NR 553: Global Health Policy

Nursing and Population Health NAME Chamberlain College of Nursing NR 553: Global Health Policy DATE Share a brief report on a scholarly article that emphasizes how nurses are making a difference in global health related to one of the health issues of global populations presented this week. Week 5: Nursing and Population Health Breda (2012) emphasizes that nurses should develop, integrate and weave their roles as healthcare providers with that of activist, advocate, scholar, citizen, and artist. Nurses are also ideally placed in human rights and global health diplomacy efforts as they constitute the largest workforce in the healthcare. Besides, nurses may partner with other stakeholders to promote health through the expansion of its role of service to the global community and thus effectively addressing some of the major global health issues. Govier and Rees (2013) explain that nurses have a vital role in addressing the alcohol consumption issue in the UK. The scholars state that the health consequences related to alcohol intake have been on the rise both in the UK and globally stating that alcohol consumption is one of the leading lifestyle risk factors for disease. Further, controlling it is complex and involves numerous social and cultural factors one being the central role alcohol plays in social events such as celebration. Thus, efforts to control consumption face significant resistance. Nurses thus have a critical role in increasing public awareness of the impacts of harmful alcohol consumption. It is also vital that they have a sound understanding of alcohol misuse to provide insightful and accurate information to the patients. The scholars also explain that nurses can play a significant role in reducing the alcohol consumption burden through motivating, assessing and education of patients. They highlight that nurses are in contact with people at risk of unsafe alcohol consumption and can provide low-level but high-impact interventions towards encouraging safe alcohol consumption. Further, nurses can assist the patients in calculating the alcohol consumptions during any nurse-patient encounter. The scholars particularly highlight the teachable moment as an opportune for discussions on, lifestyle modification. References Breda, K. L. (2012). What is nursing's role in international and global health? Texto & Contexto-Enfermagem, 21(3), 489-490. Govier, A., & Rees, C. (2013). Reducing alcohol-related health risks: the role of the nurse. Nursing Standard, 27(50), 42-46. PROFESSOR RESPONSE TO POST: Carole, Thank you for describing some of the essential roles that nurses can play to reduce the health impact of alcohol abuse. What vital roles can nurses play in developing a comprehensive federal plan to reduce the impact of alcohol-related health risks? Dr. Fildes and classmates, Controlling alcohol consumption is complex, and there are many social and cultural aspects involved. Alcohol plays a role in many social events, such as celebrations. Prevention programs and policies that are based on sound evidence-based principles have been shown to reduce substance misuse and related harms significantly. Policy initiatives have demonstrated the considerable effectiveness and include changes in the minimum legal drinking age, reductions in acceptable legal limits for blood alcohol concentration while operating a motor vehicle, as well as decreasing availability and access to alcohol for underage individuals. Health policy nurses could assist in developing a federal plan to reduce the health impact of alcohol misuse by researching and recommending measures that would successfully eradicate the vice. Healthcare policy nurses that become involved in grassroots community prevention programs can have a significant impact on reducing alcohol problems. Community prevention programs are more likely to reduce harm when coupled with advocacy for legislative change. Nurses involved in policy development must coordinate efforts across diverse stakeholders to achieve reductions in alcohol misuse. RESPONSE TO PEER POST: Nurses play a key role in pandemic preparedness awareness. Penny, Throughout this lesson, I have learned that no single discipline, agency, organization or jurisdiction should claim sole responsibility for the complex array of challenges associated with a disaster, whether caused by nature, humans, or combination of both. However, I have to agree with your statement that nurses play a key role in pandemic or disaster preparedness. Nurses make up the majority of healthcare providers and we represent an indispensable workforce during disasters. Therefore, disaster training for nurses is vital. Nurses must remain vigilant in the national planning framework for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. As healthcare policy nurses we possess the skills and knowledge to develop disaster policies and comprehensive plans and to conduct and evaluate preparedness and response drills, exercises and training. Our expertise allows us to be integral members in response operations and command centers, in leadership and management roles, as well as in the field where we can provide frontline population health and core public health services.