1 postsRe: Topic 1 DQ 2

There are three components that nurses consider when assessing a community. It includes the people within, the boundaries of the location, and the general environment where the community exists. Researchers can narrow the focus by establishing parameters of the members of the community and environment. The geopolitical and phenomenological place guides the nurse’s population assessment. A community assessment seeks to understand the interactions among the population, environment, and resources (Green, 2018)

One way to evaluate the quantity and quality of life of a given population is to examine the geopolitical location. Community boundaries, transportation infrastructure, geographic features, climate, vegetation, animals, and human-made homes and facilities comprise the geopolitical place. The place or geographic boundaries may be defined by the nurse. There are many environmental factors that may affect the health of the community (Green, 2018). For example, in 2018, the eruption of Kilauea volcano changed the lives of many families and the community. From May to August, the lava destroyed over 700 homes and the fumes covered the Puna district (National Park Services, 2019).

Another way to evaluate a given population is to examine the phenomenological place of a community, which centers on the history, culture, economics, education, spiritual beliefs, values, common characteristics, or similar goals (Green, 2018). Nurses seek to understand how people experience a situation or phenomenon through these independent or interdependent relationships. For example, the conflict between the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) at Mauna Kea continues to remain as one of the top stories in Hawaii. Unlike geopolitical location, phenomenological place is a relational location such as a political activism group, church organization, or cultural group (Green, 2018).

A community assessment is much like conducting a health assessment and happens in an organized manner: to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate. The assessment process includes gathering data and it can be achieved through primary or secondary sources. Analysis, diagnosis, and planning can be performed by using the SWOT analysis or strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats, which promotes a broader critical thinking about the population and environment (Green, 2018). This is followed by appropriate interventions and evaluation. For example, Hawaii experienced an outbreak of the Rat Lungworm disease recently, and in 2017, with an appropriation from the Hawaii State Legislature, the Department of Health launched a public information campaign to educate residents and visitors about the risk and prevention (State of Hawaii, Department of Health, 2019).

 

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1 postsRe: Topic 3 DQ 1

A group is considered as a “vulnerable population” if it has continuing or more aggravating factors that maintains their poor health status compared to an “at- risk” group. There is a significant disproportionate risk of poor health outcomes for vulnerable populations which would include those living in poverty, homeless, disabled, severe cognitive impairment or extremes of age (Maurer & Smith, 2013, p.527). While at risk groups have a chance of being affected, the vulnerable group has many variables that attribute to the susceptibility of poor health. “A vulnerable population is more likely to develop health-related problems, have more difficulty accessing health care” (Maurer & Smith, 2013, p. 528). Vulnerable groups are “more likely to experience a poor outcome or shorter life span because of those health conditions” (Maurer & Smith, 2013, p. 528).

For example, a person is considered vulnerable if he/she suffers from a disease, but also has an income below the poverty level, no health insurance, and stressors related to their living conditions, such as homeless people (Maurer and Smith, 2013).

One example of vulnerable population group in The United States is the children who lives in poverty or parent has very low income to satisfy their necessities. It is estimated that about 387 million children worldwide live in extreme poverty wherein the household income is estimated to be around less than 2 dollars per day. Worldwide, about 19.5% of children compared to only 9.2% of adults are in extreme poverty (UNICEF, 2013). In the United States, poverty is an increasing problem such as from 2009 to 2010, there is almost a 1 million increase of children living in poverty. Child poverty has many effects on the child such as inadequate nutrition, poor academic performance, lack of health care insurance behavioral, social and emotional problems which also makes them further at risk for abuse and/or neglect (American Psychological Association, 2018).

Nurses may need to help advocate for these very young children who live in poverty by helping provide them knowledge and access to appropriate health care and nutritional services. This entails being familiar with existing laws that helps protect their rights and knowledge of existing services that they are eligible to receive (Maurer & Smith, 2013, p.151). Aside from providing health promotion and education, nurses help further by educating vulnerable families on how to access available resources and referral to social services. According to United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (2018), there are several federal programs which help provide nutrition assistance such as Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Children from low-income families are most vulnerable of suffering from consuming empty calories. One ethical issue is the involvement of the government in improving school lunches being provided in schools which is being aimed at combating obesity and malnutrition. In 2010, the Hunger-Free Kids Act mandates improving school lunches to provide nutritious foods as recommended by the federal dietary guidelines. This involves increasing fruits, vegetables, non-fat milk and whole grains while decreasing high fat, salt and sugary foods. This bring about the ethical issue of not allowing children to choose the foods they prefer to consume (Crawford, Gosliner & Kayman, 2011). This appears to be a good initiative from the government to implement healthy school meals to ensure that children, especially those from low-income families, are able to meet the recommended nutritional requirement to prevent malnutrition and the possible long-term health problems associated with it. It may be important that nurses also help educate families on the importance of having a nutritious diet and avoid consuming empty calories which may lead to obesity and health problems.nurses also help to educate families on the importance of having a nutritious diet and avoid consuming empty calories which may lead to obesity and health problems.

“Community health nurses can advocate on the behalf of vulnerable groups by writing and calling government representatives and speaking to professional and community organizations about the problems and needs of high-risk groups” (Maurer and Smith, 2013).

 

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3 postsRe: Topic 2 DQ 2

A recent global health issue to affect many different world populations is Ebola. It has made news in the last few years due to multiple outbreaks. The Ebolavirus is part of the Filoviridae family and has six different species within its own categories. The most common for current outbreaks and infections is the Zaire strain (CDC n.d.). The incubation period spans from 2 days to 21 days in the susceptible host. It is transmitted via direct contact with infected bodily fluids and items contaminated with those secretions. Fatality rate for those infected is up to 50 percent, but early diagnosis and supportive treatment increases the odds of survival (CDC n.d.).

