NURSING PRACTICE

Nursing Practice

Nursing Practice

A. Assessment

1. The Environment

Berlin was incorporated as a township on April 11, 1910, from portions of Waterford Township. Portions of the township were taken on March 29, 1927, to form Berlin Borough, based on the results of a referendum held on April 26, 1927.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.4 km²), all of it land. Berlin Township borders Berlin Borough, Lindenwold, Voorhees, and Waterford. Berlin Township also borders Evesham Township in Burlington County. West Berlin is an unincorporated community located within the township.

In 1973, Berlin Township changed its form of government from the Township Form to a Faulkner Act Small Municipality form. Its structure includes four Council members and a Mayor all elected at large for three-year terms. The candidates run in political parties at regular primary and general election time. Independent candidates, having declared their intentions at primary time, run only in the general election.

This type of government is a “strong mayor” form in which the Mayor, as chief executive, is responsible for all administrative functions. The Mayor presides at Council meetings, voting and participating as a member of Council. The Mayor appoints, with Council's approval, the following: Tax Assessor, Tax Collector, Clerk, Treasurer, Zoning Officer, Construction Official, Court Administrator, Attorney and Engineer. The Mayor is responsible for the budget; enforcing the charter (State law) and all ordinances (local laws), and the preparation of an annual report for the Council and residents.

The Council has legislative and policy-making power. It elects a Council President annually to preside in the Mayor's absence. The Mayor appoints Council members to serve as liaisons to the Recreation Committee, Finance Committee, Athletic Association, Public Works, Special Events, School Board, Public Safety and Senior Citizens. The Mayor and one council member are members of the Planning and Zoning Board. The Mayor of Berlin Township is Phyllis Jeffries-Magazzu.

2. The Population

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,290 people, 1,893 households, and 1,368 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,628.9 people per square mile (628.5/km²). There were 2,009 housing units at an average density of 618.6/sq mi (238.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 82.46% White, 11.87% African American, 0.17% Native American, 2.70% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.80% of the population.

There were 1,893 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the township the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, ...