NR717 Week 2 Epidemiology and Health Surveillance Discussion
NR717 Week 2 Epidemiology and Health Surveillance Discussion – Step-by-Step Guide With Example Solution
The first step before starting to write the NR717 Week 2 Epidemiology and Health Surveillance Discussion is to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment.
It is also important to identify the paper’s audience and purpose, as this will help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, review its use, including writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review the formatting requirements for the title page and headings in the paper, as outlined by Chamberlain University.
How to Research and Prepare for NR717 Week 2 Epidemiology and Health Surveillance Discussion
The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify a list of keywords related to your topic using various combinations. The first step is to visit the Chamberlain University library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from the Chamberlain University Library, PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last 5 years and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, such as APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list.
You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next, create a detailed outline of the paper to help you develop headings and subheadings for the content. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.
How to Write the Introduction for NR717 Week 2 Epidemiology and Health Surveillance Discussion
The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part, as it helps provide the context of your work and determines whether the reader will be interested in reading through to the end. Begin with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.
How to Write the Body for NR717 Week 2 Epidemiology and Health Surveillance Discussion
The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence collected from the research, and ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance, as well as how it relates to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between paragraphs by using transition words and a flow of ideas.
How to Write the In-text Citations for NR717 Week 2 Epidemiology and Health Surveillance Discussion
In-text citations help readers give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their work. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:
“The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Morelli et al. (2024), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Alawiye (2024) highlights that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.”
How to Write the Conclusion for NR717 Week 2 Epidemiology and Health Surveillance Discussion
When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restating your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. Conclude with a call to action that leaves a lasting impression on the reader or offers recommendations.
How to Format the Reference List for NR717 Week 2 Epidemiology and Health Surveillance Discussion
The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically, and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication.
Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:
References
Morelli, S., Daniele, C., D’Avenio, G., Grigioni, M., & Giansanti, D. (2024). Optimizing telehealth: Leveraging Key Performance Indicators for enhanced telehealth and digital healthcare outcomes (Telemechron Study). Healthcare, 12(13), 1319. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12131319
Alawiye, T. (2024). The impact of digital technology on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. E-Health Telecommunication Systems and Networks, 13, 13-22. 10.4236/etsn.2024.132002.
NR717 Week 2 Epidemiology and Health Surveillance Discussion Instructions
Purpose
The purpose of this discussion is to apply concepts in epidemiology and health surveillance to a selected population.
Instructions
Explore the determinants of health and the National Practice Problems that most affect the population you selected in Week 1. Review the following index to locate an epidemiological report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Have a look at NR717 Week 3 Population Health Interventions Discussion.

Link (website): CDC A-Z Index
This report contains data on specific diseases as reported by state and regional health departments, as well as recommendations that have been issued by the CDC.
Use the index to review the most significant issue pertaining to your selected population and one of the eight National Practice Problems to address the following:
Explore the epidemiologic principles and measures used to address your selected practice problem at the national and specific geographic (city or county level) location for the population you have selected.
Examine the use of descriptive and/or analytic epidemiology to address the practice problem.
Propose how you might use surveillance to influence the determinants of health and improve the health outcomes of your population.
Anticipate any ethical concerns that you might have related to the use of surveillance data in your population.
Please click on the following link to review the DNP Discussion Guidelines on the Student Resource Center program page:
Link (webpage): DNP Discussion Guidelines
Program Competencies
This discussion enables the student to meet the following program competencies:
Analyzes health care policies to advocate for equitable health care and social justice to all populations and those at risk due to social determinants of health. (POs 2, 9)
Translates a synthesis of research and population data to support preventative care and improve the nation’s health. (PO 1)
Leads others in professional identity, advanced clinical judgment, systems thinking, resilience, and accountability in selecting, implementing, and evaluating clinical care. (PO 1)
Course Outcomes
This discussion enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:
Synthesize ethical and legal principles to advocate for value-based, equitable, and ethical health policies at the micro, meso, and macrosystem levels. (PC 5; PO 9)
Assimilate epidemiology principles and interventions to impact the social determinants of health, Global Burden of Disease, and population health outcomes. (PCs 7, 8; PO 1)
NR717 Week 2 Epidemiology and Health Surveillance Discussion Example
Epidemiologic Principles and Measures Used
The health problem selected for the population is health disparities among African Americans in Jackson, Mississippi. Understanding social determinants of health, adopting a lifespan perspective, and creating culturally sensitive interventions are the epidemiological principles used to reduce racial health inequalities (Celentano & Szklo, 2019). The methodology includes analyzing data from population-based surveys on factors such as community environment, incidences, and death rates (Celentano & Szklo, 2019). For instance, because they are less likely to have access to good schools and medical facilities, young black men have a death rate five times greater than young white men.
