Introduction
Nowadays, the problems of climate change and environmental health are more urgent than ever. These issues are closely connected and intertwined, and unfortunately, each one of them may imply the other. The role of a community nurse is to address the issues accordingly and be aware of their possible impact on the public. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the issues at hand and the possible courses of action.
Climate Change
The number of illnesses happening due to the increase of the heat level is growing fast. Such rapid changes in the temperature have never happened before, which means that this phenomenon will influence air and water quality, food production, multiple health issues (American Public Health Association [APHA], 2016). In the light of this event, APHA (2016) developed “a strategic plan for addressing climate change, including its long-term vision for this work, goals (for the intermediate time frame)” (para. 3). The role of a community nurse is to lead and support this movement as a critical factor of environmental health.
Environmental Health
People often misunderstand the concept of environmental health. The majority of Americans are sure that their health depends on their diet, levels of physical activity, and their lifestyle (FrameWorks Institute, 2014). However, the influence that the environment has on the health of each individual is underestimated. Environmental health is a confluence of ecological factors, typical for a specific area that has a direct impact on the health of each individual (FrameWorks Institute, 2014). Climate change, weather conditions, toxic wastes are only the tip of the iceberg, and environmental factors have to be taken into account when managing and preventing diseases. A role of a community nurse is to educate people on the possible adverse effect of the environment they live in and help to prevent further environmental externalities. The community has to be conscious that every individual choice has an impact on the environment and, consequently, on the health of each person.
Conclusion
In summary, climate change is a part of environmental health, which is a pressing problem at present. It influences every human being, and the role of a public health nurse is to attract the community’s attention to the importance of individual choices and actively encourage environmental practices. Better education on the topic will go a long way to improve the environmental conditions and develop an understanding of the situation in general.
References
American Public Health Association. (2016). Climate change and health strategic plan. Web.
FrameWorks Institute. (2014). Building understanding of environmental health. Web.