Windshield Survey A windshield survey is an informal survey where you will

Windshield Survey

A windshield survey is an informal survey where you will drive/walk (with social distancing rules) around the community/area you are researching, and document your observations on the tool provided.

For nurses to be able to knowledgeably plan services for a community, it is essential to know a specific community, identify health-related resources that may be helpful to members, and learn about gaps in services. A windshield survey is conducted from a car/walking and provides a visual overview of a community. Conditions and trends in the community that could affect the health of the population are noted. This data provides background and context for working in the community or for conducting a community assessment.

Cities to survey: You may survey any city in Michigan. Some of you may prefer driving to get the visual of your community, some might prefer walking through one our small towns, or a combination of both. It’s up to you.

Utilize the attached document (Windshield Survey). Use the spaces on the right hand side of the Windshield Survey for your notes. You can write more complete observations once you return home.

Complete the write-up following your survey.

When completed, upload your typed Windshield Survey to BB and send a copy to your Clinical Instructor.

If specific data is required to complete the survey you must reference the source and include a reference page using APA format.  Typically, information/data/statistics can be found online using government sites. See below for some examples of sites to peruse:

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

Search for health issues in your county or community provided by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation. Choose your state and county, then scan through the data to get a sense of the information provided. At the top right of the table you will see “Areas to Explore”. Clicking the On button will highlight any ‘red flag’ areas in the county that are potential challenges to health.

https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/

Another site is HealthyPeople.gov

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/How-to-Use-DATA2020

Please check other city, state, federal websites to obtain the information needed for your survey.

Please be mindful of your personal safety. It may not be safe to survey particular neighborhoods. Do not knowingly put yourself in harms way. Be aware of the neighborhood and the situation.

Preparation for the Windshield Survey

Get familiar with the survey questions.

Use a checklist to be sure you have covered all the questions and observed all the areas needed.

Be as inconspicuous as possible. Not only do people act differently when they know they are being observed, they may also become suspicious or hostile.

Be sure you carry identification.

Take notes along the way. You can also take photos with a camera or cell phone to help you remember what you have seen. Please DO NOT take pictures of individual people or groups, Please do not take pictures or write notes while you are driving!

If you are or have been part of this community and can see differences due to the current STAY AT HOME orders, note this in an additional paragraph stating these factors may be skewed due to the current situation with COVID-19.

NURS 250/Windshield Survey/2020/HA_HB_MM_MS