OBJECTIVES OF COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING

General Objective

To prepare nursing students with the theoretical knowledge, practical competencies, and critical thinking abilities required to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate comprehensive community-based health care services by applying the nursing process, participating in village adoption programs, aligning with national and global health goals, collaborating with local self-governments, and utilizing data-driven and evidence-based approaches in primary health care settings.

Specific objectives

1. To Develop Comprehensive Community Health Database

• Create and maintain a detailed, up-to-date database of the assigned population, including demographic, morbidity, fertility, immunization, nutrition, and service utilization indicators.
• Use this data to conduct community health needs assessments, plan interventions, identify vulnerable groups, and support academic research and evidence-based practice.

2. To participate in Sustainable Community Engagement through Village Adoption

• Establish a long-term and sustainable presence in adopted villages, fostering trust and continuity of care.
• Collaborate with ASHAs, ANMs, Anganwadi workers, and other local health teams to implement need-based, culturally appropriate health initiatives.
• Promote community participation and ownership in planning and evaluating health programs.

3. To work in Alignment with Global and National Health Goals

• Align teaching and service activities with:
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3): Good Health and Well-being
• National Health Policy (2017)
• Ayushman Bharat, especially Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs)
• Integrate climate-resilient health strategies, gender sensitivity, and equity in healthcare access into community health practice and student training.

4. To develop Linkages with Local Self-Government (Panchayat Raj Institutions)

• Collaborate actively with Gram Panchayats to:
• Contribute to village-level health action plans.
• Integrate with District Health Action Plans (DHAPs) for broader systemic impact.
• Participate in Gram Sabhas and advocate for health and sanitation priorities in rural governance.

5. To organise Leadership and Professional Development

• Build student capacity in health planning, advocacy, leadership, and community organizing.
• Encourage active participation in health camps, awareness rallies, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan activities, and school health programs.
• Develop competencies to lead interdisciplinary teams and work effectively in public health emergencies or outbreaks.

6. To conduct Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation

• Encourage student-led community-based research projects on priority health issues such as malnutrition, maternal health, or NCDs.
• Promote use of monitoring and evaluation tools, such as checklists, scorecards, and participatory appraisal techniques.
• Support the preparation of community health reports, case studies, and presentations for dissemination to academic and local stakeholders.

7. To conduct Institutional Visits for Holistic Learning and Service Integration

• Organize educational visits to key institutions to expose students to multi-level health service delivery and intersectoral collaboration. Examples include:
• Primary Health Centres (PHC) and Community Health Centres (CHC)
• District hospitals, Urban Health Training Centres (UHTCs)
• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) projects
• NGOs working in maternal and child health, communicable disease control, and nutrition
• Facilitate exposure to public health labs, AYUSH centres, schools, and panchayat offices to understand the broader health system.
• Use these visits for needs assessment, understanding resource mapping, and reinforcing the importance of comprehensive primary care in real-world settings.