It is believed that the original host of the Ebolavirus is the fruit bat but can also be traced to other wild animals such as fruit flies, porcupines, and primates. The early signs/symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle aches and pains, headache and sore throat. These symptoms often make it difficulty to distinguish the exact viral infection because many viruses mirror the same symptoms. These initial symptoms are followed by more intense vomiting, diarrhea, impaired kidney and liver functions, internal and external bleeding, decreased WBC and platelets, and increased liver enzymes. Hosts of the virus can only spread the infection when they have the active symptoms, therefore cannot spread infection during the incubation period. Exact diagnosis is done through several blood tests including the ELISA test, antigen-capture detection test, serum neutralization test, electron microscopy, and virus isolation by cell culture (CDC n.d.)

International monitoring of the Ebolavirus is done by the World Health Organization (WHO), under the United Nations. The WHO is considered to be the guardians of public health and security internationally and they are actively involved in setting up preventative and reactive programs/education. These programs are designed to decrease the possibility of an outbreak in any given population (GCU 2018). The response by WHO to the Ebolavirus outbreaks include supporting local and state health departments in disease detection, tracing the source of the outbreak, laboratory services, controlling the infection spread and instituting safe burial practices to prevent the spread of the virus (CDC n.d.). Preventative services by WHO include education on all levels to prevent outbreaks and attempts to break the chain of infection (CDC n.d.)

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Retrieved October 3, 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/.

Grand Canyon University (Ed). (2018). Community & public health: The future of health care. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs427vn/community-and-public-health-the-future-of-health-care/v1.1/

 

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3 postsRe: Topic 2 DQ 2

“Global health plays an increasingly crucial role in both global security and the security of the U.S. population (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2019)”. The health in our communities or in the United States population could possibly be affected by events around the world. For example, there is more access to easily visit many countries throughout the globe. Many individuals enjoy travelling and explore countries which they may not be aware a health threat or epidemic is developing. It is often heard or written in the news of infectious diseases are emerging and causing a threat. “The Institute of Medicine’s 2003 report Microbial Threats to Health2 stresses that the United States should enhance the global capacity for responding to infectious disease threats and should take a leadership role in promoting a comprehensive, global, real-time infectious disease surveillance system (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2019)”.

Website, https://www.intrahealth.org/vital/10-global-health-issues-watch-2019, lists ten global health issues to watch in 2019. Unbelievably one that hits close to most of our communities is food related. Across the globe, there is high demand for high calorie and low to no nutritional value diets that are being combine with a sedentary lifestyle which increases the probability of heart disease, diabetes and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).“NCDs are now responsible for around 41 million deaths per year, according to the World Health Organization—and more than 85% of those occur in low- and middle-income countries (IntraHealth International, INC., 2019)”. This affects everyone, even impacts larger health care systems. “NCDs are estimated to cause a cumulative loss of output of $47 trillion between 2011 and 2030 (Kaoser Family Foundation, 2019)”.

The health care stakeholders have been aware of the emerging global health issue, it is alarming because many of the non-communicable diseases may be prevented all with proper nutrition and adding more activity in the individual’s routine. The health care delivery systems have a system where the goals are to promote health, prevent the disease, and protect the population’s health. My example was regarding nutrition, stake holders may encourage fast food restaurants to serve healthier alternatives as equally affordable as the high fat cheap take outs. In regard to activity, insurances may offer discounts for gym memberships or online virtual classes that may be done in the comfort of their home. These suggestions will not take a toll on their budget compare to a person acquiring an NCD and accruing clinical or hospital bills. The investment in providing proper education is necessary and the process ought to be aim globally.

 

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1 postsRe: Topic 2 DQ 2

Climate change is something we have heard about for years. One thing I did not realize is how much it affects our global health. The World Health Organization states that the earth temperature has increased 0.85 degrees censuses, which is 33.5 degrees Fahrenheit, over the last 130 years. “Over the last 50 years, human activities – particularly the burning of fossil fuels – have released sufficient quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to trap additional heat in the lower atmosphere and affect the global climate” (World Health Organization, 2018). With the rising temperatures our ice glaciers continue to melt causing rising in sea levels which in result are causing increasing in precipitation and extreme weather conditions. “Climate change affects social and environmental determinants of health – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter” (World Health Organization, 2018).

Higher temperatures are causing increased levels of ozone and other pollutants in the air and are resulting in higher incidence in respiratory and cardiovascular disease. It is also causing increased natural disasters which are leading to increased deaths due to homes, medical facilities, and other essential facilities being destroyed. Another affect of climate change is variable rainfall which can cause drought and higher incidence of floods which contaminate drinking water. “Climatic conditions strongly affect water-borne diseases and diseases transmitted through insects, snails or other cold blooded animals” (World Health Organization, 2018). According to the World Health Organization, Malaria is strongly related to climate causing 400,000 deaths per year.

The World Health Organization continues to work on ways to prepare its communities to protect against climate change. They also state, “Many policies and individual choices have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and produce major health co-benefits. For example, cleaner energy systems, and promoting the safe use of public transportation and active movement – such as cycling or walking as alternatives to using private vehicles – could reduce carbon emissions, and cut the burden of household air pollution, which causes some 4.3 million deaths per year, and ambient air pollution, which causes about 3 million deaths every year” (World Health Organization, 2018). What we can do to help is to talk to our patients about how climate change effects their health and how they can help and try to protect themselves, use more economical friendly equipment and limit medical waste to decrease pollution and teach patients and families how to prepare and protect themselves from natural disasters

 

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