-· 206 'i Ht: PLANNING CYCLE \\,'"' \':t11 tlw nur,;<' 11111k1 the 1>lanning process simple an<l uncomplicntcd so people :\\"<' nbk h 1',u-lkip11tl· in it? Often, people Jose interest in planning because of the t\,·hni,·:1l la11g11:11. ~l-:111ll pr11cc,;s that nurses and olbcr p1·orc:ssio11:1ls use. This need not "-' th,, <":1,;,: 1wopll' 1,110w helter about their community; they,il::;c> ;;ire :wticulale about 1h,i1· m·,·d,-:111d lhl·ir pn1hl L·ms. Whal the nun;e or olhe1· health professionals nc:etl to \\,, is t., t:wilital, p,oph to express 1. hc:msc:lvc:s. A common 1cehniq11c for pl;111ning Lo lw p:11·1i,·ip:11ory is In ask k:ncl qu1:stions for people lo tliscuss about. The n111·sc and tlw l'lll1lt111111ity can go about lhe planning cycle guided by the followin~ questions (Mtn:11clo 199:{): Situationa l Analysis Gather health data Tabulate, analyze and interpret data Evaluation Determi ne outcomes Specify criteria and standard Strategy/Activity Setting Design Intervention programs and srrategie s Ascertain resources Analyze constraints and limitations How do we get there? Situational Analysis Identify health problems Set priorities Goal and Objective Setting Define program goals and objectives Assign priorities among objectives . Auswering Lhc question "\-Vhere are we now?" involves the process of collecting, synthesi7. ing, nnolyzi ng and i ntcrpreting in formotion inn munner l'hnt provides a clear pict11rn of the health stlll"us of the community. It brings out the health problems of tl1e communit y. In this phase of the planning cycle, the nurse, togctherwit J1 the community idcn1ify Hnd provide explanation 10 the problems. After the nurse :ind the people have g:itliercd data abont the: he Hlth status of lhe communit y, they identify and proceed 