Considering the topics in public health nursing, what healthcare issue related to your DNP project, can be addressed from a population health standpoint (i.e., tobacco use or substance abuse)? Discuss the continuum of care and continuity of care and their relationship to the individual, family, and community across the life span, as well as health promotion, disease prevention, and healthcare disparities related to your topic of interest.
ontinuity of Care
Continuity of Care refers to the degree to which a series of discrete healthcare events are experienced as coherent and consistent over time. It ensures seamless transitions between levels of care and providers.
Individual & Family: For T2DM, continuity is crucial. It means the patient's primary care provider (PCP) communicates effectively with the endocrinologist, the pharmacist, and the nephrologist (if kidney disease develops). The family acts as a stable support system, reinforcing the same health messages (e.g., medication timing, diet) regardless of the setting.
Community: From a population health perspective, continuity involves a community health worker (CHW) following a patient from the hospital back to their home to ensure they understand discharge instructions and have scheduled follow-up appointments with their PCP. This seamless transition prevents hospital readmissions for preventable complications.
Sample Answer
Healthcare Issue: Poorly Controlled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)
The healthcare issue related to population health is the epidemic of poorly controlled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). This issue moves beyond the individual's disease to encompass the high prevalence, enormous healthcare cost, reduced quality of life, and significant burden of preventable macro- and microvascular complications (e.g., heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, amputations) within the community.
Continuum of Care
The Continuum of Care describes the full range of health services from the time a person is born to the end of life, encompassing different levels of intensity and setting.