Adding value to stretched communities through nursing actions: The Wellington South Nursing Initiative
Katherine M Nelson
Graduate School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Signe Christensen
Public Health Nurse, Regional Public Health, Hutt District Health Board, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Beverley Aspros
Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, Wellington, New Zealand
Eileen McKinlay
Department of General Practice, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
Kerri Arcus
Lecturer, Whitireia Community Polytechnic, Porirua City, New Zealand
PP: 087 - 102
Abstract
Nurses provide health services to many groups with unmet health needs. Communities with consistently unmet needs are generally 'stretched' as they are under pressure. For children and families this pressure impacts their ability to live healthy lifestyles.
The Wellington South Nursing Initiative involves two nurses providing an innovative population-based nursing service to stretched urban communities, particularly children and families, predominantly through networking and project work. Projects are specifically focused activities developed and implemented to address areas of health need. The projects cluster around five overarching areas: enhancing individual and community potential, growing safer families and communities, minimising negative harmful or risky behaviour, maximising general health and wellbeing and addressing specific health needs.
Critical elements of the nurses' practice are the use of public health principles combined with a community development approach, relational practice and working for sustainability. The initiative provides important insights into how nurses can enter and work with communities and enhance the potential of children, families and the wider community.
Keywords
stretched communities; children; community development; relational practice; sustainability; population health; public health
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