We in the nursing community comprise the largest group of public health care workers in the United States. Our group is in the best position to engineer changes in the existing Public Health System of the country. A nurse is defined as “a person trained to look after the sick or injured” (Oxford Mini Dictionary, 1988). However in recent times, nurses have been seen taking up other roles, specifically with regards to public health. My aim is to highlight some of these important and innovative responsibilities that we may adapt for progress and change of the entire system.
Getting more involved with the community is one way we can change our public health system. We need to play a more diverse part in our communities. The Minnesota Department of Health in 2001 came up with a “Public Health Nursing Interventions” model designed to provide a graphic illustration of these possible ground-breaking roles. The model was created to provide us with better opportunities to serve our communities outside the bounds of our traditional definition. The primary goal of the project was to set-up a clearly identified plan of involvement for nurses with the ultimate aim to “improve or protect health status” (Rippke, M.
, March 2001). When I learned of this project I got excited about the change impact this will do to the otherwise boxed-in view of nurses. It provides us with a voice to uplift standards of health within our communities. The model encompasses a wide range of areas in which we nurses can make a huge contribution. However the bottom line is plain and simply a stronger connection within the communities we are part of. One of the most important areas in nursing involves child care. Personally I have a strong affiliation for children. I believe that we can make a difference by broadening our roles in caring for them.
While I was researching on this I chanced upon an article that highlighted the involvement of nurses in foster care. It spoke of going beyond our regular duties and being an advocate for children under foster care (Schneiderman, J. , July 2006) The article continues by outlining what we can do as nurses in this setting. We can provide health counseling, referrals and consultations to our social counterparts and other health care providers. I strongly support this move because it ushers a more holistic connection to the foster care system.
By working closely with the other people involved in this area, we set better standards for the children and their general well-being. As the threat of bioterrorism is real and ever present, the nursing community is given the primary responsibility to recognize diseases as a result of bioterrorist agents. But because the current public health structure fails to address the urgency of the matter, it deters the whole scheme of disease surveillance. The expectations for nurses are just not clearly defined during these situations (Atkins, R. et al, 2005).
Therefore we need to work with our policy makers and definitively identify our function during these situations. By doing so, we will be empowered to respond and better prepared for these instances. I like very much what Rear Admiral Carol Romano, Chief Nurse Officer of the US Public Health Service said in an interview by James Mattson for the publication “Reflection on Nursing Leadership”. She said, “I believe that Nursing is the future of human health, and nurses will be called on more than ever to meet the public health challenges of this century. ” (Mattson, J.
, 2006) She emphasized the importance of partnering with different nursing organizations, health agencies and regulatory bodies. Through these partnerships we will be able to form “a unified voice for nursing in empowering the health of the nation” (Mattson, J, 2006). The key to our empowerment is having a unified voice. We need to stand together, work together and eventually implement the changes together. Finally, as nurses we need to be strong advocates of change. We have to constantly be on the prowl for better policies, practices, and procedures.
We need to orient ourselves with the existing materials on public health. We need to know what lacking before we can change anything. To influence the current environmental health policies and practices, we have to be knowledgeable about them (Ortner, P. , 2004) The public health system can not be changed overnight. I appreciate the challenges ahead in shaking the existing policies. However, it is a wonderful time to be a nurse in the United States. The opportunities we are given to stretch ourselves and find more ways to optimize our roles in society are both real and waiting.
Nurses are slowly becoming an integral part of policy design. It is the perfect time to take bigger strides in integrating other facets of our profession.
References
Oxford Mini Dictionary (1988). New Expanded Edition Rippke, M. (March 2001). Applications for Public Health Nursing Practices. Public Health Interventions, Retrieved February 6, 2008 from Minnesota Department of Health, Division of Community Health Sources, Public Health Nursing Section Schneiderman, J. (July 2006). Innovative Pediatric Nursing Role: Public Health Nurses In Child Welfare. Pediatric
Nurses. Continuing Education Series. Akins, R. , Williams, J. , Silenas, R. , and Edwards, J. (2005). The Role of Public Health Nurses in Bioterrorism Prepareness. Disaster Management and Response (98-105) Mattson, J. (2006). Promoting Partnerships to Improve Public Health: An Interview With Rear Admiral Carol Romano, Chief Nurse Officer of the US Public Health Service. Reflections on Nursing Leadership Ortner, P. (2004). The Nurse As A Change Agent: An Approach to Environmental Health Advocacy Training. Policies, Politics and Nursing Practices (125-130).