NURS 4465 Module 1 Discussion Population and Community Nursing

Community and Public Health impact almost every aspect of your life. In this discussion, you will locate and summarize local interest stories or articles from the newspaper (or other local publications) that demonstrate how community or public health impact our daily lives.

Browse your local newspaper or other local publications for articles that focus on public health issues at the local, state, and/or national level. For example, reports or articles that discuss a train collision, an earthquake in California, the dedication of a new park in your neighborhood, an outbreak of the flu in Texas, low-cost child immunization clinics, or a free traveling mammogram program for low-income women are all examples of public or community health issues.

Locate two examples of community or public health issues from a local publication, magazine, or newspaper. The examples you select should focus on completely different topics – for example, select one article that discusses a new park and another article that focuses on plans for a new coal-fired power plant.

Write a one paragraph summary of each article. Include a proper reference to the source of the article.

Include an additional paragraph that explains why you consider these articles to be public or community health.

Your original post should consist of complete sentences and include three paragraphs.

Reply to at least two of your online colleagues’ posts with reflective questions, substantive comments, or relevant personal experiences.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors top public health issues. Here are the areas of focus as reported by the CDC.

Alcohol-related harms

Approximately 88,000 deaths per year in the United States are attributed to . The short-term health risks of excessive alcohol use include: injuries such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings and burns; violence such as homicide, suicide and sexual assault; alcohol poisoning; risky sexual behaviors; and miscarriage and stillbirth among pregnant women. Long-term health risks can develop as well: high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease and digestive problems; cancer; learning and memory problems; mental health problems; social problems; and alcoholism.

Food safety

Foodborne illness sickens one in six Americans each year and results in 3,000 deaths. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) calculates the cost of foodborne illnesses to be $15.6 billion annually. However, foodborne illness is preventable, and the CDC and USDA take a leading role in promoting at the federal level.

Healthcare-associated infections

(HAIs) happen when patients are being treated in a healthcare facility. Every day, about one in 25 patients in hospitals acquire an HAI such as central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections and surgical site infections. The CDC and its partners have developed tools and resources to prevent HAIs.

Heart disease and stroke

Both heart disease and stroke are leading causes of death in the United States. About 610,000 people die of each year. Prevention focuses on addressing high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and smoking. Meanwhile, there are about 130,000 deaths due to annually. Because stroke can affect mobility, it is a major cause of disability as well.

HIV

The number of new is declining, but about 44,000 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2014. In total, approximately 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV, and about 13 percent do not know they are infected. Nearly 7,000 people per year die from HIV and AIDS. Educating the population about , from abstinence to correct use of condoms to never sharing needles, continues to be important.

Motor vehicle injuries

More than 32,000 people die and another 2 million sustain injuries from each year. One-third of deaths involve drunk driving and almost another third involve speeding. The CDC emphasizes seat belt use for adults, car seat use for children and driving without distractions or impairments like alcohol and drugs.

Nutrition, physical activity and obesity

The general population is aware that poor nutrition, lack of physical activity and obesity are causing numerous health problems. The CDC is tackling this complex public health issue beginning with , which should provide a quality meal program and ensure only healthy foods and beverages are available to students. As part of , multiple organizations can help individuals know their body mass index, maintain a healthy weight and incorporate physical activity into their lives.

Prescription drug overdose

The CDC reports that deaths from like oxycodone and hydrocodone have quadrupled since 1999. In response, the CDC has published prescribing guidelines for healthcare providers and encouraged states to adopt prescription drug monitoring programs. There is a push for expanding addiction treatment.

NURS 4465 Module 1 Discussion Population and Community Nursing