Discussion: Preventing Disease in Communities: The Role of Public Health, the Silent Sentinel
Our “world” starts with our own community, county, and state, then moves out in concentric rings from that point to include our country and eventually the world. Disease is transmitted from person to person through direct contact, or from a source such as a vector or contaminated water through a variety of means, such as flood waters or even terrorist actions. Individuals with limited or no knowledge of safe sex methods may have unprotected sexual relations and knowingly or unknowingly transmit disease to their partners, then to their partners’ partners, and on and on. Often it is the role of the public health nurse to investigate a disease outbreak, contain it, and then educate others so that the same situation doesn’t happen again.
In this Discussion, you will visit a site and interview people who work there about risks for disease transmission, then report on your findings.
PART I
To prepare, select which site you will visit from the following options:
- High school nurse’s office
- Water treatment plant
- Public health department
- Pediatrician’s office
Create a brief description of your setting, providing some context; for example, how many patients are seen, size or capacity of the facility as applicable, and/or the location of the office or organization.
Take pictures of the building and surrounding area/neighborhood to provide context. You do not have to include the interior/s of the building/s or people/clients who may be there.
Then, during your site visit, pose the questions listed in the following chart:
High school nurse
- What is the school’s policy on giving students advice about birth control?
- How often do you get requests for information about birth control or how to protect oneself from an STD?
- How do you track vaccination compliance, and what happens to students who fall out of compliance?
PART II
Now, look at the site you visited through the eyes of the public health nurse (PHN). Imagine you are the PHN and have been asked to investigate an outbreak at this facility.
- What questions would you ask?
- What suggestions could you make to avoid a disease outbreak at the facility?
- What would your role as a change agent be for any deficiencies you find in your on-site inspection?
I have chosen to interview a high school nurse and a copy of my answers to the quesions are in an attachment
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Preventing the spread of diseases is an essential aspect of public health. As a medical professor, it is crucial to provide students with knowledge and skills to identify and control outbreaks in their communities. In this paper, we will discuss a site visit to a high school nurse’s office to determine the policies and strategies used to control the spread of diseases.
Question 1:
What is the school’s policy on giving students advice about birth control?
The high school nurse’s office has a comprehensive policy that emphasizes the importance of providing students with accurate information about birth control. The school has a policy that encourages students to seek guidance from the nurse on matters pertaining to reproductive health. Students are not coerced into following a specific ideology, and the nurse respects their choices regarding contraception.
Question 2:
How often do you get requests for information about birth control or how to protect oneself from an STD?
The high school nurse’s office reports that requests for information about birth control and STD prevention are quite common. This is especially true during the beginning of each school year when freshman students enroll. Students are encouraged to seek guidance from the nurse and given information on how to practice safe sex and avoid STDs.
Question 3:
How do you track vaccination compliance, and what happens to students who fall out of compliance?
The high school nurse’s office keeps records of vaccination compliance, with all students required to provide proof of vaccination or a valid exemption. Students who are found to be out of compliance receive notices that they must comply with the state’s immunization requirements or face being excluded from school. The nurse’s office follows up with students and parents to ensure compliance is achieved and maintained.
In conclusion, this site visit shows that the high school nurse’s office has elaborate policies, strategies, and practices that emphasize the importance of preventing the spread of diseases. Students are provided with comprehensive guidance, and compliance is enforced to ensure adherence to national and state health requirements.
