The assignments in this course are interrelated and based on a practicum experience. The assignments culminate in a final presentation submitted during week 10.  As a nurse, you understand the challenges facing under-served populations.  For this practicum assignment, you will identify a vulnerable, at-risk population in your community.  You will examine the challenges currently facing members of this group and the resources available to assist them.  You will gather information from a variety of sources and interview a professional who is involved in the provision of services to this group.  A vulnerable or at-risk population can be defined as a population with a common identified risk factor or risk exposure presenting a threat to health. Examples of at-risk populations include, but are not limited to the following:

• Urban or rural individuals and families living at or below the poverty line
• Immigrants and non-English-speaking individuals
• Stigmatized or marginalized groups 
• Undocumented workers
• Incarcerated individuals
• The homeless
• The mentally ill 

This five-part assignment is submitted in weeks 3, 5, 8, and 10.  Please refer to the Practicum Assignment link on the navigation pane for an explanation of all steps.  Please read it in its entirety before starting.  

You will work on this assignment over weeks 1-3.  It is submitted at the end of week 3.  In this assignment, you will:

1. Identify your vulnerable, at-risk population of interest.
2. Complete a needs assessment, analyzing data available through scholarly references that is specific to the identified population. At least 3 references should be used to complete the needs assessment
3. Present your needs assessment data by filling out the attached worksheet below. Fill out the chart and answer the questions listed on the worksheet. Attach a reference page to the worksheet to list your references utilized in step 2. 

 I have chosen an article about immunizations and health disparities as our final ethical discussion board.  This is the link to the article:  http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/ethical-issues-and-vaccines. ; This is full of ethical concerns, and I do not want to limit you, so please choose something from the article to discuss, identify an appropriate provision from the nursing code of ethics, and what you think should or could be done to address it.  I think this topic has many personal opinions to it, and you can mention these because the public can have the same and naming helps us figure out how to address those concerns.  Please remember to cite both the article and the book. 

Select two (2) nursing cultural theories or models and one (1) non-nursing theory or model. One of the nursing theories/models must include Madeleine Leininger’s Sunrise Model or Culture Care Diversity and Universality theory. The other theory/model should be a self-assessment model, and the third one should be a model that focuses on enhancing communication in building cultural competence.

Create a PowerPoint presentation that discusses the theories or models, including how you can utilize each model to improve your cultural competence skills.

Your presentation should be at least 15 slides (not including title, objectives, and references slides) with detailed notes for each slide that addresses each of the points/questions, including audio for each slide. Be sure to handle all the points thoroughly. Use clear headings that allow your professor to know which bullet you are addressing on the slides in your presentation. Include at least three (3) graphics. Support your content with citations throughout your presentation. Make sure to reference the citations using the APA writing style for the presentation. Include a slide for your references at the end.

In the Module 4 Discussion, you considered how professional nurses can become involved in policy-making. A critical component of any policy design is evaluation of the results. How comfortable are you with the thought of becoming involved with such matters?

Some nurses may be hesitant to get involved with policy evaluation. The preference may be to focus on the care and well-being of their patients; some nurses may feel ill-equipped to enter the realm of policy and political activities. However, as you have examined previously, who better to advocate for patients and effective programs and policies than nurses? Already patient advocates in interactions with doctors and leadership, why not with government and regulatory agencies?

In this Discussion, you will reflect on the role of professional nurses in policy evaluation.

To Prepare:

• In the Module 4 Discussion, you considered how professional nurses can become involved in policy-making.
• Review the Resources and reflect on the role of professional nurses in policy evaluation.

1. Post an explanation of at least two opportunities that currently exist for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in the policy review. 

2. Explain some of the challenges that these opportunities may present and describe how you might overcome these challenges.

3. Finally, recommend two strategies you might make to better advocate for or communicate the existence of these opportunities. Be specific and provide examples.

The IOM published report, “Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” makes recommendations for lifelong learning and achieving higher levels of education.

In 1,000-1,250 words, examine the importance of nursing education and discuss your overall educational goals.

Include the following:

1. Discuss your options in the job market based on your educational level.
2. Review the IOM Future of Nursing Recommendations for achieving higher levels of education. Describe what professional certification and advanced degrees (MSN, DNP, etc.) you want to pursue and explain your reasons for wanting to attain the education. Discuss your timeline for accomplishing these goals.
3. Discuss how increasing your level of education would affect how your competitiveness in the current job market and your role in the future of nursing.
4. Discuss the relationship of continuing nursing education to competency, attitudes, knowledge, and the ANA Scope and Standards for Practice and Code of Ethics.
5. Discuss whether continuing nursing education should be mandatory. Provide support for your response.

You are required to cite to a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and relevant to nursing practice.  

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. 

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.