In community-based nursing, analyzing multiple components of the specific community are a key factor to successfully develop a plan of action. Community analysis consists of categorizing, summarization, comparison, and inference elaboration. Each phase has a specific purpose for collecting and analyzing the data. Once these four phases have been addressed, concrete information can be reviewed for possible needs of intervention.

Categorization consists of organizing the initial characteristics, such as the demographics, geographic, socioeconomic, and health resources and services (Anderson & McFarlane, 2019). These core components in phase one are paramount in the collection of data process (Golden, Hager, Gould, Mathioudakis, & Pronovost, 2017).

Summarization is a deep dive into each specific category that was identified in phase one. Numbers can be generated in this phase that will allow developing charts and graphs to express the values as a big picture (Anderson & McFarlane, 2019).

Comparison phase is a review of phase one and two data collection and tries to identify any gaps or differences (Anderson & McFarlane, 2019). Clarity can be made in this phase by speaking to members of the community to identify the data stands true.

The final phase is inference elaboration which allows for a logical conclusion that can be written into a nursing diagnosis for the community being evaluated (Anderson & McFarlane, 2019). These nursing diagnoses are supported by the previous three phases of the analysis.

A nursing diagnosis can be developed by utilizing all four phases of the community analysis because of the concrete information obtained throughout the entirety of the process. Data has been collected and reviewed to ensure the information is accurate. Strengths and weaknesses have been identified which allow for the needs to be addressed. Attaching nursing diagnoses to a community enable a nurse to utilize the nursing process to manages the plan of action and evaluate outcomes (Golden et al., 2017).

References

Anderson, E. T., & McFarlane, J. (2019). Community as partner: Theory and practice in nursing (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health.

Golden, S. H., Hager, D., Gould, L. J., Mathioudakis, N., & Pronovost, P. J. (2017). A gap analysis needs assessment tool to drive a care delivery and research agenda for integration of care and sharing of best practices across a health system. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 43(1), 18-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2016.10.004