Introduction
Humanity in the twenty-first century faces numerous threats related to the rapid mutations of bacteria and microbes that provoke new types of infectious diseases. Local outbreaks, epidemics, and international pandemics that occurred during the recent decades require acute professional attention and implementation of precautions to prevent and mitigate the dangers of infections spreading. Therefore, specific guidelines and procedures must be developed and promoted to ensure communities’ preparedness for pandemics.
Main body
According to the speakers participating in the discussion within the Aspen Ideas Festival, the problem of infectious diseases is one of the main health and safety concerns of modern civilization. In particular, Bridgitt Arnold emphasized that pandemics might be more of a threat to humanity than nuclear war or bioterrorism (PBS, 2017). Since pandemics occur as a result of epidemics, which in their turn appear based on local outbreaks, it is relevant to prevent the threats of the pandemic at the initial local level. I think that the main responsibility of a community nurse is to ensure the population’s protection and readiness. To prevent outbreaks, I would promote partnerships with communities as a starting point of the prevention activities (Harkness & DeMarco, 2016). Upon establishing a connection with the population, I would initiate information distribution concerning the importance of personal hygiene, immunization, and the ways of protecting from infections through different local organizations (Harkness & DeMarco, 2016). As a secondary preventative measure, I would develop protocols for early detection of infections and timely treatment for the patients. In my opinion, such procedures will help prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases.
The role of public health nurses during the time of pandemics is crucial. Timely detection of the outbreak centers and monitoring epidemics are the primary responsibilities of community nurses, which will consequently result in a collaborative contribution to the combating of pandemics. In particular, a nurse should carry out the procedures of prompt treatment of those infected and raise awareness among the population by spreading information concerning the measures of protection. Also, nurses in healthcare settings must initiate an outbreak investigation for agents’ detection with the aim of the following isolation. As a part of healthcare staff, nurses are expected to participate in the promotion of public gatherings limitation to “reduce contact between people” (Harkness & DeMarco, 2016, p. 291). Therefore, the active work of nurses during pandemics is a crucial element that helps to stop the spreading of infection.
The review of the WHO and CDC websites allows assuming that the USA might be exposed to several infectious diseases on a national level (“Advancing the global health security agenda,” 2019; “Disease outbreaks,” 2019). Potentially threatening illnesses in this regard include influenza and the Ebola virus, which spread fats in many countries of the world and might travel together with people’s migration (“Disease outbreaks,” 2019). However, the world healthcare professionals, as well as the medical specialists of the USA, work on the surveillance and monitoring measures to prevent outbreaks and help mitigate pandemics.
Conclusion
In summation, despite successful advancement in numerous areas of human life, civilization now remains fragile against infectious diseases. The growing threat of such illnesses as cholera, influenza, the Ebola virus, and many others urge healthcare professionals to cooperate on an international level to prevent pandemics. Since pandemics occur as a consequence of local outbreaks, it is community health nurses’ responsibility to ensure populations’ protection and awareness. Timely action and through-through procedures will be an efficient element in the process of combatting the disease.
References
Advancing the global health security agenda: CDC achievements and impact 2018. (2019). Web.
Disease outbreaks. (2019). Web.
Harkness, G. A., & DeMarco, R. F. (2016). Community and public health nursing: Evidence for practice. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
PBS. (2017). Deep Dive: Preventing Pandemics[Video file]. Web.