EDGEWOOD COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF NURSING

NRS211

WINDSHIELD SURVEY

PURPOSE TO ASSIST YOU IN IDENTIFYING OBJECTIVE DATA WHICH WILL HELP DEFINE THE COMMUNITY, TRENDS, STABILITY, AND CHANGES THAT MAY AFFECT THE HEALTH OF THE CLIENT YOU ARE VISITING.

 You are to assess the neighborhood where your client lives.  Submit your report on line to your instructor.

 BOUNDARIES
Are there boundaries (e.g., highway, railroad, lake, river, a different terrain, presence of industrial or commercial units along with residential?)?

Does the neighborhood have an identity, a name?  If so, is it displayed?

Are there unofficial names?

Are there sub-communities within the area?

 HOUSING & ZONING  
How old are the houses, what style, of what materials are they constructed?

Are all the neighborhood houses similar?

If not, how would you characterize the differences?

Are there single or multi-family homes?

What size are the lots (approximately)?

Are there signs of disrepair (broken doors, steps, windows)?

Are there vacant houses?

 SIGNS OF DECAY  
Does the neighborhood show signs of improvements or being "run down"?

Is it "alive"?  How would you decide?

Is there trash, abandoned cars, boarded up buildings, rubble, dilapidated buildings, rubble-filled vacant lots, poor drainage, potential disease vector areas?

 PARKS & RECREATIONAL AREAS  
Are there parks & recreational areas in the neighborhood?

Is the open space public or private?

Who uses it?

 "COMMONS"  
What are the neighborhood hangouts?

For what groups, at what hours?  (e.g., school year, candy store, bar, restaurant, park, community buildings).

Does the "Commons" have a sense of territoriality or is it open to strangers?

 STORES  
What supermarkets or neighborhood stores are available?

How do residents travel to the store?

Are there drug stores, laundries, dry cleaners?

 TRANSPORTATION  
How do people get in and out of the neighborhood?

What is the condition of the streets?

Is there a major highway near the neighborhood?

Whom does it serve?

Is public transportation available?

 SERVICE CENTERS  
Are there social agencies, recreation centers, schools?

Are there health care providers-physicians, dentists, clinics, emergency rooms, hospitals?

 STREET PEOPLE  
Who is on the streets?  (e.g., women, children, teenagers, community health nurses, collection agents, salesmen)?

How are they dressed?

What animals do you see (e.g., strays, pets, other)?

 PROTECTIVE SERVICES  
Is there evidence of police & fire protection in the area?

 RACE  
Are there various racial groups in the neighborhood?

How many are there?

 ETHNICITY/RELIGION  
What churches & church schools are in the neighborhood?

How many are there?

 CLASS  
How would you categorize the residents:  upper, lower, upper middle, middle, working, etc.?  On what do you base this judgment?

 HEALTH & SAFETY  
Is there evidence of accidents, substance abuse, poor lighting on streets, poor sidewalk/street condition?  On what do you base this judgment?

Are cyclists wearing helmets?

Are sidewalks clear of snow/ice (in winter), obstacles?

 YOUR SUMMARY OF THE OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Return to Weekly Schedule/Assignments.