Final answer:
The first step in developing a community health program is to determine the community's health needs by identifying critical problems and gathering relevant information.
Step-by-step explanation:
When planning to develop a community health program, the first action a community health nurse should take is to determine the need. This involves identifying critical problems and barriers of health within the community by gathering information through literature review, community engagement, and understanding the cultural, social, and economic context. It sets the stage for developing sustainable health education and disease prevention interventions. Only after understanding the needs and gaps in current efforts can the nurse develop a budget, obtain resources, and review the literature effectively to create a tailored health program that addresses specific community issues.