In this week’s media presentation, Dr. Louise Fitzpatrick shared how health and disease are global issues. She pointed out that with the mobility of today’s population, health issues experienced in one area of the world are easily brought to other areas of the world through such means as travel and immigration. They can also be brought to a nation’s doorstep through the migration of animals, insects, and birds. Consider the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, avian flu, H1N1, or SARS. These diseases have quickly crossed oceans and spread to multiple countries. They are a public health concern in the United States as well as other countries.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Reflect on Dr. Fitzpatricks’s comments in this week’s media presentation; specifically, on the role of the BSN nurse in public and global health.
Compare and contrast the health problems and countries you selected with the United Statesin terms of World Health Organization (WHO) outcomes. In your analysis, be sure to include information about workforce availability to deal with the country’s disease burden.
Based on your examination of the research, how well is the United States performing in terms of public health as compared to the developed and developing countries you selected?
Think about what countries with worse outcomes could learn from countries with better outcomes.
Think about why nurses should be concerned with global health issues and what the role of the nurse should be in public health.
By Day 3
Post your analysis of one health problem between one developed and one developing country in comparison with the United States in terms of the WHO outcomes and criteria listed above. State your opinion about how well the United States is doing in terms of public health. Share what you think countries with worse outcomes could learn from countries with better outcomes. Explain the nurse’s role in public and global health and why nurses should be concerned with global health issues. Conclude by summarizing your view of the role of the nurse in public health.
Support your response with references from the professional nursing literature.
Nurses should be concerned with global health issues because of the increased globalized economies, international commerce, and travel. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2020), there has been the emergence and re-emergence of transmittable diseases. For example, the recent novel coronavirus began in China and has spread to the whole world. Other outbreaks such as the Ebola virus, SARS epidemic, and H1N1 influenza have also had a global health impact. Therefore, improved global health leads to improved health in the United States. Edmonson et al. (2017) identified nurses’ role in public health, including quick detection and control of emerging infectious diseases, preventing spread, protecting the public, and promoting health. Also, nurses deliver care, educate, and advocate for policies to impact population health.
