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Ideas for Community Nursing Projects

Whether fulfilling a requirement towards your degree or an emotional need to serve the community, it is beneficial to have many different ideas for your nursing projects. These projects help the community by arming people with the tools and information they need to live healthy lives. You may have been surprised by some things you've learned about health and nutrition while studying to become a nurse. Use these lessons to help teach techniques that will help others avoid ill health.

  1. How to Avoid Heart Disease

    • In 2006, nearly 37 percent of the population had some form of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association. It is essential that the community be armed with ways to prevent heart disease, as so many people are touched by this illness. Plan a one-day program at your local community center to educate the public about heart disease. Explain the statistics, and who is at risk. Discuss lifestyle changes that can prevent this disease, such as adopting a nutritious diet, exercising regularly and managing stress. Provide information on how to implement these changes within the community. Offer healthy recipes and partner with a local gym to offer a discount or incentive to your program's participants.

    Stress Management

    • Partner with a local college to perform a lecture on stress management. Many college students are under an enormous amount of pressure, so you can teach them techniques they can use immediately to reduce stress levels. You won't be able to remove their stress triggers, but you can teach them how to handle it. Talk about physical responses to stress, including how your brain and heart react, what stress does to your skin and how some experts believe stress can cause disease. Discuss the importance of a full night of sleep, and how vitamins and supplements can help your body fight stress. At the end of the lecture, give out pamphlets outlining ways to avoid stress. It should include everything you've discussed, such as specific supplements with dosage information and techniques to get a better quality sleep.

    Importance of Vitamin D

    • According to a 2009 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the vitamin D levels in the average American's blood is insufficient and declining. The Vitamin D Council links the deficiency of this vitamin to many diseases and disorders, including autism, depression and cancer. Educate a group at your community's senior center about the importance of taking enough vitamin D. Encourage them to get their blood levels tested and talk to their doctors about treatment, if they have a deficiency. Hand out pamphlets, outlining recommended doses of the vitamin for their age, and information on how they can get more vitamin D from their diet and spending more time outdoors.

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