A nurse is asked, “Why are you so rarely in the department office?” Wh

A nurse is asked, “Why are you so rarely in the department office?” Which of the following would be the most appropriate response?

a. “I have to be where the people are.”
b. “I prefer to write my reports in my car immediately after my intervention.”
c. “I thought I was paid to be in the community, not the office.”
d. “I try to avoid paperwork as much as possible.”

ESSAYBID ANSWER

ANS: A
One of the underlying premises of community health is to “start where the people are.” Therefore, the nurse must spend a great deal of time and effort in the community interacting with community members and must be where the people are. Writing reports in the car, avoiding paperwork, and simply stating one is being paid to be in the community do not demonstrate the nurse’s connection to the community.