Recreation assignment

Subsystem: Recreation

Overview

Health is determined by influences at multiple levels, which includes recreation, one of the eight subsystems explored when conducting a windshield survey as part of a community assessment. Recreation can have a positive impact on the physical, mental and social health of individuals and their communities. Health professional students will explore ways recreation can be used to promote and support health and gain an understanding of how social interaction and recreation influences health. Mayor Franklin Hill is available to share insight about recreation in Sentinel City®.

Learning Objectives

· Recognize infrastructures that support and encourage physical activity

· Identify social conditions in a community that can have a negative influence on health

· Describe the social benefits of recreation

· Understand how social interaction and recreation influences health

Assignment Instructions

1. Review the following resources:

a. Course textbook and/or other assigned readings

b. Review social determinants of health

c. Meet with Mayor Hill to learn about recreation opportunities in the city

d. Suggested Supplemental Resources

e. Physical Activity Council 2017 Participant Report at http://www.physicalactivitycouncil.com/PDFs/current.pdf

f. Fast Facts on the State of Obesity in America at http://stateofobesity.org/fastfacts/

g. President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition at https://www.fitness.gov/resource-center/facts-and-statistics/

2. Enter SC® and begin the bus tour of your SC with a focus on your selected community.

3. As you tour the city, observe where children are playing. Do you see teens or adults engaged in any forms of recreation? Are recreation facilities available for all ages? Are environmental (i.e. walking trails) and physical infrastructures in place to encourage physical activity or recreation? Note what you see and what you do not see! How does you community compare to SC at large?

4. Research physical, mental health, and social benefits of recreation.

5. Explore various social benefits of recreation.

6. For questions, contact your Academic Coach.

References

AACN Public Health Essentials

This assignment addresses the following AACN Public Health Essentials:

· Essential II: Basic Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Care and Patient Safety

· Apply systems theory to PHN practice with individuals, families, and groups.

· Essential III: Essential III: Scholarship for Evidence-Based Practice

· Use epidemiologic data and the ecological perspective to identify health risks for a population.

· Essential VII: Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Optimizing Health

· Practice evidence-based public health nursing to promote the health of individuals, families, and groups.

· Essential IX: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice

· Use basic descriptive epidemiological methods when conducting a health assessment for individuals, families, and groups.