Nursing students play a vital role in improving population health outcomes, especially through applied learning in the field of public health. Whether you’re designing a practicum, conducting research, or planning your capstone, choosing the right topic is crucial.

This guide offers a comprehensive list of community health project ideas for nursing students across a range of categories – including health promotion, special populations, research, and innovation. Each section includes project ideas that are practical, evidence-based, and aligned with real-world community needs.

Why Community Health Projects Matter in Nursing

Community health projects help bridge the gap between academic theory and frontline practice. These projects give nursing students the opportunity to assess population health issues, design interventions, evaluate outcomes, and create meaningful change in underserved or at-risk populations.

Whether you’re addressing chronic disease management, promoting wellness, or tackling barriers to care, your work can directly impact community well-being – while also advancing your own clinical, leadership, and research skills.

Health Promotion Project Ideas

Prevention remains one of the most powerful tools in public health. These health promotion project ideas allow students to educate, empower, and equip communities with the tools they need to take control of their health.

• Design a smoking cessation program for teens in low-income schools
  
  
• Develop a nutrition education workshop for parents of young children
  
  
• Create a mental health awareness campaign for college campuses
  
  
• Implement a fall prevention program for older adults
  
  
• Launch a dental hygiene curriculum in elementary schools
  
  
• Create educational materials about postpartum depression
  
  
• Build a social media campaign about alcohol risk reduction
  
  
• Organize health fairs focusing on blood pressure and cholesterol checks
  
  
• Facilitate yoga and mindfulness sessions for stress relief in local clinics
  
  
• Create vaccine awareness workshops for immigrant communities
  
  

These health promotion topics nursing students pursue often double as practicum or capstone projects, with lasting impact.

Access to Care & Special Populations

Equitable access is a cornerstone of community nursing. These community health project ideas address systemic barriers that underserved groups often face.

• Establish a telehealth program for elderly patients with limited mobility
  
  
• Partner with shelters to deliver wound care to unhoused individuals
  
  
• Develop a support group for caregivers of patients with dementia
  
  
• Launch a sexual health education series for LGBTQ+ youth
  
  
• Coordinate transportation support services for medical appointments
  
  
• Create a mobile health screening program in rural areas
  
  
• Provide maternal education classes for pregnant teens
  
  
• Build digital health literacy programs for immigrant communities
  
  
• Develop a culturally sensitive diabetes prevention workshop
  
  
• Start a peer mentoring initiative for at-risk high schoolers
  
  

These community health nursing topics are ideal for students looking to serve diverse populations and address social determinants of health.

School-Based Community Projects

Schools are essential hubs for health education and outreach. These ideas focus on integrating public health strategies into K-12 and university settings.

• Launch a menstrual hygiene awareness project in middle schools
  
  
• Create healthy snack workshops for elementary students
  
  
• Build a “Fitness Friday” activity plan for school-aged children
  
  
• Train student ambassadors to promote peer mental health awareness
  
  
• Coordinate annual vision and hearing screenings with local providers
  
  
• Design a vaping and substance use prevention curriculum for teens
  
  
• Host parent-teacher health nights on nutrition and home safety
  
  
• Develop back-to-school wellness kits for underserved families
  
  
• Start a school garden and nutrition program
  
  
• Introduce mindfulness sessions to reduce classroom stress
  
  

These school-based community health projects strengthen long-term health literacy starting at an early age.

Public Health Project Ideas

Public health extends beyond the clinic. Here are scalable public health project ideas that nursing students can develop collaboratively with schools, agencies, or local health departments.

• Plan a community-wide emergency preparedness drill
  
  
• Design a campaign on proper handwashing in public schools
  
  
• Develop a water sanitation awareness workshop for children
  
  
• Conduct air quality monitoring and data sharing in polluted zones
  
  
• Organize a “Clean Streets” initiative to reduce injury hazards
  
  
• Launch a community fridge to address food insecurity
  
  
• Educate on mosquito-borne illness prevention in summer camps
  
  
• Collaborate on reducing medication waste and safe disposal
  
  
• Provide safety education on fire and carbon monoxide risks
  
  
• Advocate for local policies supporting breastfeeding-friendly spaces
  
  

These community health projects often involve interprofessional collaboration and civic partnerships.

Research-Based Community Health Project Topics

If you’re working on a thesis or evidence-based paper, these community health research topics offer a foundation for study. You’ll contribute to the body of knowledge while building critical inquiry skills.

