Introduction
In December 2019, almost all populations faced the challenge of a new coronavirus infection known as COVID-19. Healthcare providers and governments had to manage their spread and severity, leading to multiple complications and deaths (Filip et al., 2022). It was necessary to analyze a situation and offer public health policies to deliver credible health information, underline communication challenges, and enhance financial stability.
Global Health Comparison
Table 1 – Comparison of Response to the Global Issue in the US vs. Canada
A Plan for Social Change
Implementing social change in the population requires time and research to prove its appropriateness and correctness. The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious public health concern that requires prompt attention to protect vulnerable groups (Filip et al., 2022). During the crisis, the U.S. and Canadian governments took multiple steps to deliver credible information, educate people, and offer the best and safest treatment and recovery conditions. Social distancing and hand hygiene are key policies to prevent the spread of infection and reduce health complications caused by COVID-19. Nurse leaders should incorporate this global perspective into their local practice to ensure patient safety and a healthy working environment.
To advocate for the incorporation of these policies, it is necessary to address the statistics and changes observed after the implementation of social distancing and hand hygiene. For example, in Canada, the progress of hospitalizations and deaths due to infections slowed down at both national and provincial levels (Urrutia et al., 2021). The United States used social distancing to reduce healthcare utilization and manage human behaviors (Cantor et al., 2022). These arguments prove the effectiveness of national policies during the pandemic crisis.
Conclusion
As a nurse leader, I am interested in improving my practice with the help of the offered policies. I will follow these recommendations for educational and organizational purposes. I expect these steps to positively impact my nursing career and a local practice, as following these simple rules does not require significant financial funding, just increased personal responsibility and attention. All nurses will complete their tasks, recognizing the value of a global perspective in their work. As soon as safe practices are followed in hospitals, patients and their families will be well-educated and informed about social distancing and hygiene, promoting similar social change in communities.
References
Cantor, J., Sood, N., Bravata, D. M., Pera, M., & Whaley, C. (2022). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and policy response on health care utilization: Evidence from county-level medical claims and cellphone data. Journal of health economics, 82.
Filip, R., Gheorghita Puscaselu, R., Anchidin-Norocel, L., Dimian, M., & Savage, W. K. (2022). Global challenges to public health care systems during the COVID-19 pandemic: A review of pandemic measures and problems. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 12(8).
Urrutia, D., Manetti, E., Williamson, M., & Lequy, E. (2021). Overview of Canada’s answer to the COVID-19 pandemic’s first wave (January–April 2020). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(13).