textbookwindshieldstudy11.rtf

Website Resources15C-2

Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2000, 1995 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2000, 1995 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

Maurer: Community/Public Health Nursing Practice, 5th Edition

Windshield Survey

Website Resource 15C

Use the following topics to guide your observational assessment of the community. Be sure to note the condition of facilities and the presence or absence of services, facilities, housing, and population.

Area: Urban or rural, boundaries, densely or sparsely populated, and general condition of the area (i.e., well or poorly maintained)

Demographics: Observations about the people, including sex (mixed or heavily skewed to one sex), ages (i.e., young, old, mix), homogeneous or culturally mixed, and racial and ethnic characteristics

Amenities and Open Spaces: Parks, tennis courts, swimming pools, recreation areas, movie theaters, skating rinks, sports arenas, or lack thereof

Transportation:

Public: Visible transportation such as buses, cabs, street cars, and subways

Private: Cars, motorcycles, bikes, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and other vehicles, and the condition of the vehicles (i.e., new or old, well or poorly maintained)

Safety: Active or inactive neighborhoods and retail areas, pedestrians, people mingling, children playing, presence of police, presence of gangs, and homes fortified or not (i.e., having safety bars on the windows)

Commercial Buildings and Areas: Type of retail stores and other services such as shopping malls, strip malls, small neighborhood stores, liquor stores, check-cashing establishments, grocery stores, and evidence of industry (i.e., factories in use or abandoned)

Government Offices: Town hall, police station, fire station, court house, human service facilities, and other types of government buildings

Health Services: Drug stores, public clinics, private clinics, hospitals, physicians’ offices, counseling services, drug and alcohol treatment facilities, or other types of health-related buildings and services

Schools Public elementary, middle, or high schools, private schools and types, colleges, and technical schools (e.g., industrial, auto mechanic, beauty schools)

Residential Areas: Types of residences (e.g., apartments, condominiums, row houses, single-family dwellings) and condition (i.e., new or old, well or poorly maintained), condition of lawns or common areas if available, and size of dwellings (i.e., large or small apartment complexes, large or small homes, or a mix)

Religion: Presence or absence of religious facilities, types of facilities (i.e., churches [denominations], synagogues, temples, mosques, convents), and mix of religions represented

Communication: Messages posted, newspaper stands, graffiti, and political signs or other communication efforts

Environment: Condition of air, water, and soil; noticeable smog or haze; and obvious pollutants

Other Observations Pertinent to Your Community