Assess population health to guide health promotion and disease prevention initiatives. Describe demographic characteristics for a community or state in terms of demographic makeup, ethnicity, and illness and health status.

The organization in which you practice is embarking on a new project to better understand the health care needs of the various populations in the community that it serves. You have been asked to join the project to represent your nursing role group. In the first stage of the project, you have been asked to examine community and state demographics to start identifying patterns and trends that can help inform health care practices and improve quality patient outcomes. It has been suggested that the project team begin by searching out relevant government agencies and resources that will help you locate the demographics for either your community or your state. Specifically, you have been asked to look for information regarding demographic makeup, including ethnicity and levels of illness and health status.

It has been noted that many of these resources should be freely available online.