5. Maternal, Infant, and Child health
6. Mental health
7. Nutrition, physical activity, and obesity
8. Oral health
9. Reproductive and sexual health
10.Social determinants
11.Substance abuse
12.Tobacco
Population Groups across the Lifespan and their
Health Risks Infants
Number 1 cause of injury or death is suffocation followed by Motor Vehicle
Accident then Homicide.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Infection is the most significant cause of illness in infants and children.
Vertical transmission of infection- Passage of a disease-causing agent
(pathogen) from mother to baby during the period immediately
before and after birth. Transmission might occur across the placenta,
in the breast milk, or through direct contact during or after birth. For
example, HIV can be a vertically transmitted pathogen. Also known
as perinatal transmission.
Children
Obesity – Healthy people objectives have addressed youth fitness and obesity
Defined by using BMI which is a ratio of weight to height
Risks for childhood obesity were related to obesity in the parents
Obesity rates are higher in populations such as Native American, Hispanic, and
African Americans groups. Lower socioeconomic groups in urban settings
, have been associated with higher rates.
Injuries and Accidents- Number one cause of death in ages 1 – 24 yrs.
Motor vehicles accidents are the leading cause of death among children and teenagers.
Toddlers experience a large number of falls, poisonings, and motor vehicle accidents
Lead poison from lead based paint in older homes is a health concern.
Lead has detrimental effects particularly on the neuro system.
Can decrease IQ. If on WIC and have lead poisoning the program will provide
additional foods high in calcium and iron.
Review treatment of lead poison. – Chelation therapy and a diet high in calcium,
vitamin C and iron. Don’t want BLL > 5mcg/dL
Infant Mortality Rate: the measure most commonly used around the world as
an indicator of overall health and availability of health services. May want to
review how to calculate it. #of infants <1 who die/ # of live births in same year
School age children have the lowest injury death rate; however, this group has
difficulty judging speed and distance, placing them at risk for pedestrian and bicycle
accidents. Vision screening in young children would match shapes or colors.
Adolescents : Injury accounts for 75% of all deaths and risk-taking
becomes more conscious at this time especially among males.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youths between the
ages of 15 and 24. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth
between the ages of 10 and 24 years. Community health programs for
adolescents should focus on suicide prevention.
Developing a smoking program for adolescents- first want to determine the
incidence of smoking among the teenagers in the community.
Menomune vaccine given to adults younger than 30. It prevents infection by certain
groups of meningococcal bacteria. Discharge teaching- give Tylenol, watch for signs and
symptoms of reaction such as fever, behavior change, seizures or difficulty breathing.
Acute Illness- also a significant cause of illness in children.
Chronic Health Problems- improved medical technology has increased the
number of children surviving with chronic health problems. Examples: Down
Syndrome, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, asthma, diabetes, congenital heart
disease, cancer, hemophilia, broncopulmonary dysplasia, and AIDS
Routine immunizations have been very successful in preventing selected
diseases. Immunization rates are the amount of people that get scheduled
vaccines. These rates are used as quality indicators of the health of the
population. Review the immunization schedule in children.**
, Good nutrition is essential for healthy growth and development and influences
disease prevention in later life. e.g. Children and adolescents calcium intake
affects if they develop osteoporosis in adulthood.
Women
The women’s health movement was pivotal in bringing national recognition to
women’s health issues.
Women have a longer life expectancy than men
Women are more likely to have acute and chronic conditions that require
them to use more services than men.
African-American or black women are statistically more likely to have poor
health outcomes because of poor understanding of health, lack of access to
health care, and lifestyle practices.
Heart disease leading cause of death in women
Lung Cancer leading cause of cancer in women and 2 nd leading cause of death
Men
Men are physiologically the more vulnerable gender, shorter life span and
higher infant mortality rate
Life expectancy of men in the US is one of the lowest in the developed
countries Men engage in more risk-taking behaviors than women
Men tend to avoid diagnosis and treatment of illnesses that may result in
serious health problems
Elderly
Steadily growing population
Increase in chronic conditions, demand for services, and strained health
care budgets More older adults live in the community- Age in place
Nurses address the chronic health concerns of elders with a focus on
maintaining or improving self-care and preventing complications to
maintain the highest possible quality of life.
Assessing the elderly incorporates physical, psychological, social, and spiritual
domains. Individual and community focused interventions involve all three levels
of prevention through collaborative practice.
What vaccines should the elderly receive and how often?
-Tetanus diphtheria every 10 years
-Influenza vaccine annually
-Pneumonia vaccine once after age 65 (ask physician about booster
every 5 years) -Herpes Zoster (shingles) one time dose at age 60. -Hep A
and B for those at risk
U.S. Healthcare problems
More than 43 million people in the United States are uninsured, and many
more simply lack access to adequate health care.