Clinical Research Topics

• Evaluate nurse-led hypertension management in underserved clinics
  
  
• Study the impact of prenatal education on maternal health outcomes
  
  
• Research vaccination hesitancy in urban vs. rural populations
  
  
• Investigate medication adherence in low-income diabetic patients
  
  
• Analyze ER visit patterns in uninsured populations
  
  

Population Health Research

• Study mental health stigma among high school students
  
  
• Explore correlations between housing instability and chronic illness
  
  
• Research food desert prevalence and diet-related health conditions
  
  
• Analyze cultural barriers to preventive screenings
  
  
• Study COVID-19 impact on access to cancer care services
  
  

Quality Improvement Research

• Study care coordination effectiveness in community clinics
  
  
• Evaluate fall prevention outcomes in long-term care facilities
  
  
• Investigate readmission rates linked to discharge education quality
  
  
• Study nurse burnout and mental health in high-stress units
  
  
• Assess infection control compliance in small healthcare centers
  
  

Each of these topics can be adapted to align with IRB guidelines, faculty goals, and local community needs.

Innovation and Technology Projects

Modern nursing integrates technology into care delivery and education. These healthcare projects for students focus on innovation and digital tools to extend the reach of nursing practice.

• Design an app that tracks hydration and medication reminders for seniors
  
  
• Build a chatbot that provides answers to common women’s health questions
  
  
• Use wearable devices to monitor sleep hygiene in shift workers
  
  
• Create QR-based wellness posters that link to interactive health content
  
  
• Develop a virtual reality module for stress reduction in pre-op patients
  
  
• Pilot remote blood pressure monitoring in post-stroke rehab
  
  
• Create a TikTok series debunking nutrition myths for teens
  
  
• Implement a digital check-in tool for maternal clinics
  
  
• Use AI to personalize follow-up care plans for chronic disease patients
  
  
• Build an online peer-support group moderated by nursing students
  
  

These projects are especially strong candidates for technology fellowships or grant funding.

Community Health Projects Examples in Practicum Settings

If you’re doing a community practicum or hands-on rotation, consider these community health projects examples that have been successfully implemented by past nursing students.

• Lead a “Healthy Lunches” class at a local elementary school
  
  
• Coordinate a vaccination clinic in partnership with the health department
  
  
• Develop culturally appropriate STI education materials for adolescents
  
  
• Organize weekly home visits for postpartum support
  
  
• Design a school-based asthma management plan
  
  
• Create a teen-led health ambassador program
  
  
• Coordinate a walking group to encourage exercise among seniors
  
  
• Set up blood pressure kiosks at community centers
  
  
• Host a health education booth at a farmer’s market
  
  
• Run weekly prenatal yoga sessions and childbirth education
  
  

Want to add more complexity to your practicum? Combine two initiatives – such as pairing a health fair with a mobile vaccine unit, or launching a multilingual resource hub alongside community screenings.

Tips for Selecting the Right Project

Choosing the right topic isn’t just about interest – it’s about alignment. Here’s how to pick a topic that sets you up for success:

1. Assess your community’s needs – What’s currently missing or underserved?
   
   
2. Consider your skills – Do you have experience or passion for mental health, pediatrics, or geriatrics?
   
   
3. Think about feasibility – Can you complete the project with the time and resources available?
   
   
4. Consult your faculty or preceptor – They can help guide scope, ethics, and methodology.
   
   
5. Plan for sustainability – Consider how the project could be continued after you graduate.
   
   

Remember: the best community health project ideas for nursing students are those that combine evidence, creativity, compassion, and practicality.

Collaborative Partnerships for Greater Impact

One of the most effective ways to elevate your community health project is by forming strong partnerships. Collaborating with local organizations not only strengthens your outreach but also ensures that your project aligns with real community needs and can be sustained after your involvement ends.

Start by identifying key stakeholders in your area – this might include local clinics, nonprofit organizations, schools, faith-based groups, public health departments, or even small businesses. Approach them with a clear project outline, your goals, and how the partnership will benefit both parties.

For example, teaming up with a community center could help you run weekly wellness workshops or offer a space for support group meetings. Partnering with a local grocery store might allow you to set up a nutrition education booth or distribute healthy recipes.

These collaborations can also provide valuable mentorship, resources, and credibility to your work. Additionally, they give you exposure to interprofessional teamwork – an essential skill in modern healthcare.

When you build your project around real partnerships, you’re no longer working in isolation. You’re becoming a connector between the healthcare system and the community – and that’s where the real impact begins.

Final Thoughts: Make Your Project Matter

Community-based nursing isn’t about checking a box – it’s about showing up, listening, solving, and supporting. With the right planning and partnerships, your project can become a springboard for long-term improvements in public health.

By focusing on real-world community health projects, your work goes beyond the classroom. You’ll develop your clinical voice, enhance your problem-solving skills, and – most importantly – make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.

No matter your interest – whether it’s health education, clinical outreach, or innovative tech – use this list to inspire your next big step as a future nurse leader.