Use of Descriptive and Analytic Epidemiology
Descriptive epidemiology seeks to understand the nature of health inequalities and the factors contributing to their existence, such as patient and provider demographics and care availability (Platt, 2022). How widespread an illness is, how it varies with age and gender, and whether or not there are any trends can all be answered using this information. On the other hand, analytic epidemiology studies aim to verify a hypothesis on the etiology of health inequalities (CDC, 2019). The goal is to disentangle variations in risky practices or underlying genetic traits from those individuals linked with exposure.
Use of Surveillance to Influence the Determinants of Health
Surveillance would help me take samples from various neighborhood regions and compare them to those from other parts to detect issues in the population and develop viable remedies. This can aid in diagnosing health problems, allowing the most appropriate actions to be implemented. Additionally, it can help identify the intervention requirements and track their success (Celentano & Szklo, 2019). This can be useful for determining if the currently used intervention is working as planned or if it needs to be modified.
Ethical Concerns
The collected and analyzed data should be able to benefit all individuals who have been studied. It is unethical that results from research benefit only a few community members. It is ethically sound to inform the target population about the findings and how well they can utilize them to achieve positive health outcomes.
References
Celentano, D., & Szklo, M. (2019). Gordis epidemiology (6th ed.). Elsevier.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Principles of epidemiology. Accessed on March 5th from https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/section7.html
Platt, W. (2022). The importance of descriptive epidemiology. American Journal of Epidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwac153
Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Appendix G: Individual Evidence Summary Tool
Practice Question: Does perceived racial discrimination in African Americans contribute to poor health, obesity, decreased physical activity, and health disparities?
Date: 03/19/
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Article Number |
Author and Date |
Evidence Type |
Sample, Sample Size, Setting |
Findings That Help Answer the EBP Question |
Observable Measures |
Limitations |
Evidence Level, Quality |
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1 |
Nam, Jeon, S., Ash, G., Whittemore, R., & Vlahov, D. (2021). Racial Discrimination, Sedentary Time, and Physical Activity in African Americans: Quantitative Study Combining Ecological Momentary Assessment and Accelerometers |
Quantitative Intensive, observational, case-crossover design. Non-experimental |
The inclusion criteria were self-reported African American or Black, aged between 30 and 55 years, currently employed, ownership of a smartphone, able to respond to smartphone-based random survey prompts at least 3 times per day, and English speaking. The sample size (n=12) was largely based on guidelines for pilot studies that suggest 10 to 40 participants per cell. At the baseline visit, they loaded the mEMA app, which is compatible with both iOS and Android operating systems, into each participant’s smartphone. Participants were instructed to wear an accelerometer on their right hip during waking hours for 7 consecutive days to obtain at least three weekdays and one weekend day to determine the daily variability. A paper diary was provided, and participants were instructed to fill out the diary on the time they took off (eg, shower) and wore their accelerometers.
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In the examination of within-person level data, on days when participants reported more perceived racial discrimination than usual, more sedentary time was observed in the accelerometer data. The between-person analysis did not duplicate this finding in the study. However, this is consistent with the findings of between-person analysis in a prior study examining the relationship between general psychological stress and sedentary behaviors in other populations: end-of-day general stress ratings were not associated with sedentary time in the between-person analysis. Although findings are mixed, previous studies have shown that neighborhood environments such as walkability, safety, or crime were associated with individuals’ PA levels in the general population. |
Researchers collected repeated real-time racial discrimination exposure data in the natural environment while simultaneously collecting objective measures of sedentary behaviors and PA among African Americans. They also demonstrated the utility and feasibility of EMA coupled with accelerometers in studying the relationship between daily racial discrimination and PA in African Americans. Conventional accelerometer protocols require only 4 valid days for a 7-day wear period to be considered valid. Approximately 83% (10/12) of the participants met the inclusion requirement for valid accelerometer data (≥10 hours/day wear time) and wore the accelerometer 6 out of 7 days, and they also showed high adherence to the EMA protocol. |
Compared with other studies of general psychological stress, the small sample size offered limited evidence supporting racial discrimination as an antecedent to sedentary behaviors or PA. EMA minimizes recall bias and errors. However, it is also possible that the study findings may have been influenced by vigilance to discrimination from the repetitive assessment involved in EMA. In addition, the high CES-D scores observed in the participants may have influenced the associations with perceived racial discrimination or PA. Further studies are needed to confirm the observed findings in light of the limitations of this study, including its small sample size. |
Level III Low |
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Attach a reference list with full citations of articles reviewed for this Practice question.