This research was supported in part by a grant from the Sample Grant Program.
Our Global Community/Public Health Services
Discussion 1: Our Global Community
Ebola, a virulent hemorrhagic fever, is holding the world hostage.A.D.A.M, 2014)Since the reporting of the current epidemic, at least 5000 people have been infected (case fatality rate 70.8%)(World Health Organization, 2014). From the Western African forests of Guinea, this disease has spread to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Uganda and the United States, (Roadmap, 2014). The US response to the Ebola outbreak was apathetic till August 2014, when two Americans contracted the virus in Liberia and infected health workers within the US.Since then it has actively participated in relief, care and treatment activities of Ebola(Campoy, 2014). Ebola has not been reported yet in my community.Nurses take care of Ebola patients in spite of the risks involved.(Priest, 2014).It is contained by prevention strategies and supportive nursing care. Nurses, need to adhere to bio-safety guidelines,use barrier nursing methods,and personal protective equipment while handling infected fluids. They need to supervise disinfection of contaminated materials and conduct safe burials of Ebola victims(Sylvie Briand; Eric Bertherat et al, 2014)
The CDC defines public health as all those activities society does collectively to assure healthy conditions for people(CDC, n.d.). The public health services offered in my community include activities to prevent epidemics & spread of disease, protect against environmental hazards, promote healthy behavior,help the community recover from disaster, and assure the quality & accessibility of health services.These services(under the local health departments), are adequate to meet the needs of residents.Public health nurses can render their services to the nation during public health emergencies, conduct research into newer, safer drugs and practices, impact policy and decision making, and provide clinical leadership when required. They need to take a proactive role in providing health care to patients, and tailor their work towards the needs of the community they serve.Health & Corps, n.d.).These activities should include community diagnosis of major health and environmental problems, surveillance,monitoring and evaluation of disease and disability, and creation of conditions in which people can be healthy(Stanhope & Lancaster, 2013).
References
A.D.A.M. (2014). Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever—Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever—NY Times Health Information. New york times. Retrieved October 12, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/ebola-hemorrhagic-fever/overview.html?module=Search&mabRewardReward=relbias%3Ar%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A18%22%7D
Al, S. B. E. B. et. (2014). The International Ebola Emergency — NEJM. NEJM, 371, 1180–83. Retrieved from http://0-www.nejm.org.elibrary.qatar-weill.cornell.edu/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1409858
Campoy, B. M. A. (2014). Ebola Virus: First U.S. Case Confirmed - WSJ. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 12, 2014, from http://online.wsj.com/articles/ebola-virus-first-us-case-confirmed-1412111463?KEYWORDS=first+Ebola+patient++in+the+US
CDC. (n.d.). CDC—About CDC and the U.S. Public Health System—STLT Gateway. Retrieved October 12, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/stltpublichealth/about/index.html
Health, U. S. P., & Corps, C. (n.d.). U. S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps BEST KEPT SECRETS U. S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Opportunities U. S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps BEST KEPT SECRETS Why You Should be a Nurse Officer in the United States Pub. US Public health service Commissioned Corps.
Priest, J. M. C. (2014). A Good Death — Ebola and Sacrifice — NEJM. New England J Medicine, 1. Retrieved from http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1410301
Roadmap, E. R. (2014). WHO : Ebola Response Roadmap Situation Report 3, (September), 1–7.
Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2013). Public Health Nursing - Revised Reprint: Population-Centered Health Care in the Community (p. 1095). Elsevier Health Sciences. Retrieved fromhttp://books.google.com/booksid=7W7QAQAAQBAJ&pgis=1
World Health Organization. (2014). WHO | Study warns swift action needed to curb exponential climb in Ebola outbreak. Media Centre. World Health Organization. Retrieved October 12, 2014, from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/ebola-study/en/
